I have a heavily refurbished, numbers matching (I checked!) K98k with the wartime Byf factory code, which was bought from Mitchell's Mausers. I know that their refinishing everything pretty much kills the collector value. Would I harm it more if I had it drilled and tapped for a scope? The rifle shoots magnificently and, mechanically, especially the bore, it's excellent. It's crying for a scope. Any opinions?
Should I scope a Mitchell's Mauser?
- Thread starter woad_yurt
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If you put the scope on backwards the rifle will seem farther away.
Just joking, all in good fun!!!
Re: Scoping a MM
It's your gun, do whatever you want with it. Being it has already been massively abused by MM, it is doubtful that any further insult will result in more injury. While you're at it, have the safety and bolt handle reworked so you can use low rings and you'll have a nice shooter.
rr2241tx
It's your gun, do whatever you want with it. Being it has already been massively abused by MM, it is doubtful that any further insult will result in more injury. While you're at it, have the safety and bolt handle reworked so you can use low rings and you'll have a nice shooter.
rr2241tx
If you like the gun, go ahead and scope it. It's lost all of its collector value already anyway, so you might as well make it enjoyable to use and shoot.
The easy way...
Woad-Yurt--Too late to return the rifle to Mitchell's Mausers and get yr $$$ back? If so, then you're stuck with a rifle without very much collector value.
You said it shoots well--there are replacement rear sights that don't require any modification, and are far better than the original for accuracy. Have you considered going that route?
Anyhow, the way to get a 'scope on a K98k Mauser, WITHOUT affecting its future collectibility (hey, some day there won't be any more of these, Mitchell's or not, and at that time the price of all of 'em will go nowhere but up. Even Mitchells.) is to mount a so-called "scout 'scope".
You buy a special mount that replaces the rear sight with no gunsmithing--B-Square sells one; there are others--and also buy a "scout 'scope" which has the necessary 10" or so long eye relief, mount 'scope on the mount, boresight, sight it in, and there you are. An added benefit is that you don't have to modify the bolt handle nor the safety.
Voila! A 'scoped K98k, which can be returned to its original condition, whenever wanted, in about 20 minutes. Be SURE to save all the little pieces of the original rear sight.
I did this to a M-48 Mauser that I put in a sporter stock and added a Timney trigger. All reversible actions, although the M-48 will never be as collectible as the K98k. I'm not looking to sell it, ever, but you never know. It puts 200 grain Accubonds into < 1.5" at 100 yd, and < 3" at 200 yd. No target rifle, but it'll do just fine for feral hogs.
If you really want to 'scope a K98k, with drilling and tapping and a "regular 'scope mount", plus safety and bolt handle modification, there are lots of 'em to which that has been done since GI's first began bringing them back in 1918. Lots more bring-backs in 1945. Almost any gun show will have such available. I'd look at trading my Mitchell for one of those were I you--for 2 reasons: (a) the Mitchell, unmodified, will go up in value to an extent--some day. Once drilled, you've lost that option. (b) why re-invent the wheel?
Keeping firearms that "might some day go up in value" strikes me as a very risky investment. You would do far better with the same money in the stock market, or even in a CD. Unless we're talking firearms that cost a couple of thou in the first place--those beauties might be a good investment, but your Mitchell, and all of my firearms for that matter, are decidedly not in that class. That said, I still would not modify an unmodified K98k, even a Mitchell. But that's MY opinion, and we're discussing YOUR rifle.
Do what feels "right" to you. I for one won't criticize your choice.
Woad-Yurt--Too late to return the rifle to Mitchell's Mausers and get yr $$$ back? If so, then you're stuck with a rifle without very much collector value.
You said it shoots well--there are replacement rear sights that don't require any modification, and are far better than the original for accuracy. Have you considered going that route?
Anyhow, the way to get a 'scope on a K98k Mauser, WITHOUT affecting its future collectibility (hey, some day there won't be any more of these, Mitchell's or not, and at that time the price of all of 'em will go nowhere but up. Even Mitchells.) is to mount a so-called "scout 'scope".
You buy a special mount that replaces the rear sight with no gunsmithing--B-Square sells one; there are others--and also buy a "scout 'scope" which has the necessary 10" or so long eye relief, mount 'scope on the mount, boresight, sight it in, and there you are. An added benefit is that you don't have to modify the bolt handle nor the safety.
Voila! A 'scoped K98k, which can be returned to its original condition, whenever wanted, in about 20 minutes. Be SURE to save all the little pieces of the original rear sight.
I did this to a M-48 Mauser that I put in a sporter stock and added a Timney trigger. All reversible actions, although the M-48 will never be as collectible as the K98k. I'm not looking to sell it, ever, but you never know. It puts 200 grain Accubonds into < 1.5" at 100 yd, and < 3" at 200 yd. No target rifle, but it'll do just fine for feral hogs.
If you really want to 'scope a K98k, with drilling and tapping and a "regular 'scope mount", plus safety and bolt handle modification, there are lots of 'em to which that has been done since GI's first began bringing them back in 1918. Lots more bring-backs in 1945. Almost any gun show will have such available. I'd look at trading my Mitchell for one of those were I you--for 2 reasons: (a) the Mitchell, unmodified, will go up in value to an extent--some day. Once drilled, you've lost that option. (b) why re-invent the wheel?
Keeping firearms that "might some day go up in value" strikes me as a very risky investment. You would do far better with the same money in the stock market, or even in a CD. Unless we're talking firearms that cost a couple of thou in the first place--those beauties might be a good investment, but your Mitchell, and all of my firearms for that matter, are decidedly not in that class. That said, I still would not modify an unmodified K98k, even a Mitchell. But that's MY opinion, and we're discussing YOUR rifle.
Do what feels "right" to you. I for one won't criticize your choice.
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That's probably because your M48 doesn't have a deaths head stamp and an Afrika Korp decal like the ones from Mitchell's Mausers.
Now, now. To listen to the Mitchell's Mauser's ads, Hitler himself rose from the grave and electropenciled the serials on to each and every one of their Mausers.
Rifleman 173
Member
Scope it. It'll improve the rifle's effectiveness and you won't have to worry about losing money on a non-collector's rifle any way.
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