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Where to find original snipers?

T1D.Operator

T1D.Operator

Well-known member
Just curious. I've always been fascinated with K98 snipers, and after discovering ACME (that I later searched here, and found out they're fakes), I'm curious where to find some. I have a distrust in Gunbroker, and most other online sites due to fakes.

I would appreciate any help. Rather not get scammed and be out several thousand dollars, you feel?
 
There has never been a go to source that deals in original German sniper rifles for the simple fact that there has never been a pool
or supply to tap into to obtain them. The originals that exist are scattered among collectors and and few of those collections have very many originals. IMO 10-20 originals in one collection would be a huge collection particularly if you don’t count zf-41 systems or G43 platforms. Others still in the woodwork with vets families and others so good luck turning those few up. Many collectors are well networked, they sell and buy from other collectors with a phone call when something changes hands. That’s pretty much the German sniper landscape and has been the 50 plus years that I’ve collected German firearms. I have had a chance to buy or trade for maybe a half dozen original bolt 4X German snipers outside of shows during that time. I don’t count Zf-41 or G43 but that’s just me. I’ve ended with one bolt MM but otherwise all matching original in that length of time. A vet acquired example nearly 45 years ago.
 
Sport10990 said:
Right in the feels, that hurts :LOL:
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No, they are nice! They are also very scarce all original and particularly all matching. They are important and interesting as well, my only qualifier criteria is that I don’t believe that school trained snipers used them (ZF-41).
 
Philip said:
No, they are nice! They are also very scarce all original and particularly all matching. They are important and interesting as well, my only qualifier criteria is that I don’t believe that school trained snipers used them (ZF-41).
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In 2019, I was lucky enough to find an all matching with unsanded stock ZF-41 (duffel cut) for 1400 bucks at a hardware store. My one and only ZF-41
 
yard sales.?.😵‍💫

www.k98kforum.com

scopeless LSR yard sale find

Hello everyone, i was at an acquaintances yard sale, looking for model trains for my wife. Ive known these folks for a long time, as the grandfather(since passed) was a ww2 aircraft mechanic. He and often his son would stop by the airport where i worked just to talk airplanes. Anyways after...
www.k98kforum.com www.k98kforum.com

www.k98kforum.com

Yard Sale LSR Update

https://youtu.be/92WllWm2o2A hope this works.. Big THX!! to Georg, Matt and Dave you guys are great! more later, Gene
www.k98kforum.com www.k98kforum.com

havent seen another good sniper in the wild since
 
Wish I could be that lucky @learjet, great find! All you find out here is illegal switches for sale lol.

@Sport10990, makes sense. I’ve been researching and going off of other posts on the forum as reference material. Just rough out here. Figured if I went for the Yugo War guns, it might be neat with possible trench art. Or maybe just do a Israeli one. Atleast those won’t be as costly if I “buy a fake.”
 
Networking is the best way to find a real sniper. Places like this, where you can meet people that have them - everyone eventually sells - everyone. Know the guys that have them and one will pop up. In all my years I avoided them, but I have bought a few in the wild and ended up selling them. I might have 2 I’ve kept somewhere but who knows. I don’t consider zf41’s snipers either.

You can get a good mismatch scope example pretty easy, just get some money together and be ready to spend it.
 
mrfarb said:
Networking is the best way to find a real sniper. Places like this, where you can meet people that have them - everyone eventually sells - everyone. Know the guys that have them and one will pop up. In all my years I avoided them, but I have bought a few in the wild and ended up selling them. I might have 2 I’ve kept somewhere but who knows. I don’t consider zf41’s snipers either.

You can get a good mismatch scope example pretty easy, just get some money together and be ready to spend it.
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Ballpark… how much would I need to spend? I was able to get talk going with ACME, so far the resin stock gun seems legitimate lol. The snipers… no idea, something about a Hungarian collection?

I’m currently deciding if a Dragunov would be a better move, cause I’m very much into DMR/Sniper rifles. Maybe even a G43.
 
Just recently there was an original turret mount sniper rifle on this forums trader. If you need one of higher quality or are very urgent, then go for auctions.
 
Absolut said:
Just recently there was an original turret mount sniper rifle on this forums trader. If you need one of higher quality or are very urgent, then go for auctions.
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I’ve considered it. We will see, I am in talks with someone for one possibly, and then I’m going to come here with photos.
 
Justinian said:
Ballpark… how much would I need to spend? I was able to get talk going with ACME, so far the resin stock gun seems legitimate lol. The snipers… no idea, something about a Hungarian collection?

