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1940 Code 147 J.P. Sauer & Sohn Mauser, Value?

Hey everyone! I found this gem at a gun store near me. As the title said, its a 1940 Code 147 J.P. Sauer & Sohn Mauser model 98. I do not own any mausers at the moment but have always wanted one. Is there any information any of you gents could give me about this particular rifle? The numbers all seem to match except for the floor plate, I could not locate an import mark anywhere on the rifle, and I did not notice any stmapings/SNs on the stock (I didn't have much time to inspect the rifle so I might have missed them). The bore had clear, defined rifling but was dirty; I'm sure it would clean up nice. How much would this rifle be worth? Thanks!

images of the rifle: http://imgur.com/a/lkw0Y
 
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Barrel band has been restamped with rifles serial, so most probably a "restoration". And from what I can see the handguard is walnut, while the stock is laminated - which would be wrong, because they'd be both either walnut or laminated.

If the price is right for a mismatching piece, buy it. But do not pay more.
 
Hello,

you are right, the floor plate and triggerguard doesn't match, they could be from Mauser Werke Berlin-Borsigwalde or Berlin-Lübecker Maschinenfabrik.
The upper band is forced matching, it got restamped and it's the same with the bolt stop.

A laminate stock suits to a 147 1940, but I could imagine it isn't matching, the handguard doesn't suit. The privot bearing was out of the stock and it's now in the wrong way in the stock. Maybe there is no serial number because it got sanded and to be sure, you would have to get the rifle out of the stock and check it inside for a serial number.

The receiver blank is from Carl Walther Zella Mehlis and during the war this Sauer got a Geco armorers spare replacement barrel, I think the blank supplier was Ruhrstahl. You should also check the rear sight parts, if they have a matching number and I think they doesn't match.

Here in Germany I guess around $400, in America certainly more and it's more worth than a totally mismatched russian capture.

Greetings,
Stephan
 
Barrel band has been restamped with rifles serial, so most probably a "restoration". And from what I can see the handguard is walnut, while the stock is laminated - which would be wrong, because they'd be both either walnut or laminated.

If the price is right for a mismatching piece, buy it. But do not pay more.

They wanted 550$ for the rifle. I'm sure I could haggle them down a bit though. Good deal?
 
Hello,

you are right, the floor plate and triggerguard doesn't match, they could be from Mauser Werke Berlin-Borsigwalde or Berlin-Lübecker Maschinenfabrik.
The upper band is forced matching, it got restamped and it's the same with the bolt stop.

A laminate stock suits to a 147 1940, but I could imagine it isn't matching, the handguard doesn't suit. The privot bearing was out of the stock and it's now in the wrong way in the stock. Maybe there is no serial number because it got sanded and to be sure, you would have to get the rifle out of the stock and check it inside for a serial number.

The receiver blank is from Carl Walther Zella Mehlis and during the war this Sauer got a Geco armorers spare replacement barrel, I think the blank supplier was Ruhrstahl. You should also check the rear sight parts, if they have a matching number and I think they doesn't match.

Here in Germany I guess around $400, in America certainly more and it's more worth than a totally mismatched russian capture.

Greetings,
Stephan

They wanted 550$ for the rifle. Thanks for the info! If you don't mind me asking, what do you mean by "The privot bearing was out of the stock and it's now in the wrong way in the stock."? I am going in to inspect the rifle one more time tomorrow, anything else I should look for besides numbers on the back sight and stock?
 
Your rifle appears to have gone through a rework sometime during the war. The barrel collar is marked "0,2" indicating it is the second barrel on the rifle and this marking is very typical of rifles that had their barrels replaced. It is odd as it is a 1940 rifle and the spare barrel was made in 1939, but the barrel may just may have sat around in inventory for a while. It is neat that they put the letter block on the barrel, you will notice the "a" on the barrel and "a" on the receiver are a different font. Rework facilities rarely did this--they just usually put the number from the receiver on the barrel.

Reworks are very difficult to authenticate and it is easy to make and pass off a fake rework. The reason is there is not a lot of consistency in how rifles were reworked during the war. Some larger facilities did high quality work and used mostly new armorer spare parts and put new numbers on them. Some low-level facilities, closer to the action did crude work, working with whatever parts they had and overstamping or lining out numbers and applying new ones. It is easy for someone to fake a rifle and just say "it is a legitimate rework".

Your rifle has a barrel replaced showing a high-level of attention to detail based on the added "a", but the other parts are crudely stamped over or just mismatched. As someone else noted, the recoil lug is reversed. It is a laminated stock with a hardwood handguard, which is a bit unusual, as others have noted. Look over the stock very carefully--especially in the grip area and on the bottom edge between the grip and buttplate. There may be markings on the right side or on the metal ring in the stock. If you see markings, post pictures.

