redlabel, ya do know that the M48s ya get at the gunshow all already have new barrels don't ya? The M48 was totally rearsenaled in 1948, the rifles Mitchells sells are EXACTLY the same rifles ya will get at a gun show in their service grade except at the gunshow you will only pay $109 for it.
Their refinished rifles have ZERO as in absolutally no collector value because what Mitchells does is take that same gunshow rifle, remove the original stock and sand it to completally smooth removing all cartouch stampings and other historical markings they then restamp everything, the metal generally doesn't require any reblueing since they were already totally reblued in 1948 but in the event one does it gets a low quality hot dip blued that again ruins collectability, if there is any rust pitting it will be sanded out before reblueing........ non matched numbers? no problem they will restamp them all matching!
Mitchells mausers get their rifles that they start with from the exact same sellers that Century, Samco, Ten. guns, Interarms etc.. all get their rifles from there is absolutally no difference EXCEPT that Mitchells will refinish theres destroying its collectability, there TARGET customer is the uninformed newbie without the experience nor knowledge to know that refinishing a collectable rifle is a no-no.
I've bought several 48s off the shelves of various dealers as well as ordered myself directly from Century Tat are 100% in unissued / unfired condition, its not hard to do as they were rearsenaled, then stored and never got issued the Yugoslavs issued the SKS for their next battle rifle, no wars between 1948 and 1959 .............
Most folks who have since learned about Mitchells mausers are reluctant to ever admit they were once uninformed enough to get taken by them, I must applaud ya for being so willing to come forward even though your post above does show that you still have not learned anything about Milsurps (ya don't even know what kinda shape the barrels/ stocks really are in under the cosmoline on them gunshow m48s this points to a lack of experience with actually handling any other rifles besides the overpriced and now worthless Mitchell) but still to step forward even if only in an attempt to not feel so bad about paying as much as 3 times too much for that m48 is applaudable friend, if ya ever get to a point ya really wanna know just how badly ya were taken in buying that refinished now non-collectable mauser just got to the WTS section of gunboards.com there are a couple on there one guy has been trying to sell for about a month for LESS than he paid via Mitchells mausers... it has no value and is unsaleble unless ya find someone evel less knowledgable to unload em on.... a site dedicated to collectors with several thousand online at any given hour and can't even get less outa it...... but some of those $109 gunshow mausers with their shiny new barrels.... they have sold for up to 3 times the purchase price.... why? the buyer knew what to look for when buying and then DID NOT REFINISH IT, he will only remove the Cosmoline with as little effect to the wood or metal as possible....... don't even mention sand paper or boiled linseed oil around real collectors ya could caue em to have a stroke
