JMO, Wouldn't get hurt for that price.

no maker or gunsmith's name visible

That's no "cigarette gun", it's a step or two above that, with that quality, it's rare to not find a makers mark on it somewhere. Scope alone is half the value.

 

First time you chamber a round it will be worth every penny.

 

Couldn't resist. It should be on its way to Sitka come next Tuesday. And now to buff out that dent in my gun buying budget .

 

Great caliber and even better scope. Love the reticles on those scopes. Only time I have shot through a scope like that was when I was stationed in Germany. The price on that rifle is a great price and I personally would pay a little more due to the scope. This is one of those times that if you don't buy it , it is a decision that you may regret for a long time.

 

I really appreciate the comments. Next step will be hunting down a set of leather lens covers.

 

I had a local leather craftsman make a set for a customer's rifle back in the '90s for a rifle he inherited. The original covers had deteriorated. He worked off a picture and a GOOD set of measurements.

 

Nice rifle,I believe it's a good price. The scope, bases, and double set triggers are worth more than half the value of the rifle. Good find!

 

If you had to have mounts made for a rifle with claw mounts that was missing the mounts it would cost more the he paid for the rifle with the scope and mounts to have them made for it.

 

The rifle's an 8x57mm 98, 24" barrel - listed as having a bright bore with good rifling, no maker or gunsmith's name visible, double set triggers - listed as tested and functional. There's a s/n in the mid 1000 range stamped on the barrel forward of the chamber area. Scope's a Henzoldt Wetzlar 4x with claw mounts, listed as having clear optics. Price for the rig is $975 - probably an additional $75 for UPS to Alaska. Seller's estimate of age is anywhere between the mid '30s and mid '50s. It'd put a bit of a dent in my gun buying budget, but I really would like to see it nesting in our rifle cabinet. That said, I'd appreciate any opinions regarding the asking price. Many thanks.

With that scope mount and the double trigger, it looks to be German made. Lots of sporting goods houses in Germany produced sporter versions of the 98 Mauser. Waffen Frankonia was one I knew about. Usually good quality workmanship. German hunters liked the 8x57JS for the same reasons American hunters like the 30/06. The 8x57JS is easy to reload and can usually be loaded to provide better performance than US made ammo. While the price asked may not be a great bargain, it is also not outrageous. If you want it, get it. If you like it, you will forget about the price. Dont let it languish in your rifle cabinet, it looks like a fine shooting rifle.

 

Dirt cheap, NOT Cheaper than Dirt......

 

It is a firearm. It is for sale. You like it. End of discussion. Glad you dented the gun budget and it is on it's way. We need a range report shortly after you receive it!

 

Absolutely lovely rifle!! You dun good, trust me!!!!! I've paid more for rifles like that WITHOUT the scope and rings. Griz1 is absolutely correct about the rings and it's almost a certainty they're after market of the era, which is just fine. Last I checked they were $750 and that was several years ago. I'm confident now they're over a grand and they won't look right. Two rifles I have came with newly made rings and they look new...and completely out of place on vintage rifles. You have the originals and that's uncommon. I believe you'll love that scope. Elevation adjustments are in the scope but you'll have to adjust the windage in the base and more than likely the rear base. Maybe both are drift adjustable but usually it's in the rear base.

When you get it remove the barreled action from the receiver and post pictures of the proof marks and I can hopefully tell you quite a bit about it.

Ahhh, just remembered, Hensoldt is the maker of the scope. They have advanced considerably since their days of making rifle scopes and microscopes. Wetzlar is the town/city where it was made.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wetzlar

Edit #2: It's most certainly German and I am equally certain it's pre-war. Another thing, you will want to slug the bore to be absolutely certain it's 8 X 57IS and not 8 X 57I. The "IS" will be .323 groove diameter and the "I" will be .318 groove diameter. The change came in 1905 with the German military. Sporting rifles with the .318 groove diameter will be found up to WWII.

 

ask yourself two questions. Do I really want the gun and will it make me happy. Now go buy that gun and enjoy it. Life is too short to worry about money.

 

Not really worried, it's just that I've always allowed myself a reserve - never can tell when a once in a lifetime item might pop up for sale. The 98 put a dent in the reserve, but then that's what it was for.

 

Very nice find.

I have a similar Mauser 98 in 8mm caliber. The original claw mounts were ground flat by a previous owner and it now has Weaver mounts. I'd like to have a gunsmith install a butter knife bolt handle on it some day.

Like yours, there are no markings other than the original serial number. The workmanship on it is quite good, the bore is like new, and the set trigger is perfect.

 

Very nice gun, quality for sure ,very nice price as well
Jump it

 

But a nice 98 with original claw mounts and scope intact is sort of a once in a blue moon item.

 

Yup.