1918 Amberg (gun broker auction)

[Honkey Tonk Devil]

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1069891043

So I was watching this didn't really have any interest in bidding and this ended up going for quite a bit more than I thought. I'm just looking for insight here, is there something I overlooked or is this just gunbroker being gunbroker.
I mean 2k for a bolt mismatch seems excessive.

 

[AN-94]

For a standard mid war Gewehr 98, I would agree that $2k is excessive. However, 1918 dated Gewehr 98s in Imperial trim are rather uncommon and intact examples command a premium compared to 1916 dated Gewehr 98s. While Amberg seems to be the most common of the 1918 dated survivors, it's still rather uncommon to see compared to earlier dates. Looking through the reference thread only shows 14 1918 dated examples, 6 of which are Amberg. I'm sure Loewe can give more accurate numbers for tracking these but survival of these 1918 rifles is very low. The EWB marking indicates that it stayed in Germany after WWI and probably a WWII bring back or early post war import if not marked. Also, the bidding war between the winner and bidder with 1 review might be suspect.

 

[Honkey Tonk Devil]

However, 1918 dated Gewehr 98s in Imperial trim are rather uncommon and intact examples command a premium compared to 1916 dated Gewehr 98s. While Amberg seems to be the most common of the 1918 dated survivors, it's still rather uncommon to see compared to earlier dates.

I was thinking it must be something to this extent. It had good pictures, but a lot of "empty calories pictures". Still not sure if small parts matched or not. Yea the 1 review bidder are always suspect, but I guess we all start somewhere.

 

[chrisftk]

I think it was a bit excessive for the most common, non turk 1918 with a mismatched bolt. If I were bidding I probably would have tapped out at 17 or 1800 tops.

 

[cj556]

FWIW I’ve always heard good things about this seller (Carol Watson auction). I agree with Chris it was too much for a bolt mm gun. I do have to wonder if the two bidders knew it was a proper late blued gun and scarce.

 

[mauser1908]

It’s steep, Amberg is your best shot at owning a 1918 dated gun in imperial trim. Probably a hair over 80k were made, Amberg broke into the ‘h’ block before the collapse.

 

[Loewe]

Looks like a g-block, next to last block known... the EWB and m/m bolt make this no bargain but there are more egregious wastes of money.

 

[OnlyMil]

A very attractive looking gun. It's a shame about the bolt M/M which makes the price unreasonable. That's what it takes to win on Gunjoker I guess!!

 

[Cyrano4747]

I think it was a bit excessive for the most common, non turk 1918 with a mismatched bolt. If I were bidding I probably would have tapped out at 17 or 1800 tops.

I agree, but going a couple hundred over current value on a $1500+ rifle isn't all that egregious. You try not to do it too much, but I've got a few guns in my safe that I over paid for to the tune of ~10-20% for whatever reason (generally something I'd been chasing for a while and I just wanted to check that box and be done).

Chances are the gun will be worth more than they paid for it inside of 5 years anyways.