Kar 98 comparisons

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Dr.Rob

Dr.Rob

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Hey all... Dad just asked me... are Mitchell's $400 rifles THAT much different than the other Kar98's flooding the market at the moment?

Saw Lew Horton even has a pile of 98's to unload, with mfg codes to choose from.

Seems like the majority of what's out there are electropenciled Russian captures.

So, those of you with 98k's sound off... what do YOU think the 'best value' 98k on the market is these days? Which one would you buy?

Not Yugos, just 98Ks.

(Think dad is muddling buying one after shooting mine.)
 
Mitchells $400 Mausers aren't even K98s. They are model Yugo model 48s that you can buy in most places for a $100 that they cleaned up and stuck a bit of varnish on it where they refinished the stock. Many are well shot having been used extensively with corrosive ammo that they tend to sell and even their collectors marks aren't very good with very light markings. At least they stop saying the stocks are made from teak nowadays.

My favourite trick by them is when they put the WW2 SS markings on Yugo M48 (yes that means the year 1948) rifles and tried to pass them of as authentic.

If you lucky you might find one for sale at Southern Ohio Gun or Aim Surplus still for $99 that every bit as good as Mitchell's Mausers. They use deceptive practices to con people into paying three or four times what a rifle is worth.

The Russian captures tend to be quite good. Many are rebuilt though you still find some with matching numbers out there and are honest to god K98s, many of them being in better condition than the Mitchell Mausers and less than half the price for an authentic WW2 rifle.
 
Mitchell's does now have a supply of real 98k's, but they're not very specific about where they came from. The picture in the recent ad shows a 98k with a bolt in-the-white, which is not original. I would hazard a guess that they are garden-variety Russian captures (or rearlenaled Yugoslavian 98k's) that have been given a "miracle make-over" for sale to the unwary. I'd feel much safer ordering a Russian capture from Empire Arms - you can choose the code and date you want and are pretty much guaranteed to get a rifle in better condition than what was described.

HTH,
vanfunk
 
When I was Mauser 98k shopping a couple years ago I picked up one of those reworked Russian Captures since I wanted something historically interesting that was also a shooter I wouldn't have to baby.

There are a few collectors out there who won't even own a RC 98k, as if it's RC status were contagious and they were afraid their "real" 98k's could be afflicted :uhoh: . I also know a guy who only has room for one 98k in his collection, and wants it to be a GI bring-back. That I can understand.

However, I'm not so picky. I once saw a pristine GI bring-back 98k in a shop that specialized in milsurps. I was a little hesitant to handle something I had no intention of purchasing, but the dealer insisted. When I remarked "So this is what they are supposed to look like. . . " the whole shop burst out in laughter. I knew it would likely be the only time I would have a chance to purchase one in that kind of shape, but I passed because for the price I would have had to pay, I could buy other nice guns that I would also shoot a lot.

So what I'd say is "Depends on what your Dad wants it for." I just wanted a historic example of the 98k design that I wouldn't hesitant to shoot whenever the mood struck me. As far as markings, original matching numbers, etc. that wasn't a big deal to me (mine has the Weimar eagles).
 
I think....

from what I've heard from various people is that the guns they are selling now are NOT as good as the ones they originally had. My best shootin' buddy bought one of the "original" ones when they first started advertising them, came with all the accessories, etc. And it IS a matching number K98 in excellent condition. But, what they have now, may not be all that they say it is.
 
"Friends don't let friends buy Mitchell's Mausers."

"Just say NO!"

I would instead buy with confidence from Dennis at Empire Arms or Aim Surplus. I've had the best luck with those two C&R suppliers.
 
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