Gifted to me: 1936 S/147 …what to do with it?

reply about your 1936 K98

I would go about trying to restore it but finding the right stock and other metal parts might be difficult. However even if the parts came of a Russian Captured rifle at least the stock and other metal parts you would need would not be marked with "X" like the receiver would be. Of course the matching of serial numbers would not be happening but if the barrel and action are as nice as you say - I'd still try. Having the rear sight soldered on the barrel and the holes from the Lyman sight would need to be filled and the finish matched.
But guys in this Forum might just have the parts you need!
Good Luck ... Chris
 
Thanks Chris!

I hear what you are saying, regarding never going to be a matched rifle now. By the way…no import markings. And yes, the bore is bright and shiny with excellent land/grooves.

I do not care for the Fajan stock, what-so-ever! I have a really nice condition VZ24 stock…COMPLETE (!) I'm thinking of installing her into.

This Mauser was gifted to me about 20 years ago by a now deceased Tlingit elder from our village, for being a good friend to him. I have not shot this rifle or did anything with it in all this time…now I have motivation to give it the "atoowo" it deserves!

Jim
 
If it were gift from someone you respected and cared for, I would leave it as he passed it along... it would take away from the gift (remembrance) to "restore" it.

Besides I suspect a proper restore is beyond the value of the rifle, probably not possible at all, - I would think a Native American hunter would have used it religiously, probably under harsh conditions, so besides the D&T, sportered stock, the finish was probably re-done too, which as anyone who knows anything about German rifles, the finish is the most important thing after the stock (why rc's are junk-shooters), the missing rear sight is the cherry on top for not restoring it.

Just an opinion though, but if it were me, i would either use it as your friend once did, or keep as he left it, - a good way to to keep the memory alive. Either way, welcome to the forum.
 
Loewe!

"...I would think a Native American hunter would have used it religiously, probably under harsh conditions"!

I see you KNOW of "Native usage of firearms"…LOL! EXACTLY…Many firearms become "boat guns" out here. ;)

But this one was different, Loewe. This elder knew this rifle was important and was most likely given to him by a known "collector" of antique automobiles and firearms who knew this rifle was not really "collectable" in it's present state and was more of a gift to my elder friend.

So, it was never used by my elder friend either! And he had quite a few firearms…all showing some degree of abuse...

"I suspect a proper restore is beyond the value of the rifle, probably not possible at all" ...You are of basically the same opinion as myself here. The only thing that bugs me about this current "sporter stock" is the pull is too long for me and the cheek piece hits me right about my cheekbone level leaving a bruise when fired for more than 3-5 rounds…totally not conducive to use by myself, at least! (Fired it only recently to "feel" the spirit of the firearm"!)

Even placed in a more "era-appropriate" military stock would still give the firearm "atoowo", meaning "the spirit of the thing" and any harvest, distributed to our no-longer-able-to-hunt-elders would bring honor to both the elder friend of mine and to the practice of providing to our clan.

I'm not forcing this situation into anything pre-planned, just moving along as you good men suggest and put appropriateness to my situation concerning this rather beautiful Mauser…and she really is "beautiful"!

Jim
 
Last edited:
Thinking here….

You know what I like besides fine, beautifully grained pre '37 stocks???? I'm fond of "whit glue laminated" stocks….

Anybody have a nice "white-glue" laminated stock for sale that I could put this great 1936 s/147 action/barrel in?

I'd be willing to purchase one if it's in really nice condition ;)

Thanks…

Jim
 
It is my understanding the wood on pre-war stocks was cured up to 20 years so the period correct walnut might actually be to old and delicate to use as a shooter.

The idea of a white glue laminate is a nice idea for this gun.
The sights on it now will certainly be easier to use than finding a correct rear site base and solder that on but a red glue stock would also be nice and should be more available than a white glue
 
First time I've heard of a nearly 80 or so year old walnut stock being delicate. The walnut stocks on my two 37 Sauers are like iron. I have a couple of Swedish Mauser walnut stocks that are over 100 years old and you shoot them all day long.

I would be much more cautious with an old white glue laminate stock.
 
Very strong!

I have read that while trying to destruct Mausers after the war ended, it was very difficult to destroy the laminated stocks. The lamination being stronger than a solid wood stock.

It certainly isn't within my knowledge base but should this be true regarding the strength of lamination, I would think the glue laminated stocks are still strong.
 
From what I have read the walnut stocks held up better to father time than the white glue laminate ones. I've seen a few of those that have started to delaminate probably because they got wet in an area that wasn't sealed. The glue used in a white glue laminate was similar to today's Elmer's glue, correct me if I'm wrong someone. The red glue laminate stocks used resorcinal glue and seem to have held up pretty darn well over the years. The weight of a laminate tends to be more than a walnut stock so I would take that into consideration as well as the fact that a 36 Sauer would have been originally stocked in walnut.
 
Very true!

^^^you are correct regarding appropriate in walnut stock. I just like the look of White Laminated Glue Stocks….and since I'm not trying to recreate the authenticity of the 1936 S/147….

I do have a VZ24 stock it looks good in and this will only be a "shooter" for me.

Thanks for the comments, though.

Jim
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top