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The voices in my head say I’m just being paranoid
Joined:
Oct 2013
Posts:
41576
EE: 100% (120)
KY, USA
Posted: 1/30/2026 9:46:07 PM EDT
[Last Edit: Sputnik556][Edited]
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A buddy picked this up, I know a little bit about them but I’m no expert. I also don’t know how he should handle a few aspects of it. The rifle apparently got some water damage at one point, the buttplate is fairly heavily pitted and has active rust on one side and the wood has darkened around it. He’s not sure what to do with this. Replace the buttplate, try to clean it up, leave it alone? It also has what I assume is the original sling, it’s showing a lot of age. Again, we aren’t sure if he should treat it with something, carefully remove it to avoid further damage or just leave it alone. He plans to shoot this a little bit, so we thought maybe a reproduction sling might be a good idea. There are a few pitted areas on the barrel but the bluing appears to be intact, so we are wondering if it was refinished at some point? Also, estimated value? All numbers match and I haven’t seen the bore but it’s apparently not rusted or heavily worn. Attached File Attached File Attached File Attached File Attached File Attached File Attached File Attached File |
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Oil it and leave it alone! There are repro slings. I’d do that much. Do not do anything aggressive to the pitting on the butt or anywhere else. Rub oil there and call it good. J.P. Sauer and Sohn, they made a lot of those! My first K98k is a Sauer but a different stamp that isn’t coming to mind, mine is a mixmaster Russian Capture though. Cost me about $220 iirc bought from a favorite arfcommer. Yea, it was a while ago. Edit, I think mine is a 147 marked Sauer. |
The only hyphenated names I like are cartridge names......30-06, 30-40, 38-55 etc.
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The sling has "red rot" which is due to the old type of tanning used. There's nothing that can be done to help that, it's service life is over. Buy a new/replica sling. For the butt plate, clean up with a Kroil soak and a scrub with a brass toothbrush or a Big .45 pad. After cleaning it could just be painted to protect it. |
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I'd remove the butt plate and scrub any rusty areas with 0000 steel wool + generous amounts of oil. That should rub the rust off. Same for any rust you see. This method won't affect bluing. If you're feeling lazier, you could just soak it submerged in Evapo-Rust, but then you'll have to rub this weird gooey coating off of the outside. (It may change the color slightly too.) Ze Germans left that style of butt plate (which is called "cupped") in the white (unfinished) but you could put a finish on it if you want. That whole rifle has already been refinished. I can't tell if someone peened the swastika off those waffenampts or not. If so, it's likely a Russian capture. (That's what mine is too.) The Russians randomly omitted peening about 30% of the rifles. If he wants to replace the cupped butt plate, another can be found for $30 to $50. Here's what an original looked like: https://www.k98kforum.com/threads/k98-butt-plate-interesting-find.55118/ I bought one of these $10 Amazon slings: https://www.amazon.com/German-Rifle-Leather-Carry-Sling/dp/B09BVHVH5H And it's exactly as good as this $30 sling that I also bought  : https://www.atthefront.com/product-p/gwk98s.htmNowadays that's probably about an $800 rifle. |
The voices in my head say I’m just being paranoid
Joined:
Oct 2013
Posts:
41579
EE: 100% (120)
KY, USA
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Originally Posted By KitBuilder: I'd remove the butt plate and scrub any rusty areas with 0000 steel wool + generous amounts of oil. That should rub the rust off. Same for any rust you see. This method won't affect bluing. If you're feeling lazier, you could just soak it submerged in Evapo-Rust, but then you'll have to rub this weird gooey coating off of the outside. (It may change the color slightly too.) Ze Germans left that style of butt plate (which is called "cupped") in the white (unfinished) but you could put a finish on it if you want. That whole rifle has already been refinished. I can't tell if someone peened the swastika off those waffenampts or not. If so, it's likely a Russian capture. (That's what mine is too.) The Russians randomly omitted peening about 30% of the rifles. If he wants to replace the cupped butt plate, another can be found for $30 to $50. Here's what an original looked like: https://www.k98kforum.com/threads/k98-butt-plate-interesting-find.55118/ I bought one of these $10 Amazon slings: https://www.amazon.com/German-Rifle-Leather-Carry-Sling/dp/B09BVHVH5H And it's exactly as good as this $30 sling that I also bought : https://www.atthefront.com/product-p/gwk98s.htmNowadays that's probably about an $800 rifle. It’s definitely not a Russian capture, it’s shows no signs of that and all the numbers match. |
If you aren't representing Jesus in a way that makes people want to hang out with you, you're doing it wrong.
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Originally Posted By KitBuilder: I'd remove the butt plate and scrub any rusty areas with 0000 steel wool + generous amounts of oil. That should rub the rust off. Same for any rust you see. This method won't affect bluing. If you're feeling lazier, you could just soak it submerged in Evapo-Rust, but then you'll have to rub this weird gooey coating off of the outside. (It may change the color slightly too.) Ze Germans left that style of butt plate (which is called "cupped") in the white (unfinished) but you could put a finish on it if you want. That whole rifle has already been refinished. I can't tell if someone peened the swastika off those waffenampts or not. If so, it's likely a Russian capture. (That's what mine is too.) The Russians randomly omitted peening about 30% of the rifles. If he wants to replace the cupped butt plate, another can be found for $30 to $50. Here's what an original looked like: https://www.k98kforum.com/threads/k98-butt-plate-interesting-find.55118/ I bought one of these $10 Amazon slings: https://www.amazon.com/German-Rifle-Leather-Carry-Sling/dp/B09BVHVH5H And it's exactly as good as this $30 sling that I also bought : https://www.atthefront.com/product-p/gwk98s.htmNowadays that's probably about an $800 rifle. Great looking rifle. As others have said, it's been refinished but well done. (Just my 2%). Yep, sling is toast, either get a repro or atleast file that one away. Just my SWAG, but i'd also agree 800ish. But you'd have to post all the serial numbered parts to see how that increases it. |
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