Old War Horses Value/Cost ?

[WisBorn]

I know that everything gun related has went up this year, but I was surprised today with the price tag on a Mauser 98 8mm in a local pawnshop!
What should a 98 in good to fair condition sell for?
Also what should we pay for Mosin Nagant?

 

[wiscoaster]

Remembering that "value is in the eyes of the beholder" and that "cost" is what he'd actually pay for the item, so both are completely subjective. That being said ... and you didn't mention what the price tag that you found surprising actually said ... I'm guessing that what you saw on the price tag was in the neigborhood of $900 for the Mauser (assuming a common Russian capture) and $500 for the Mosin (assuming a common round-receiver 91/30), plus or minus 20%. Whether or not that number represents value ... I dunno. But it's going to be its cost if you want to make it yours.

 

[gotboostvr]

I very vividly remember the days of <$100 Mosins.

They were an OK buy at that price.

At $500, unless it's an unissued Finn with some extras I'd buy almost any other rifle.

 

[Alaskan Ironworker]

Ive been seeing really beat up mauser 98s going for $400-$500, and mosins going for $300-$450.

 

[BigBore44]

What should a 98 in good to fair condition sell for?
Also what should we pay for Mosin Nagant?

Fair to good 98? $350 Good to excellent? $600
Mosin in fair to good? Personally, I’d pass. Good to excellent? ~$450

But here’s the problem with 98’s (and other milsurps). It’s all about the year, code, proof marks, import marks (none is best), and cartouches. And unless you know what you’re looking at, a $3000 K-98 looks exactly like a $400 K-98 and vice versa. But if the seller (like a pawnshop) doesn’t know what they’re looking at, which is certainly possible, they may have $800 on a $3k rifle.

 

[Bandit67]

And unless you know what you’re looking at, a $3000 K-98 looks exactly like a $400 K-98 and vice versa. But if the seller (like a pawnshop) doesn’t know what they’re looking at, which is certainly possible, they may have $800 on a $3k rifle.

Pawnshops around here would have the opposite. They would have a $3000 tag on an $800 rifle

 

[WisBorn]

Thanks for the responses. The price was $1295. I didn't ask to look at it as I thought it was a nuts price.
I asked about the Mosin as I gave mine to a nephew a couple of years ago . It was a Tula 91/30 with a round receiver. It is in above average condition. I paid to much for it in 2016 @ $280. It is probably worth $600 compared to the 98 I saw. To me those old war rifles should be enjoyed by shooting them!

 

[P5 Guy]

Several years ago I sold this K98 for $450, today I would guess $700 to $800 a fair price.
So much depends on when, who and where the rifle was made. This 1944 dot was made in occupied Czechoslovakia.
There were a bunch of K98 and 48 from Yugoslavia brought into the U.S.A. in the late 1990s. While good shooters collectors hold them to lower values.
Mauser rifles were made in many other counties and vary in quality. Buyer beware.

 

[wiscoaster]

... Good to excellent? $600....

If you see a K98 in that condition for that price, please let me know, 'cuz I'll buy it so fast your head will spin.

 

[wiscoaster]

The rifle pic'ed above by @P5 Guy is without reservation a $1K+ rifle in today's market.

 

[P5 Guy]

The rifle priced above by @P5 Guy is without reservation a $1K+ rifle in today's market.

A picky collector would note the cleaning rod is missing.

 

[hdbiker]

I bought my mint 1946 Mosin Nagant # 44 at a yard sale for 75 bucks.... hdbiker

 

[wiscoaster]

A picky collector would note the cleaning rod is missing.

Eh ... there are plenty available for under $50.

 

[WisBorn]

@P5 Guy that is one nice looking rifle!

 

[Mosin77]

A “mauser 98” can be just about anything... South American, German, Czech, Yugo, etc etc.

If it’s German, even a cruddy Russian capture is a $750-1100 gun these days. A nice matching one 2500-3500+.

A Mosin in common, Russian-refurb wartime dated 91/30 trim is still a $350-450 rifle at least around my area. A more uncommon variant can be $500-1500.

 

[FL-NC]

A $500 Mosin better have a PU scope and Vasili's signature on it, IMO.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

I paid 49 bucks for my Mosin at a department store. After owning it a bit, I thought I overpaid.

 

[illinoisburt]

Literal bargain barrel guns left over from a war 3 generations ago. Since all those barrels got emptied a while ago they aren't so common or cheap these days. I had a goofy thread a couple years ago contemplating if the Mosin Nagant 91/30 and other flavors had finally become collectors items. The consensus was probably not yet (and hopefully never for some folks). I think we are simply at the point where there aren't cargo ships full of WW1/2 guns taking up space anymore. If someone wants one its going to take some searching so the ones on the shelf are being priced more like a collectable.

 

[Jeff olson]

Several years ago I sold this K98 for $450, today I would guess $700 to $800 a fair price.
So much depends on when, who and where the rifle was made. This 1944 dot was made in occupied Czechoslovakia.
There were a bunch of K98 and 48 from Yugoslavia brought into the U.S.A. in the late 1990s. While good shooters collectors hold them to lower values.
Mauser rifles were made in many other counties and vary in quality. Buyer beware.

Mausers confuse me more than any firearm ever made.

 

[Downwindtracker2]

There have been a few books written about them. I like sporters, they are fun to work on, I have a 98 and a 96. A M1903/30 Turk and a M1896/38 Swede. Plus a three commercials, a couple of FNs and a Zastava.

 

[swg1]

Mausers confuse me more than any firearm ever made.

Puh , M1 carbines cuz for the most part they seem to a bunch of parts guns after all the arsenal refurbs. Mine came with a notebook sheet listing all the disparate parts. And a coat of varnish.

Mausers are far easier.

Seems like a good time to part with a mosin or two. Get another Mauser. Got my eye on a Persian 49.

 

[Mosin Bubba]

If the Mauser is a Gewehr 98 (super long barrel), I would give you $400 for so-so shooter condition or $500 for nice condition.

 

[BigBore44]

If you see a K98 in that condition for that price, please let me know, 'cuz I'll buy it so fast your head will spin.

 

[wiscoaster]

All but two are Yugos, and all are already sold, anyway. The 1942 K98 for $751 looked pretty interesting. I wouldn't buy it off one picture, but if it's in NRA Very Good condition, the price is more than acceptable. For that price and condition it would have been snapped up before noon of the first day of the gun show I went to recently.

 

[BigBore44]

All but two are Yugos, and all are already sold, anyway. The 1942 K98 for $751 looked pretty interesting. I wouldn't buy it off one picture, but if it's in NRA Very Good condition, the price is more than acceptable. For that price and condition it would have been snapped up before noon of the first day of the gun show I went to recently.

I was simply pointing out that they are out there if you look, and are patient. I think they were also all sold within the last 2 weeks so that’s with the current market. There were more I could have posted. I thought 9 would be sufficient. Just because 75-90% of them are going for $1k or more doesn’t mean they all are. There’s a reason I buy my guns typically 50% of what the going price is. It’s because I search, I’m patient, and I don’t subscribe to “the value of a gun is dictated by the market”. That’s market value. Not my value. You didn’t need a K98 last week. You likely won’t need one next week. So what’s the rush? Trying to flip one before the market falls?