Old military rifles---collectible or hunting?
I have come into the posession of two old military rifles. One is a British .303 (enfield?), the other is an 8mm mauser. The mauser is in beautiful condition, but has a different stock on it than factory. The .303 is a little rougher, but appears to be arsenally refurbished with the top off and the bottom shortened. My question is this: are these rifles collector quality or vintage or should i continue to use them for deer hunting? Also, are either one or both of these rifles known for accuracy and reliability?
Thanx, Red
the earlybird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.---Red
Thanx, Red
the earlybird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.---Red
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Welcome to the forum.
You didn't really give us much of a description of the rifles. There were lots of varieties of both British .303's and Mausers. However, based on the mutilation that you described, neither is likely to have any collector interest. Sometimes you can get a correct replacement stock, but I would doubt that it is worth while doing in either case.
Neal0 -
I would also like to welcome you to the board.
Neal, (our resident expert) is right again. Sounds like both rifles have lost any real value, but enjoy them anyway. Good shooting.
Charlie
"It's the stuff dreams are made of Angel"NRA Certified Firearms InstructorMember: GOA, RKBA, NJSPBA, NJ area rep for the 2ndAMPD. njretcop@copmail.com0 -
Yes, nmyers has it exactly right. ANY modification to a military rifle just automatically takes it of the "collectible" list.
I have a particular soft spot, myself, for the mausers, and have used several "collectible" specimens to hunt with over the years.
You must handle the individual weapon long enough to get used to the different glitches that each design has, such as the 2-stage trigger pull, and getting on target quickly with military soghts.0 -
It's a little too early to give you a cut and dried answer without knowing exactly which Mauser you have.
A G33/40 is extremely valuable if it can be put back into original shape.
A Kar 98 is also a somewhat rare weapon as are a number that most people have never come in contact with. As long as the metal has not been drilled, sanded, welded, or otherwise distorted, I would hold off any further destruction until someone knowledgeable has a look.
The Enfields are a bit more common and many variations are available at fairly low prices. I would hunt with that one.
...honor is important only when dealng with honorable men.
You asked if I have reverence? I have reverence for truth, but I do not know what truth is. I suspect there are many truths, and therefore, I suspect all who claim to have THE truth. L'Amour0 -
There's loads of Mausers and lots of .303 Enfields out there, so the chances of wrecking anything truly worth collecting is pretty small. If it's merely a matter of getting a replacement stock for the Mauser to restore it to a more "historical" configuration, go right ahead, but without the original military stock the "collector value" is still reduced. Ditto for the Enfield.
You'll generally find Mausers to be very accurate, excellent hunting rifles---strong action, well-made. The Enfields in .303 are suitable for hunting game up to elk; the .303 cartridge---for which no new rifles were ever produced, only old military shooters---is still very popular up in Canada. So if you want to use your rifles for hunting, have at it. I don't think you'll be disappointed!0 -
p3,
You have proven yourself to be an expert on these boards in many of your posts.
I must take exception with you in this case however. How is he gonna put the Mauser back in original condition without the original furniture?
Most of the Mauser stocks are serial numbered......
While it's possible to put it back in nice condition, it still will not have the value of an all original K98........don't you agree?
Charlie
"It's the stuff dreams are made of Angel"NRA Certified Firearms InstructorMember: GOA, RKBA, NJSPBA, NJ area rep for the 2ndAMPD. njretcop@copmail.com0 -
quote:Originally posted by njretcop
p3,
You have proven yourself to be an expert on these boards in many of your posts.
I must take exception with you in this case however. How is he gonna put the Mauser back in original condition without the original furniture?
Most of the Mauser stocks are serial numbered......
While it's possible to put it back in nice condition, it still will not have the value of an all original K98........don't you agree?
Charlie
Charlie,
Thank you for the kind comment sir. I do agree that to put the mentioned rifle back into pristine A1 collectable condition in nigh impossible, however a Civil War Spencer carbine with a replacement stock is still highly valuable as is a 1873 Colt Single Action with replacement grips.
It is really difficult to know what someone is bringing out of the closet. While the jewels are few and far between, I once had a professor from the local college bring in a pistol for me to tell him about. He said he had another just like it, one serial number off. He pulled out a kraft box that I immediately knew was a Government .45. When I opened it and saw a new-in-the-box 1911A1 with:
S Mfg Co. Elizabeth NJ S000xxx
I actually choaked! After breaking out Clawson's book and showing him what he had and hearing his story. (he got both of them from a retired Air Corps guy) I directed him to surf the web to verify what I told him.
His last offer was from the Smithsonian for $750,000 for the pair.
(He never even brought me a bottle of booze either!).
That's why I always want to know what comes out of the closet!
Mike
...honor is important only when dealng with honorable men.
You asked if I have reverence? I have reverence for truth, but I do not know what truth is. I suspect there are many truths, and therefore, I suspect all who claim to have THE truth. L'Amour0 -
Forgot to mention, after these two surfaced and were verified, there are only like five Singers still unaccounted for. They gotta be somewhere!
...honor is important only when dealng with honorable men.
You asked if I have reverence? I have reverence for truth, but I do not know what truth is. I suspect there are many truths, and therefore, I suspect all who claim to have THE truth. L'Amour0 -
Mike,
I live in Elizabeth and have for the last 42 years, I'm still looking buddy, LOL!
Charlie
"It's the stuff dreams are made of Angel"NRA Certified Firearms InstructorMember: GOA, RKBA, NJSPBA, NJ area rep for the 2ndAMPD. njretcop@copmail.com0 -
Everyone has good points, but unless it's a rare jewell, use it to hunt. I have a Mauser 98 that my father had sporterized in the 50's (by Herter's in my home town of Waseca, MN}. It's an 8mm, and there have been many, many, deer killed with this very rifle. I would guess that there have been more custom guns based on this action than any other. Many modern guns have copied this action. Why? Because it is smooth and reliable. Drop it in the mud and dirt and it will still function (critical in war). The deer won't mind that it was made 60 years ago, or whether it might be collectable. Good shooting. "You gotta kill it before you can grill it", Ted Nugent. 0
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