In terms of price, a lot of people have spent more on lesser rifles. You just need to know that reworks are a lot more difficult to sell than factory original rifles. I recommend you search over the areas I mentioned on the stock and add pictures of any markings you find along with pictures of any other parts/markings not already pictured. Finally, take a picture of the cut out on the right side of the stock where the bolt seats when it is closed.
 
Your rifle appears to have gone through a rework sometime during the war. The barrel collar is marked "0,2" indicating it is the second barrel on the rifle and this marking is very typical of rifles that had their barrels replaced. It is odd as it is a 1940 rifle and the spare barrel was made in 1939, but the barrel may just may have sat around in inventory for a while. It is neat that they put the letter block on the barrel, you will notice the "a" on the barrel and "a" on the receiver are a different font. Rework facilities rarely did this--they just usually put the number from the receiver on the barrel.

Reworks are very difficult to authenticate and it is easy to make and pass off a fake rework. The reason is there is not a lot of consistency in how rifles were reworked during the war. Some larger facilities did high quality work and used mostly new armorer spare parts and put new numbers on them. Some low-level facilities, closer to the action did crude work, working with whatever parts they had and overstamping or lining out numbers and applying new ones. It is easy for someone to fake a rifle and just say "it is a legitimate rework".

Your rifle has a barrel replaced showing a high-level of attention to detail based on the added "a", but the other parts are crudely stamped over or just mismatched. As someone else noted, the recoil lug is reversed. It is a laminated stock with a hardwood handguard, which is a bit unusual, as others have noted. Look over the stock very carefully--especially in the grip area and on the bottom edge between the grip and buttplate. There may be markings on the right side or on the metal ring in the stock. If you see markings, post pictures.

In terms of price, a lot of people have spent more on lesser rifles. You just need to know that reworks are a lot more difficult to sell than factory original rifles. I recommend you search over the areas I mentioned on the stock and add pictures of any markings you find along with pictures of any other parts/markings not already pictured. Finally, take a picture of the cut out on the right side of the stock where the bolt seats when it is closed.

Alright, thanks for the info! I will hopefully report back tomorrow with pictures! I will most likely not be re-selling the rifle If I get it. Re-sale value doesn't really matter to me.
 
If its calling your name I dont think you will get hurt @ 550.00.

Be a good Mauser for a first Mauser...shes been there and done that..a vet to be sure..thats worth something..damn sight better than a RC..and they go for 550.00 themselves @ times.
 
byf on the stock would indicate the stock being made at Oberndorf, correct? Also, the original front band serial number appears to match the stock serial number of 3218, then it was stamped over with 1732, with the 3 stamped twice.
 
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Personally I'd pass on that rifle. It's most likely a sporter restoration with stock/bands(renumbered later)/tguard assy added later. The price isn't horrible, but for a little more you could probably find a lot more original condition rifle.
 
If its calling your name I dont think you will get hurt @ 550.00.

Be a good Mauser for a first Mauser...shes been there and done that..a vet to be sure..thats worth something..damn sight better than a RC..and they go for 550.00 themselves @ times.

Well, I bought it. I got the price down to 470.
 
Well, I bought the rifle. I got the price down to 470$. I thought the bore was going to clean up better than it did, however. There is minor pitting throughout the whole bore in the grooves of the rifling. There wasn’t any existing rust that I could see in the bore, however. All parts of the bolt match except for the cocking piece. When I took down the bolt, the firing pin and spring had a little bit of surface rust that came off with an oiled cloth. It also seems my front sight has a cutout to attach a sight hood. It is also missing its cleaning rod. Did I do good considering the bore condition? I figure if she doesn’t shoot the straightest, I could always get a yugo m48. I am still really exited to have a non RC German k98.
 
Wouldnt sweat a little pitting..the crown is the most important thing.

I have had pristine bores shoot okay @ best and a slightly worn and pitted bore shoot 1.5" groups so whos to say..proper stock fit is what is most important for consistent accuracy.
 
The stock also seems to snag bits of cloth/fibers from cloths and other surfaces. Would putting some linseed oil on it do anything? If Its original finish was Linseed oil, would adding just a little more hurt the value?
 
Given the mismatch condition of the gun you're not going to do much value damage..a little blo withsome turp probably wouldnt hurt but might change the appearance......some lemon oil might give you what you seek without changing the patina..

Dont rightly know that oiling the stock will stop the snagging problem....that is an issue that would be solved with sand papaer and you would not be doing yourself any favors if you laid a piece of that on the furniture.
 

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