My new K98 Mauser

[Hamo]

Here is my new toy. Still waiting for all the paperwork to go through for the transfer, but should have it in a couple of weeks. 30-06. Over here a mauser in shooting condition goes for around $4-500 Aussie, this was a little more (But not too much), with the pic rail but no original sights. I saw the stock and had to have it. Doubt its an original stock but the advantage there is that I can alter it without ruining an original. Plan is probably to see how it shoots and potentially a .308 conversion in the long term, I have so much brass it makes reloading much cheaper. I'd also like to get an original set of sights and have some fun, and keep the glass for my long range rigs. Fun and cheaper.

Also, before you start asking questions about which make it is, or what year, what markings, I don't know. All i know is that the serial number starts with an F... More info to come.

 

[snert]

that's darn pretty!

 

[MrMajestic]

Grrrrr, tiger stripe! Very nice!

 

[nvbroncrider]

Really nice as long as it doesn't date in 44 or 45. That is an amazing stock on it even if it's a re-stock job. Very tempting to me if I saw one like that.

 

[Larryh128]

The manufacture date will be on top of the front receiver ring. You can look up the F prefix on the serial number & it will tell you who manufactured it.

 

[Hamo]

Update. I finally got my paperwork through. In Oz once you have a rifle there is no "cooling off period", but the firearms registry still takes weeks to process your paperwork... something about government employees. Wonder if its the same in other countries.

Anyway, picked up my new toy. I have some details. Its stamped 1952 R. Famage. From what the net tells me these were either newly manufactured Colombian, or re-barrelled in colombia post war with their previous markings scrubbed off. The rear ring of the mauser is stamped ".30" for 30-06. Trigger is definately.... well... "military" and will need some work. The stock really isn't as pretty as it was in the picture, but I'm working on bringing it up to shine. It really needs some bright light to show off the tiger striping. The finish feels like someone attacked it with 10 thick layers of varnish and its not done particularly well. I think someone has probably attacked this with sandpaper previously to finish it... some of the metalwork stands a little too proud for my liking and I think its a hint to its previous history

The barrel, barrel bands, bayonette lug and trigger guard are all in great shape. The Action and bolt could use a re-finish. The pic rail that came mounted to the rear sight had clearly been delicately altered with an angle grinder to make it fit... lucky the rifle looks like it was spared the same treatment.

As for having an original mauser, I think I can throw that out the window. Its good in my opinion. I don't need to keep it true to the original. I just want to end up with a fun, enjoyable gun to shoot. I'm trying to figure out how to import a set of MOJO sights for it to Australia... they are very appealing for what I want to do to this rifle

Anyway, heres a few more pictures for you all:










and after about 15 minutes of having a look... my screwdriver got the better of me: