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Posted: 1/18/2008 9:25:18 PM EDT
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I'm in the market for a Russian Capture K98. I have noticed that a Classic Arms does a great job of describing and rating the rifles for sale. Also, SOG tends to have some desirable dates and codes on their rifles. However, do these RC K98s have any collector value? Will the value increase significantly in say 10 years? Additionally, I have noticed that pre-war K98s do not come with the correct stock (ie, they should be flat and hardwood not cupped and laminated). Does this make a nice S/42 G with an incorrect stock worth $400? What source is used by vendors to price these rifles? Lastly, what is a source of good information about the characteristics and markings of K98s by year? I've searched on Yahoo and have only found a few websites with information. Maybe a book or two would be the way to go? Any recommendations? Sorry for the long post. Thanks in advance! |
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The value of RC K98s is largely dependent upon condition and in some cases scarce features such as a Kriegsmodell stock, BSW code, 1945 date etc. Correct format has little to do with the value of an RC K98 because even if you switched the parts out to be correct, they still aren't matching or original. Unless you just want them to be more "correct" for your collection, don't waste your time if you think it will help the value. On the other hand, legit all matching K98s even in poor condition can go for upwards of $1,000. Refinish the wood and see what happens to the value, it would plummet. As with Classic Arms and Empire Arms, you are paying for the hand select condition that you would never be able to get otherwise unless you bought from another collector or just got the luck of the draw. They go through huge shipments of rifles and snatch out a lot of the good ones and then the rest go to the people who roll the dice. Given that RC K98s usually go for $220-250 from the vendors, what is another $50 to get a really nice one from Classic Arms? The supply of good condition RC K98s is decreasing and a lot of the remaining guns out there are either pinged or in poor condition. IMO in 10 years, the RC K98s with the scarce characteristics will probably fetch the most, and those in good condition will come next with the fair to poor condition coming in last. I can't speculate as to what their actual number values will be, although I doubt it will be as much as a lot of people are hoping but then again who knows. Also IMO, with the exception of a very small niche group of collectors, people will never value an original condition RC K98 with the black paint/shellac/varnish/whatever finish over one that has been stripped and nicely redone with BLO or some other close to original finish and is in good condition. The interest in the market overwhelmingly relates to Germany, not Russia. |
Uncharacteristically good advise for this forum  .40-50 years ago the 1945 dated rifles were avoided due to questionable quality of the last year of the war. This for a shooter grade rifle but also they weren't considered collectable. The Volksgewehr yes but not the last K98k rifles. The more desireable years were the 1936 to 1942 for integrity of the action. But this was also for original German K98k and not Russian floor sweepings. I've owned only one single veteran bring back K98k Portuguese and it was an extremely nice rifle. Sold it for a huge profit but should've kept it.. The only one I own now is a Yugoized de-nazified 1940 Mauser K98k. Very accurate rifle and I'm pleased with it as I wanted a shooter. I think as time goes by the Russian (Soviet really) war reparation rifles (captured from a pile laying on the ground) will have their own nitch as unmolested non-Soviet K98k were never imported from Germany. The early imports of K98k were from Czechoslavkai and Yugoslavia and Israel. It was fortunate if these rifles escaped being molested in one way or the other, i.e. markings or rebuilds. Tons and tons... hundreds of tons of K98k have been rebuilt and re-distributed around the world up to and including the Contras of Oliver North fame in the 1980s. Pretty amazing that K98k continue to show up in Iraq and continue being a viable combat rifle. What would you rather have at 500 yards? A M4 5.56mm or K98k 8x57mm? hahaha  No contest.A good basic all around Mauser book: Mauser Bolt Rifles by Ludwig Olsen. If you like Mausers and contemplate owning more then you need this book. The 4th edition of Robert Ball's Mauser Bolt Action Rifles as well (avoid 3rd edition). And if you contemplate being a hardcore K98k freak then Backbone of the Wehrmacht Vol. 1 & 2 by Richard Law. www.abebooks.com/servlet/SearchResults?an=law&sts=t&tn=backbone+of+the+wehrmacht&x=0&y=0 Dutch |
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