GEW 98 Help

[hereiamnia]

Hi everyone. Last week I picked up a rifle at a pawnshop. On top of the reciever it says WAFFENFABRIK
MAUSER A/G
OBERNDORF a/n
1916
On the side of the reciever is Gew. 98 in cryllic(?) lettering. Barrel is 23.5" long and looks like it was shortened. And not very well done either. Action looks great except for minor cosmetics. Looks like a spray and bake finish. The stock has a beautiful shine and very light handling marks. Stock comes to 9.25" below end of barrel. Bolt is bent not straight like most Mausers. Action works smooth and seems great. No info on caliber anywhere. Pawnshop guy told me .30-06, but he also told me it was a Swedish gun? Anybody have any info or values on this rifle?

 

[Vaarok]

Hacked up WW1 German Gew98 long rifle. A pitiful end to a proud warhorse.

Should/probably did once look more like mine:



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gewehr_98


It's "gothic" lettering on the side of the reciever, and the seller is doubtless wrong on caliber and origin. He thought it was swedish because it has a stock disc. That disc tells the issued regiment, and is a pre-war/early war feature that is very desireable. Or would be, on a complete rifle. The finish is incorrect, poorly polyurethaned, and the stock's been hacked off.

Caliber should be 8x57 Mauer, but could be 8mm-06, where the 8x57 chamber was reamed out to 8x63. Or it could be an 8x60 or other wildcat.

Front sight looks original, but I can't tell overall barrel length.

The bent bolt is bad, and not original/correct. If it matches, you could have it straightened.

A new military stock off a Czech Vz-98 or Vz98/22 will work to fit your rifle back in military trim.

Depending on if it's had the chamber lengthened, bore condition, and matching versus nonmatching numbers, I would give no higher than $175 for that rifle with intent to restore to military trim. It's ruined as far as originality, but not far enough gone (no drill or tap, right?) to sporterize permanently.

 

[hereiamnia]

No it hasn't been drilled for a scope. I was actually thinking about new barrel, new caliber, a scope and see how it works.

 

[SigfanUSAF]

Anybody have any info or values on this rifle?

$100 give or take. The only thing any "good" will be the receiver and triggerguard. For the love of God, please don't drill it! I have other Mauser receivers I'll gladly trade you for that one!

 

[Vaarok]

SigFan didn't just buy a tiger-striped 98/22 stock...

And really, please don't hack it further. It's been insulted enough already, it deserves respect and restoration. A '16 Obie isn't a terrifically rare rifle, but you don't need to go and make all the others a little bit rarer when there's other completely ruined guns out there already drilled and tapped and brand-new remchesters coming off the line every day.

And if what's there still matches down to the screwheads, as they so often do, anything less than a full-military redo would just be a sad end for it.