Mitchell's Mausers

[MythBuster]

A guy came into our local gun shop with one of these still "new in the box".He just bought it for about $400

The shop owner reached behind the counter and produced a M-48 that looked just as nice as the MM rifle.

He offered to sell it for $175.

The $175 rifle could have been switched with the MM rifle and the owner would have to look very closely to know the difference.

The guy was no longer so happy about his "new" Mauser.

To makes matters worse about $130 cash would buy the nice Mauser the dealer had.

 

[Aguila Blanca]

Is MM deceptive? No, read between the lines with all companies. Am I pleased with my own MM products (an M48 and a K98)? Yes, with both. Were they worth the money? I feel I got my money's worth.

Read between the lines?

Go back to the first page of this thread and read the post in which someone quoted from Mitchell's ad for the M48. The ad in which they claimed the M48 is a 98K.

I have one of each. They ain't the same. The M48 isn't even a full-length '98 Mauser action, it's an "intermediate" (I think that's the term) length action.

Basically, you're paying them about $250 to clean of the cosmoline and print up a worthless "certificate of authenticity" to hang on the wall.

Here it is. It was quoted by Glenn Bartley:

A “NEW” Mauser, and it’s over 50 years old!

A genuine Mauser 98K, the Model M48 is the Strongest and Best of the original bolt-action Rifles. Made on German Tooling set up in formerly occupied Serbia. Military-New condition with clean, Bright Bores, and Teakwood stocks, with an American Owner’s Manual covering history, operation, and safety. “Military-New” means it is ready for you; cleaned and tested to assure safety and your satisfaction. Maintained Combat-Ready (and it still is) for over 50 years, now it can be yours. Original Factory matching serial numbers on all rifle parts. Preserved by an accident of history, supply is limited. All original accessories as issued at the time and shown here are sold separately. This Mauser is ideal for collecting, target shooting, hunting, or customizing.

We guarantee it!

Some people may be getting the mistaken impression that these rifles were manufactured by Germans during the occupation. That is not the case. These rifles were manufactured with German technology in Serbia after the people had driven the Germans out of Yugoslavia.

This is an important distinction, because that is one of the reasons why the Model 48 is recognized as a superior example of the K98 type military rifle. The factory in Serbia was not bombed, like the German factories during the war. The factory in Serbia had a good supply of raw materials. And the Model 48 was produced by free people, instead of forced labor. All of which resulted in a superior rifle in its own right, as well as an interesting piece of history.

 

[Ash]

And of course, the reason why folks were getting confused about these made by the Germans is that MM boldly proclaimed they were made in 1943 during German occupation by the German occupiers! That story later changed, but it was a clear statement at the time.

Ash

 

[Geno]

Apparently I need to read when I awake, or at least not near-brain-dead. For me, because I know solidly what is, and what is not a Mauser and a K98, I wasn't overly concerned. The differences stood out clearly to me. A WWII rifle could not be built in 1948. But, as I re-read it, and kept in mind, what if it were someone who did not know of the Mauser, would it be clear? No. As I re-read, then the part that really (eventually) smacked me in the face was their advertisement, "...genuine Mauser 98K, the Model M48...":

A “NEW” Mauser, and it’s over 50 years old! A genuine Mauser 98K, the Model M48 is the Strongest and Best of the original bolt-action Rifles. Made on German Tooling set up in formerly occupied Serbia. Military-New condition with clean, Bright Bores, and Teakwood stocks, with an American Owner’s Manual covering history, operation, and safety. “Military-New” means it is ready for you; cleaned and tested to assure safety and your satisfaction. Maintained Combat-Ready (and it still is) for over 50 years, now it can be yours. Original Factory matching serial numbers on all rifle parts. Preserved by an accident of history, supply is limited. All original accessories as issued at the time and shown here are sold separately. This Mauser is ideal for collecting, target shooting, hunting, or customizing.

We guarantee it!

Some people may be getting the mistaken impression that these rifles were manufactured by Germans during the occupation. That is not the case. These rifles were manufactured with German technology in Serbia after the people had driven the Germans out of Yugoslavia.
This is an important distinction, because that is one of the reasons why the Model 48 is recognized as a superior example of the K98 type military rifle. The factory in Serbia was not bombed, like the German factories during the war. The factory in Serbia had a good supply of raw materials. And the Model 48 was produced by free people, instead of forced labor. All of which resulted in a superior rifle in its own right, as well as an interesting piece of history.

Thank-you for the re-direct folks! In closing, I do still feel that I got good rifles, at good prices, but yes MM needs to take efforts at full clarity.

Doc2005

 

[xsquidgator]

Thank-you for the re-direct folks! In closing, I do still feel that I got good rifles, at good prices, but yes MM needs to take efforts at full clarity.

Doc2005

Er, I would beg to differ slightly. I would say "ok rifles made to look pretty, at high prices". My dad gave me a Mitchell's Mauser K98 and going by the ads I've seen in the American Legion magazine, he paid $400 or $500 plus FFL transfer for it. After I later got a C&R license, I realized one could get a real K98 for about $230 plus the $30 for the C&R license. Yugo M48 dealer prices are more in the $130 range. I like my Mitchell's K98, and shoot it fairly often, and I'm glad for the gift. BUT, knowing what I know now, if I knew my dad was about to buy me one for a gift, I'd do it differently and get a lot more gun or ammo for the $.

I think buying a Mitchell's Mauser is like buying a stereo from a furniture rental place. Sure you can get an ok stereo but you'll pay through the nose for it.