Here are some photos for those of you who wanted to see them. Honestly, it looks to me like the bolt handle has already been modified. It is bent very differently than the bolt on my authentic 98k. I never bothered to compare them as I haven't used this rifle since I was a kid. I reminds me more of the bolt handle on a Remington 700.
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That rifle is beautiful. I want mine to be something like that.
Now that I look at it again, I think my bolt handle has already been modified.
As for your last line, it is my thing. I love the history and the story...and frankly having something a little different. I was shooting my more original 98k a few weeks ago at the range and 2 people stopped me to ask what it was and wanted to see it (I even let one of them shoot it). I love that part of it...and this one has even more because there is a family history there.
This rifle has already been re-barreled and fully converted to 30.06. I do love the original 8mm round, but this is long past that. Personally, I prefer a military 2-stage trigger and plan on keeping it. I might look into cleaning it up a little, but I like 2 stage triggers.
Make it suit you. It is beautiful as is, but doesn't meet your requirements. As a family heirloom it has no monetary value because you won't be selling it.