Old Nazi Rifle value

22 February 2002, 04:18

<bigcountry>

Hey, a friend at work has a old 8MM mauser from near the end of WWII that his uncle brought back from Germany. His uncle was a US Intelligence officer brought back several different German weapons. It has the Nazi mark (swatica, however you spell it) on the action, but the only problem is they replaced the barrel in the states. Seems near the end of the war, germany was making the barrels extremely thin on thier rifles. So its rebarreled with .243. It has the orignal german scope and the stock is in good shape, no rust. He said he will sell to me for 100 dollars. What do you think? It hard to tell its value since the barrel was replaced. Curious on what you think.

I can't beleive he wants to sell a family piece like this. He said the german that was hold it died holding it.

22 February 2002, 04:49

<ultramag>

I'd give him his hundred to own the history.

22 February 2002, 16:17

p dog shooter

Sould be worth a hundred.

23 February 2002, 14:48

carcano91

The value of a Nazi rifle depends upon the same factors as that of a Nazi typewriter or a Nazi wristwatch:
- when did the gun join the NSDAP party ? pre-1928 member get a premium.
- was it active beyond mere membership ?
- are strong relationships to other Nazi sibling guns traceable and documentable ?
- was the gun found guilty in Nï¿½rnberg or acquitted ?

Carcano

25 February 2002, 12:30

<bigcountry>

Disappointingly, with the serial number on the scope, I found out the scope was made after the war or right at the end so I assume that about the gun alsob. Also, it is possible the gun was made in Chek. Also, the gun doesn't shoot very well. Took to the range and got 3" groups at 100 yards. Also, it has trouble chambering a round. You got to slam the bolt. Would take to a gunsmith, but figure its one of the "last ditch" guns, so it might not be worth it.

25 February 2002, 12:44

Wachtel

Sounds like a bad deal.

26 February 2002, 04:21

<bigcountry>

For the rifle yes, but I found a few people wanting the scope however for 200 dollars. Might turn out to be an ok deal after all.

26 February 2002, 19:41

Mark

Can you post a pic of it?

27 February 2002, 14:42

the444shooter

It's pbly just a post war 'curio' that was bought out of the 'shotgun news' I swear, there is more stuff in there to part a fool and his money than anywhere. Save your cash and find something else. JMHO

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God Bless and Shoot Straight

28 February 2002, 04:02

<bigcountry>

444, your one of those glass half empty guys, ain't ya. I know the guy who ended up giving it to me anyway, very well and talked with his uncle who bought it back. They guys was pretty old so communication was rough. They are definatley not gun people and wanted someone who was to have it. He gave me a little history on it. But said the rest has left his mind.

01 March 2002, 00:59

Deerdogs

Bigcountry - I may be wrong but I think some of our German readers may be insulted that a WW2 German Army rifle is being reffered to a a Nazi rifle. Likely as not the poor schmuck who died holding it was just another German conscript who had no love of the Nazi party.

But is sounds like it could be a nice piece to own. Would you put a 8x57 barrel on it?

01 March 2002, 04:09

<bigcountry>

Well maybe, but the reason I refer to it as a Nazi rifle is it has a big ol swatica and eagle on the reciever. To me thats a nazi rifle. If it didn't, it wouldn't be too significant. I don't think too many gun owners wear their heart on their shoulder anyway. We are little tough breed than the rest of the pack.

01 March 2002, 11:02

the444shooter

Well, Big Country,
That outlook took ahold of me only after reading what you posted:

<<Disappointingly, with the serial number on the scope, I found out the scope was made after the war or right at the end so I assume that about the gun alsob. Also, it is possible the gun was made in Chek. Also, the gun doesn't shoot very well. Took to the range and got 3" groups at 100 yards. Also, it has trouble chambering a round. You got to slam the bolt. Would take to a gunsmith, but figure its one of the "last ditch" guns, so it might not be worth it.>>

It just sounded like one of the guns you would see for sale in the shotgun news, that's all. Like, when "enemy at the gates" came out, all of a sudden you saw Mosin Nagant's w/ scout "sniper" scopes on them, being advertised in the SN. Now, if it's the real deal and you talked to the guy that actually brought it over, then I'm glad for you to own a piece of history like that...like I said, I gained my pessimistic attitude towards it after you posted those details. BTW, my dad has a Walther P38 w/ a nazi stamp on it...still trying to verify it's validity, but it would be cool to think it belonged to a German officer

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God Bless and Shoot Straight

01 March 2002, 12:35

<bigcountry>

Oh yea, I was just foolin.

I contacted Mauser and they said they couldn't help at all. Go figure. I thought those German companies, kept excellent records. Guess they didn't have puters to put them in back then.

02 March 2002, 06:12

carcano91

quote:
Originally posted by bigcountry:
I contacted Mauser and they said they couldn't help at all. Go figure. I thought those German companies, kept excellent records.

*Nod* Americans, in their blitheful isolation, must from time to time reminded that the political and especially military history of Middle Europe in the 20th century was ever so slightly different from the USA. But in the case of the Mauser Oberndorf factory, we have the truly Great Exception that it were not Americans, for once, who stole all the stuff.

:-)
Carcano

02 March 2002, 07:26

<bigcountry>

Ok, I have read that passage over and over. Are you saying that the records for the Mauser company was got by the Americans?

Carcano91, while I got your attention. I figured you could help me with a question. I got some friends here at work that are from Hanover and one from Munich. They tell me they don't know a person in Germany that owns guns of any kind. They try to tell me that Germans have no need of such items and no interest in weapons of any kind. So now that I have your attention, could you give me the real story? Especically since Germany makes some fine shooting optics.

02 March 2002, 13:26

carcano91

quote:
Originally posted by bigcountry:
Ok, I have read that passage over and over. Are you saying that the records for the Mauser company was got by the Americans?

I used the word "not".
The evacuation train was captured and looted by the French. Rumour it has most factory files still exist.

quote:
could you give me the real story? Especically since Germany makes some fine shooting optics.

Firearms ownership is subject to licensing. Prerequisites are legal age, a firearms knowledge & law & handling exam or its substitutes, and proof of need.

Licenses are mainly issued to sports shoters (competitive or at least club members), to hunters and collectors. Carrying licenses exist and are exactly as easy or as difficult to get as in New York City.

Hunters may acquire as many (repeating and single-shot) long arms as they wish, and may have two handguns without further proof of need.

Carcano

05 March 2002, 18:57

Big_R

Big:

What makes you think this rifle was made in Czech? If it was, it was probably made by BRNO which should be very good quality. I forget what the BRNO crest looks like, but someone here will know. What brand is the scope? If it's a Zeiss, you won't get any information there either. All their records were lost in a fire. Lastly, I wouldn't fire the gun if it chambers hard. Quite a few of the "bring back rifles" were actually rechambered for various rounds based on the 7 X 57 or 8 X 57 case. You may have a rifle chambered for something like 6 X 57 instead of .243 WIN.

With that being said, I'd buy it anyway. If the action is BRNO, and the scope is nice, it can be barreled and rechambered quite easily and cheaply. I think a nice Mauser action, large or small ring is worth $100.00.