Mr. P, if I were you... and several other "ifs". "If" you really like the rifle. "If", the components beyond the action are yet particularly valuable and/or desirable. You might well find a substantially complete donor M98 decent action available for transplant! That as cheaper/more practical than many hours of welding expertise and finishing work; The reblue would be a similar cost in any respect. The extra benefit also not such heavily restored specimen with inferences of heat treatment and residual strength concerns.
The main qualifier to be sure you have a standard length replacement. Such as any modified magazine adding length as now existing might need to be retained if practicable or the replacement with any mods yet required.
Someone out there has a nice "shooter" with costs nowadays not worthy of total sporter conversion. Find one and do a "transplant"! You might even seek one with some bonuses such as receiver sight, tapped for scope, etc. All the things which nowadays precluding the trend of reverse conversions of 'qualifying' sporters returned to their military model origins.
The happy hazard of finding an entire package - complete rifle - as substitute within reasonable cost range as its cost, less the sale value of yours now!
With skilled labor costs, time/materials to net value, nowadays even with gun prices up, the sheer volume of milsurp sporter conversions 'out there' with diligence, you can find either my category C - acquire as transplant action or D - replace & sell off your existing gun of reference.
The generalization if subject to notable exceptions, "The availability of 'Options' is always good!"
Photos always makes for better suggetions! HINT!
Best!
John
