mauser gew 98 info?

[spacemanspiff]

i was killing some time in a pawn shop earlier, and they have this gew 98 with markings that indicate it was manufactured in Berlin, and has the year 1916 stamped in big type on the reciever. i did some searches but couldnt come up with anything that looks similar (most are for the spanish 1916 mauser) and am rather tempted.
even though the rifle has plenty of flaws such as a sporterized stock that has checkered on right and left sides, and it really inst aesthetically pleasing to me.
the serial numbers match, the bolt is nice, couldnt tell much about the bore, oh yeah, and theres a sizable crack in the stock just behind the reciever.
there is no rear sight, it has been set up to have a scope, which i'm not too keen on.
but they're asking $249, down from $312, and according to their records, they've had this rifle for about a year.
can anyone tell me anything that might tempt me into buying this? if i did, i'd want to replace the stock with something more original, and would really like to have a rear sight back on it.

 

[Clemson]

It sounds as though Bubba already got to this particular rifle. It would be a difficult restoration project with the gun already drilled and tapped for scope and the bolt handle altered. You might find a stock for a nearly 100 year-old rifle, but finding the exact, correct one would be a difficult task. Finally, there is the price. I usually advise folks not to let $50 stand between them and the gun that they want, but this rifle sounds like it is terribly overpriced for its condition. This gun sounds like it is good for the action only, and that would make it a $100 rifle at best. I think I would leave it in the rack, but it is your call to make.