charon... you are kidding yourself if you think a 150 buck 98k is as nice as the mitchel gun... Have you ever actually seen one?
Yes, I have seen several at gunshows. No, I never said they were as nice. I did say that for people wanting a real, WW2 era German K98K you can get some pretty clean looking results with a nice RC to begin with -- if that's your thing. And RCs are a lot cheaper than the $500 - $4000+ all matching, German "vet bring back" 98ks that also don't look near as nice as a MM. People don't pay $4000 for "nice" they pay that for history and the German Third Reich fascination and an original sniper or SS marking. Nice can certainly add value here, but that usually doesn't even extend to the bore condition from what I can tell. Once they get one they usually put it in the safe.
Here’s is one where the finished pics are missing now, but you can see the before and after cleaning pics (he didn’t even have to bleach the wood). The tongue oil finish he used made it really sharp and sparked some interest in doing that myself. I decided against it.
http://pic14.picturetrail.com/VOL531/2765013/5562315/99731460.jpghttp://pic14.picturetrail.com/VOL531/2765013/5562315/99731467.jpghttp://www.gunboards.com/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=112537Another refinished laminate stock half way down the page here under the K98 link (its the light blonde stock):
http://64.82.96.51/There’s another nicely refinished RC down the page here.
http://www.gunsnet.net/forums/showthread.php?t=257519&page=1&pp=30as for historical? what is historical other than history... the 48's have a very interesting history and they won't be making any more of em.
If all you want is a fine example of a 98 and you can't afford many guns... the mitchell isn't for you but.... I have the add and literature for the thing... they are most certainly not trying to fool anyone.
I would buy a $500 - $700 all matching K98k, if I was comfortable enough it wasn’t a fake or got that “want to get rid of grandpa’s old war rifle” $200 deal. But, because of the significant profits that can be enjoyed with real WW2 German and US weapons, there are a lot of people “humping” these up now. As to MM sales practices… That is no secret at all. They have gotten better though in the past couple of years, in the face of a lot of heat, but here are a few comments (of many) on those practices:
“i would never do business with mitchell's. they may have nice rifles , but their advertising is blatantly misleading, bordering on fraud. there is not one dang thing that is wwII era about their mauser rifles- they were made in 1948 and later, seems to me WWII ended prior to that. i hate crooked, deceptive, lying Mother F______r's. sorry about my venting and language, but i absolutely hate what those crooks have been doing for a long time….”
“which ad, their website which theyve finally relented and changed. or in the gun magazines which in every one the first few words are WWII era mauser rifles. and they make sure to mention the crest on the rifle is dated 1943. plus lets just go into calling it a k98-m48 series rifle. it isnt a k98 so they should not imply that it is, its an m48 and most parts are not interchangeable. soryy to rant but their ad's have torqued me off for a long time, and the ad's are still current as of my new dillons blue press and my issue of GUNS magazine dated december 2004….”
“Those ads are terrible about the K98. They are Yugo m48's and at $299 are way overpriced. I bought my unissued M48 with everything Mitchells show in their ads for $165.
I see they no longer advertise the stocks as being teak. I have never seen teak used on a gun stock, especially a a "wartime" mauser...” http://www.gunandgame.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-22483.html
Or,
Here’s a guy that couldn’t get a bid (with no reserve) on his pristine, unshot, Mitchell’s collector grade for $75 less than the current asking price:
http://web2.atlanta.gbhinc.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=35868556Or,
A variety of earlier claims debunked. They don’t mention Mitchell’s directly, but the ad copy they quote is the same as has been seen from Mitchell’s:
http://www.marstar.ca/Yugo-BS.htmOr,
Here’s a guy who has one, shoots a MM and likes it, but he knows the advertising deal. And some more comments:
Mitchells
Over-priced misleading advertising
They are not WWII K-98's, they were not used in WWII, they are post production rifles, but arguably are the last made and issued bolt action rifles used and commisioned in war.
However, I must say the rifle I got from them is in perfect condition and is a borderline tack driver (I say border line because I can't shoot well enough to confirm it)…
I think most people's problem with Mitchell's is their advertising. You have to read the ads carefully. Read what they actually say, rather than what you think they say. What you're getting are nearly new Mausers. A German World War-II era designed weapon, made on German equipment in Serbia.
Now for a nice, clean, nearly new Mauser with the accessories with it, is $299 too much? Only you can say.
If you want to be a collector as well as a shooter, these are worthless, they have no "history" behind them.
If you just want a shooter and don't care how nice it is or if you don't really want all of the accessories, then buy a cosmoline-loaded Russian capture or Yugo from the milsurp rack and use the $150 you save to buy about 5,000 rounds of ammo. Me? I'd prefer a cosmoline-soaked surplus rifle. But then, I collect as well as shoot, and I have a slight cosmoline Addiction… http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=148357
Or,
Here’s one guy that was confused by mitchell’s.
* The bluing is almost as it was in made in "43" (nope, not made in ’43).
* The teak is in factory new condition not a mark on it. (nope, no Teak used in spite of the ad copy)
* Plus it came with ALL original accessories that was issued at the time to German soldiers. (no German soldiers got “those” parts.)
He was set straight, and is not too upset:
I've since calmed down since my last post and realized that I did buy a good rifle in great working order. With yes a VG bore and I realize what I bought was not a WWII battlefield pickup. I just wanted to own a piece of history. I think the World War II generation was the last greatest generation. The people who fought and died to me are all heroes. I got a little crazy in my last post sorry about that.
But I WILL research a little better before I buy my next Mauser.
Here’s some 2003 ad copy:
Vintage original World War II-era German army rifles are available from Mitchell's Mausers at well below current market prices. At $295 these collector quality 98K series bolt-action Mausers are an outstanding value. Each rifle comes with an accessory package that includes leather sling and keepers, bayonet with scabbard and leather belt hanger, dual leather ammo pouch, cleaning rope, bore brush, brass oil can and muzzle protector. Comes with English language owner's manual. Contact Mitchell's Mausers, P.O. Box 9295, Fountain Valley, CA 92728-9295, telephone: [800] 274-3124, FAX: [714] 44-2226, Website: http://www.mitchellsales.com
There are dozens more. This is not some big secret, and the people speaking out against them are not all jealous owners of crappy, but real, K98ks. Nobody *****es about other sellers of Yugo M48s, that cost less in a similar (but not quite as polished) condition. In fact, they usually admit that MMs are very nice rifles for what they are, if that’s what you are really looking for, compared to what is commercially available at Wal Mart at a comparable price or if you don't want to do any refinishing. It’s the sales practices that set people off.
Charon
