Third Party Press

Holy byf-44

Thinking that too and I looked over that rifle many times on the auction and could find nothing too make it worth $4500. Most of the time when I see byf-44 K98k come up for sale in mint condition asking price starts at $2300 and then the rifle ends up selling for around $1900 maybe a little less due to it being the most common code on the market.
 
there is really nothing that makes that rifle worth that kind of money.. Less the people bidding on it.
 
I was confused the whole time on that auction. I was like "What am I missing here?".
 
I am brand new to K98s, but it sure looks like the "red glue" laminate on the upper handguard does not match the lower part of the stock.
 
Opie-IN said:
I am brand new to K98s, but it sure looks like the "red glue" laminate on the upper handguard does not match the lower part of the stock.
Click to expand...

The stock is made of laminated beechwood using white casein based glue while the handguard is laminated beechwood with reddish Resorcinol-formaldehyde glue.
 
I know Brunn I & II occasionally left stocks unfinished--especially from late 44 production to the end of the war. However, I cannot recall ever seeing Mauser made rifles without finish. Even 45 production had finish applied to the stocks. Also, the seller does not show the internal stock numbers (for fear of taking it apart). I agree with all here that $4,500 is insane. It amazes me how much people rely on a seller's description with firearm auctions.
 
Hey who wouldn't believe the seller when the rifle is listed as "the finest WWII 98K I have ever found in 40 years of collecting and now it is time to let someone else enjoy it." And "IF YOU LIKE THE BEST, THEN DO NOT LET THIS ONE GET AWAY!!" Well someone got this one and will enjoy it when it comes time to sale it one day. But by then whats he going to want for it $6000 plus lol. What I really find odd about this auction is the seller said he was afraid to remove the rifle from the stock for fear of damaging the rifle. So we have no idea if the internal stock markings match this rifle and we are suppose to trust this guy's word:googlie Plus a return policy thats unspecified something is not adding up here.
 
Prices on ALL milsurps are going up, even the "lowly" Mosin Nagant.

Lee Enfields- 3-350 for a plain jane.

P14s- When did you last see one for sale?

Garamds- up, mor since CMP raised their prices.

K31s- Wasn't that long ago they were 79.95 retail.

The K98 is a well known WWII collectible. Even a real nice byf44, as "common" as they are, is difficult to find. Condition is everything. A top condition rifle goes into a collection and seldom comes back out. Lessor condition rifles come out of collections when the owners upgrade to top condition ones.

Get 'em while you can. They ain't making any more of them.
 
Mediocre photos. If one went off just the auction photos then it was a gamble. The lack of photos showing the stock's barrel channel serial number is definitely a problem. In reality half the price would have still been a high retail amount. $4,500 will be a lot more than a nice, matching byf 44. I suspect most here own at least one byf 44 in similar condition, particularly when you consider that the stock on this one looks overly smooth in the crummy photos. The byf 44 code is still the most common and there is no shortage of them for $2,000 or less. Glancing at the bidding, it looks like two bidders out of control. I would bet the loser wouldn't have minded paying too much for it, but realized that the winning bidder wasn't letting off the gas, so kept bidding for sport to push him into the BIN. The losing bidder's bid for $3575.98 was likely his last real attempt to take the rifle. I think past that point he was just running up the winning bidder's bill.
 
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Yep. Does look awful clean and smooth.

But you cannot discount the "OOOOh, Shiny!" factor with some people. May not be correct, but "it shore is purty!"

That's why Mitchell's Mausers has a customer base. Some folks are just like that.
 
Hal O'Peridol said:
Yep. Does look awful clean and smooth.

But you cannot discount the "OOOOh, Shiny!" factor with some people. May not be correct, but "it shore is purty!"

That's why Mitchell's Mausers has a customer base. Some folks are just like that.
Click to expand...

Yes, it's true, Homer Simpson is out there bidding on stuff 100%.
 
These high price anomalies seem to be popping up on the auction sites more often these days. A Berthier 07/15 with a cracked and refinished stock just sold for over $1000 recently on GB! I agree that the "shiny factor" probably played a big part with this one. Maybe Homer is out to spend his D'oh!!!!
 
I'm puzzled how the stock stayed so pristine, yet the buttplate apparently managed to rust up at one time. Sitting on wet carpet I guess?
 
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