Help-Gewehr 98 value

[MachIVshooter]

Alright guys, I'm having a bit of difficulty assessing a correct value for my newest acquisition-A 1918 manufacture Gewehr 98. You all help me figure out what it's worth, then I'll say what I paid for it. Here's some pics:





The receiver top picture didn't come out that well, but it's marked

WAFFENFABRIK
MAUSER A.-G.
OBERNDORF A/N
1918

The right side of the receiver has 3 marks; the first is (I think) a "C" or "G", the other two are definitely "E". All are crowned. Receiver and barrel S/N's are matching, no number on the bolt. The Triggerguard/floorplate assembly has a different number.

Overall condition is good; some very minor rust pitting on the bolt handle, extractor claw and safety tang, but otherwise finish and Stock condition are +/- 70%. Bore is excellent, no dings or deep scratches anywhere.

The only thing I'm curious about are some markings on the right and left sides of the chamber, just behind the rear sight. I'm guessing this rifle was issued to the Turk's as it reads (in plain print) "Cal. 8mm TURKEY" on the right, the N A CO. on the left.

So help me out. Pretty please.

 

[cracked butt]

Just a wild scientific guess though I'm probably wrong- the 'E' marking might be a CZ acceptance mark. The CZ acceptance mark typically looks like a capital E followed by a small stamp that crudely looks like a lion followed by the number 23.

CZ got some GEW 98s and some rifle making machinery after WWI and started rearsenalling/rebuilding GEWs, and building new ones from parts, and eventually modified the design a bit to make VZ-22 rifles (98/22s) as the GEW parts ran out. 98/22 rifles often have GEW parts on them like the parade hook on the front band (as seen in one of your pictures) and a parade sling swivel on the front trigger guard (note the hole in front of the trigger guard) and sometimes Lange sights. Yours was obviously made at Oberndorf. Most of the Gewehr-length rifles that were made by CZ or went through CZ were sent to Turkey when they were replaced by carbine models such as the VZ-23 and VZ-24.

As for the value? No idea, but it sure looks like a nice rifle. Try the German rifle board at milsurpshooter.com....

Germany did export a lot of rifles prior to WWI, and a lot to Turkey. Not sure if they sent any during the war, and its very unlikely that they did any exporting of military riflesafter the war as they were forbidden to manufacture them.

 

[Vaarok]

You have a Turked Gew-98 by the import mark. Not a bad thing, all the German quality with less sticker shock. Worth $200ish depending on condition, more if all the small parts have the same serial.

 

[MachIVshooter]

Figured it was probably worth a little more than the $100 I paid for it.

 

[Limeyfellow]

You paid a good price. Congrats.