Mauser Guns Collectors Forum
Rifles => KAR 98K Rifle => Topic started by: bu67 on January 12, 2014, 03:51:43 PM
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Where would someone look or who would one talk to in order to find an excellent, collectible K98k? Specifically, if a person wanted to find an all-matching, not restored, collectible K98k manufactured in Germany in 1939, 1940, or 1941? Manufacturing plants would include:
#42 (1939) Mauser Werke AG, Oberndorf
#147 (1939) J. P. Sauer und Sohn
#27 (1939) Erma
#243 (1939) Mauser Werke AG, Borsigwalde
----or their 2 or 3 letter manufacturers code if appropriate for 1940 and 1941
I haven't seen anything on Gunbroker.com, Gunauction.com, Gunsinternational.com, Gunsamerica.com, etc. that quite fits the bill over the past year or so. Oregon Guns had a fine one that I missed out on. I have not seen anything like this at the Houston Gun Collectors Association shows in the past 2 years. Law's book "Backbone of the Wehrmacht" has great photos of various collections including the Robert Jensen collection.
Any advice would be appreciated.
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The only thing I can suggest is to look everywhere you can think of. This would include local gun & hock shops, adds in the local paper, the internet, local gun shows and Shotgun News.
You can also run adds in local papers & SGN.
As with any specifik gun or militaria item, a matching Exc cond K98k is just where you find it. They are still out there, But getting harder to find all the time! In addition they are getting terribly expensive! A rifle that would have brought $300 15+ yrs ago will bring $2500 now.
Sarge
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They used to be everywhere up until about 8 to 10 years ago. Then the good German examples became became hard to find as they stopped coming into the country. I looked myself for a couple years. There were some worn and beat up ones around, but not the pristine examples like I used to pick up during the '90s.
They're out there. It's simply a matter of meeting the right guy, or being in the right place at the right time. One day last fall, I was in my local Fin & Feather store looking to buy a pistol. Over in the rifle rack was a beautiful 1943 BYF Mauser. The salesman (kid) told me it was brought in on consignment by a guy who inherited it and didn't really have any interest in guns. So I snatched it up for $500. That was the last place I expected to find a Mauser. So like I said, hopefully you'll find yourself in the right place at the right time.
If that wasn't ironic enough, it was just a month later, I was back at Fin & Feather. There was ANOTHER Mauser - a 1940 660. This one had all matching numbers. I felt an Angel was over me. I paid $800 for that one. Couldn't locate one to save my life for 2 years and then two dropped in my lap in one month. May go through another two year dry streak now.
I wish you the best of luck in your search. Just keep asking people. It's amazing the treasures that turn up if you just keep asking.