Been looking at a Mauser 98 in a gun shop today, and was wondering about price range. It is a 1943 byf (oberndorf) 8mm Model 98. The stock is in fair shape, dark with a number of dings but solid. The metal finish is fairly good and all metal is present. I'm going back with a flashlight to check out the bore; it is dark and seems a little pitted, but is hard to tell. Some of the numbers are mismatched, but it looks fairly functional; it has a tag from SOG I think. I'm not looking for a pristine collector's piece but a solid German-made shooting Mauser. The tag is $259. Thoughts?

That doesn't sound too too bad.

Offer $200-25 cash and take it home.

It all really depends on the bore.

-Spencer

Thanks for the advice. I went back there today, it is indeed a Russian capture gun, not in bad shape. He wouldn't come down off his price so I told him to keep it.

Smart move sputser!! You can buy good Mausers via the web sites, auction arms and gunbroker in the 100 to 200 dollar range everyday. Don't need to spend any more than that. I just picked up a VZ-24 for $93.00

LLS

There are also some Turks out there that aren't bad and various models can be had for $90-$125 BUT, one doesn't know for sure how they will shoot until you go to the range. I've bought a dozen+ of the various mil-surps that are available now. Some shoot real good and a couple can't hold a six inch group at 50 yards.

I have two R/C M-98's. One shot good, one didn't. I have five Turks; four shoot good, one didn't.

I've come to like the longer Mausers; 1891's, Turk 1893/1903/1938's, 96 Swedes,and 98/22's, . The longer sight radius seems to help.

My favorite is the '29 Persians. They are very well made and the bores are often found very bright. They can often be found for under $300

That dealer paid in the neighborhood of $210 for that Mauser. He accepted the risk of getting a rifle that was less than solid. He had to pay a shipping charge and his FFL costs more with each renewal. His money is tied up with the rifle in the rack in the store. When he sells it to you, there is no transfer fee, and he warrants the gun to be in good condition without hidden faults because the reputation of his shop is at stake. Furthermore, he allowed you to handle the gun, look at the bore, and generally make a pest of yourself at his shop.

Then you tell him to keep it?

Clemson

Clemson - You hit the nail on the head! You reckon he will wonder why the dealer closed his doors the next time he needs a transfer done on something he bought over the internet? I support my local dealer when he has what I want or can get it for me. He treats me fairly when I buy something that is old/odd/normaly unobtainable. Without the local dealer, we will be SOL. I doubt if Walmart will do a transfer for us.

Clemson

the last time you went to buy a car did you ask to take it for a test drive?

Clemson...

are you suggesting that because sputster handled the rifle he should pay for it?

Anything is only worth what someone is prepared to pay for it... sputster wasn't prepared to pay what the dealer wanted... where's the problem??

quote:

He wouldn't come down off his price so I told him to keep it.

I am stating, not suggesting, that Sputster had an unrealistic view of the value of this particular firearm. $259 was a fair price based on what the dealer has in the gun and the fact that he has allowed Sputster to examine the gun at least twice. SOG's suggested retail price on that gun, by the way, is $479. No, I wouldn't pay $479 for it, but I would not consider $259 to be out of line at all. In fact, it is probably a great price for a genuine piece of history.

All of us with access to them should be happy that we have the smaller gun shops to visit, to examine and get information about the guns that they sell, and buy guns from. Walmart doesn't allow handling the guns in the store. The clerk takes the box to checkout.

When $20 determines that I am or am not going to buy a gun from a place that has spent time, provided information, provided an example or the actual gun to handle, and invested in the inventory, I should be ashamed of myself.

No, I don't own a gunshop, but I did stay in a Holiday Inn Express once.

Clemson

Here are some real world prices for RC K98s.RC K98s

I don't think I was being a pest. I did buy a gun case.

I can't think of any rifle that's trickier to buy than a German M98 mauser. I have one that I refinished and could probably get a pretty penny for since the stock and re-bluing finished so well. Truth be known, it's a gawd-awful rifle. Doesn't shoot worth a darn. It's been in 2 world wars and the barrel is the weak part. Some of these old timers are really the worse for wear, and if you're not experienced at checking them out you can get a real lemon. Just one military rifle collectors opinion. Best wishes.

Cal - Montreal

quote:

Originally posted by Clemson:
That dealer paid in the neighborhood of $210 for that Mauser.

He indeed paid too much then. Adults call this "risk of business". :-)

Carcano

I get a kick out of people who seem to think that they should be able to buy wholesale from a retailer?????

If you want dealer prices...then become a dealer! But even then, unless you can purchase in huge volume from the manufacturers you are still going to have to buy through a middleman that also has to make a profit to stay in business.

I have an FFL and the cost of renewing the license actually goes down each year, not up...but that’s about the only business cost that does so. I don’t sell firearms, only work on them at my home, because in California you have to have a store front in order to sell to the public.

To operate a retail firearms business requires a federal license, a state license, and in many cases a county and city license. The paper work alone on each sale takes quite a bit of time to complete. Toss in rent, utilities, employees (who continually want increased pay and benefits) and customers who want rock bottom prices.

It’s no wonder that smaller gun stores (and all small stores for that matter) go out of business so frequently.

Well said Rick. You hit da nail on da head.