Mitchell's Mausers

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Anybody got one of these? I've been surveying WWII bolt guns recently with the hopes of finding one to turn into a hunting rifle. I came across an ad in Shotgun News for Mitchell's Mausers with a picture of a really beautiful looking K98. How are these rifles? I'm looking for a shooter here, so something that has been refinished or etc is fine.
 
The Mitchel Mausers rifles are nice looking rifles, but original WWII Rifles..... Google is your friend on this subject.

Original 98k rifles bring huge money. Russian Capture and Post-War reworks less, but are still somewhat original and historically significant rifles. Don't overlook the Yugoslavian M24/47, M48, and M98 rifles as they are quite nice as well.

Don
 
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I was researching a Mauser a while back. The best bang for my buck was a Yugo 24/47 from J&G then I put a nice Boyd's stock on it.
 
I'm sure the yugos are nice, but I would prefer a German one due to my German heritage. Just kinda partial to them.

I'll do some more research. The ad claimed them as original, but if they are parts built maybe I'll need to look around more.
 
Im not 100% sure if my mauser is a mitchels or not as i bought it from a local gun shop. But it shoots very well and is in great condition. It has the look of a mitchells, but im not sure. It works beautifuly and is a russian capture as it has the "x" stamped in the reciever. Keep your eyes open and youll find one. If mine is a mitchells, it sure shoots good, and that all i care about anyways.
 
Mitchell's uses deceptive advertizing and prices are about double of market value.

A true original German Mauser is pretty spendy. The Russian capture Mausers can be nice but can also be pretty ugly, varnished wood, peened out or X out marking on the metal.

The Yugo capture M48/98 is a German MOD98 reparation rifle. These had the German crest removed and stamped with the Slav crest. Many are in excellent condition, retaining many of the original German markings. Some received new barrels (1/4" shorter). These can be found fairly reasonable on Gunbroker.

This Yugo MOD98 is all matching and was under $200 off GB last year.
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Unless you like wasting money, avoid the Mitchell's and look on gunbroker, locally, etc. Also, if you want a German, be careful, because Mitchell's also sells Yugo 24/47 and I don't think they make it too clear its not German.

Also, if you're planning on sporterizing it I'd suggest getting something else since the German mausers are drying up.
 
If you want a German made rifle to sporterize I would suggest looking for one that has already had some work done in the 50s or 60s and finishing it. If you look on any of the gun auction sites you will find poorly done sporters for a lot less than a Mitchell, and you will be putting new life into something that isn't being used right now, and lost most of it's value long ago. I have had very good luck with this method in the past. Good luck with your project.
 
Thanks! As far as sporterizing it I figured I'd just add a scope, probably a replica Mauser sniper scope or an older looking Weaver to match the look of it. Thanks a lot for the info guys, Ill do some more searching.
 
THE ONLY thing Mitchels has is the NEW (as in NEW IN BOX) 48/63? Mauser they buy from Zastava, IF you can find that gun (Zastava 'classic' Mauser in K98 type stock) anywhere else, it's cheaper.

They are snake salesmen, remember these were the guys selling Ukrainian assembled 'sniper mosin-nagants' for $1200? This is for a gun that's a 91/30 grabbed from a pile, and with a REPRODUCTION PU scope and mount tossed on, you could buy the same gun without the extra coat of varnish for ~300 from 6+ distributers
 
Also be on the lookout for fakes, fake waffenampts....heck markings of any kind. Specific 98k's are very spendy....a great deal depends on where they were made. dot,dou,bnz.....they all mean something and before spending good money learn what they mean and why one is more then another.

If you are wanting to scope something I would suggest in passing on a real 98k...if you want a scoped rifle get one that someone has already "worked" on....if you take a drill to an original 98k you will kill the value.

If you want a real "sniper" german rifle....unless you are one of the new lotto winners start saving....they are actually very spendy in my book.
 
I'd add my two cents to some of the other posters: really fine condition Kar98k German Mausers are in very short supply, partly because so many have been ripped apart to serve as the base for a 'deer rifle'. When you can buy a new, purpose-built American-made bolt action sporter for around $400, there is no excuse for destroying a collectors' item, which is what these WW2 guns will become as their numbers dwindle.

As others have posted, if you check the gun auctions online or gun shows, you will find plenty of German-made '98s made up into sporters for very modest prices. If you feel the need to honor your German heritage, these are the guns to start with and modify to your needs. If you come across a really nice Kar98k, keep it as is and treasure it.
 
Just a thought. I have several Model 98 rifles that I am in the process of parting out because of pitted bores. If your project is going to involve a barreled action and your going to restock and rebarrel it, a poor bore is not a deal killer for you if you're not planning on using the original tube.

Don
 
I bought a Mitchell's several years ago for $450. Pricey- but the condition was unbelievable. 1938 with all matching numbers and prectically no wear for a rifle of its age. Bore is mirror- If I didn't know it was from before WWII, I'd say its been lightly handled but never fired. The stock has beautiful grain too- one of the nicest stocks I've every seen on a surplus firearm. Don't underestimate them, but I wouldn't buy one without seeing it in person first.
 
Don't fall for the gimmick that is their premium/collector grade packages. Otherwise, they are good shooters.
 
Hmm. Ok. Well, maybe if I just want to get one to scope and shoot, a Mitchell would be a good idea. I saw an ad in Shotgun News advertising BNZ rifles. Think this is right or false advertising? Pricing was on-par with their other stuff.
 
bnz rifles IIRC are styer rifles. Painting with a wide brush the rifles that seem to bring the highest $$ are SS rifles or "concentration camp" rifles.

Again I would go back to say take care in what you buy and if you are able find someone that knows what he is looking at...quite a bit of fakes out there.

As to Mitchell....I would not patronize his business....but that is just me.
 
Njal Thorgeirsson said:
I bought a Mitchell's several years ago for $450. Pricey- but the condition was unbelievable. 1938 with all matching numbers and prectically no wear for a rifle of its age. Bore is mirror- If I didn't know it was from before WWII, I'd say its been lightly handled but never fired. The stock has beautiful grain too- one of the nicest stocks I've every seen on a surplus firearm. Don't underestimate them, but I wouldn't buy one without seeing it in person first.
Click to expand...
Um, the problem is, it's a MITCHELL'S, which means it's going to be questioned by a serious collector, as they are snake oil salesmen. They make PRETTY gun, NOT collector guns.
 
Mitchell's are the equivalent of the slimy used car salesman who rolls back the odometer on a car. They've been known to add fake markings, and their advertising is extremely deceptive. They take $300 guns and turn them into something a knowledgeable collector wouldn't buy for $150, but they sell them for $500.
 
Both of my Yuogomausers came from Mitchell's.
I was looking for "new" shooters in excellent condition & was quite happy to pay THEM to remove the cosmo & clean them up.
Denis
 
I had a Turkish Mauser that would have been perfect for that. Give $89.95 for. Was 8mm (or 7.92mm S ?) Good luck, please don't cut up a collector. Sell it and buy 5 more others. That was 7 Years ago.
 
Some seasoned Mauser owners reported that Mitchell's barely avoided losing a lawsuit, which charged them with fraud.

Since then, some of their ads have admitted that Yugo parts are included in their rifles.
 
In which rifles?
The Yugos have a shorter action than the German 98s, so they can't be sticking Yugo bolts in German rifles.
Otherwise, the Yugos are ALL Yugo parts.
What Yugo parts would fit on a German 98?
Denis
 
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