I’m currently deciding if a Dragunov would be a better move, cause I’m very much into DMR/Sniper rifles. Maybe even a G43.
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I will say you really wouldn't go wrong with a SVD Dragunov either. I've got 2 as they have always been my dream gun. They do perform very well if you feed them quality ammunition. I'll see if I can find some pics later on of some groups from some of mine. However, the 98k sniper is also one of the coolest snipers out there. Once you start buying sniper rifles it becomes an addiction. So why not get both?
 
dragnov18 said:
I will say you really wouldn't go wrong with a SVD Dragunov either. I've got 2 as they have always been my dream gun. They do perform very well if you feed them quality ammunition. I'll see if I can find some pics later on of some groups from some of mine. However, the 98k sniper is also one of the coolest snipers out there. Once you start buying sniper rifles it becomes an addiction. So why not get both?
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I was kicking around collecting sniper rifles/DMR’s. If I can’t get a true German WW2 sniper, I’d deal with a alternative (IDF 7.62, WW1 German, or even Yugoslav War M48).

If I am getting an SVD, it’d be the HD-18 just because it’s “done out the box,” among some other things if you know its story.

Biggest issue is funds. If I could I’d collect as many guns as I could and shoot them. If I get one it’ll be a while before I touch the other. Vice versa.
 
Justinian said:
I was kicking around collecting sniper rifles/DMR’s. If I can’t get a true German WW2 sniper, I’d deal with a alternative (IDF 7.62, WW1 German, or even Yugoslav War M48).

If I am getting an SVD, it’d be the HD-18 just because it’s “done out the box,” among some other things if you know its story.

Biggest issue is funds. If I could I’d collect as many guns as I could and shoot them. If I get one it’ll be a while before I touch the other. Vice versa.
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The only things you'd need to get for the HD18 are original Russian furniture and the front sight block. Or if you want to be able to run a suppressor on it then you can keep the one that comes with it. It's threaded 5/8x24, which is great. Could always go the clone route with the 98ks. The Yugo M48 would be easily achievable. It all depends on how accurate you want to be. Like selecting the same known codes for you donor, original scopes vs repros, etc. I'd also suggest looking into the Swedish M41B snipers as they pop up pretty frequently and are possibly the best milsurp snipers out there. 6.5x55 is one of the best rounds out there and is a pleasure to shoot. They also used Swedish marked but German made Ajack scopes. Germany made them for the Swedes until the Germans decided mid war that they needed them more on their own guns than the Swedes.
 
@dragnov18

Precisely why I was looking at the HD-18. A bringback one would be great, but not 30K great. Plus, I’m not 100% into it cause it pushes into MG territory (even tho I’m a SOT, I’d rather own my MG’s lol).

I’d more or less want an “original” sniper, or just snag a M76 or something to have the history to it. Much of the Yugo wars used off the shelf hunting rifles as sniper rifles, just there’s a flair with the Zraks on a Yugo. That or do the IDF one cause 7.62 nato is available.

I’ve heard the Swedish guns are neat, I’ve just never been that interested in them. Never really owned a Swedish gun though, so I can’t comment on anything besides just never having one.

I was kicking around getting an FRF2, and having a more modern sniper rifle, but even then the price for what it is, is not the issue. Spare parts.

I’ve been quite indecisive if you can’t tell, and just saving funds overtime selling stuff off.
 
Justinian said:
@dragnov18

Precisely why I was looking at the HD-18. A bringback one would be great, but not 30K great. Plus, I’m not 100% into it cause it pushes into MG territory (even tho I’m a SOT, I’d rather own my MG’s lol).

I’d more or less want an “original” sniper, or just snag a M76 or something to have the history to it. Much of the Yugo wars used off the shelf hunting rifles as sniper rifles, just there’s a flair with the Zraks on a Yugo. That or do the IDF one cause 7.62 nato is available.

I’ve heard the Swedish guns are neat, I’ve just never been that interested in them. Never really owned a Swedish gun though, so I can’t comment on anything besides just never having one.

I was kicking around getting an FRF2, and having a more modern sniper rifle, but even then the price for what it is, is not the issue. Spare parts.

I’ve been quite indecisive if you can’t tell, and just saving funds overtime selling stuff off.
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You should really give the Swedish guns a chance. They are some of the finest mausers out there. The M76 are neat rifles too. Have one but had it built from a military kit with a Green Mountain 30.06 barrel and custom trigger but still have the 8mm barrel too. Mainly due to flavor and variety of 30.06 ammo we have here and so I could run my standard .30 cal suppressor on it with a custom suppressor adaptor I had made. Thing is quite the tack driver even though it's really just a big ol heavy AK. I know nothing of the French guns. I'd say you could "affordably" get a true M76 or maybe even an M48 with ZRAK if you're patient. The HD18 are still basically 10k when it's all said and done. Buuuuttt.....if you do a little digging around you might find out they have a little more Rusky to them than everyone thinks. But ya didn't hear that from me ;)
 
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