Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles I saw this on the used rack in a local gun store...buy or pass?

Tag reads, "98 GeWehr 1915,7.92mmx57, 8mm Mauser, Sporterized Stock" Bolt is the spoon handle type and the wood is well finished and good grain...can pick it up for $350. Thanks for any information or opinions you can provide.

That sounds a bit high. Is this a pre war sporter?

I would not know if it was prewar sporter or one bubba-ized afterwards....just don't know the difference...but ever who did the work, did an excellent job...what about the caliber? opinions for use as deer rifle...

I use that caliber on elk in both a sporterized '98 and a Rem 700 Classic. Domestic factory load are too mild (equal to the 30-30). Norma loads it to it's real capability. I handload mine with 200 grain Partitions. It's every bit the equal to the 30-06.

Sounds too high $$$ to me too.

Need pics to ascertain value; could be worth that much and more (easily), could be WAY high, depending.

+1
A nice piece of walnut for a stock could set you back more than the price of that gun.

Thanks guys...i will try to get pics this week.

A 1915 date would make it , most likely, a post war job. WWI was 1914-1918. I dont think the Germans made sporters during the war. You didnt mention barrel length , but Gewher would've beeen the long rifle( stamped GEW98) . The shorter barrelled carbines were marked KAR98 ( Karbiner)> Some sporting 98's were made with the spoon handles, but I dont think service rifles were.They made the old 88 Comission carbines with them.I think what you probably have is a bring back that was sporterized. If the bore is good and not pitted or throat washed out, $350 MIGHT be fair.

Could this be a J bore? Not sure of the production dates for the change to "S" size.

If it is a J, bullet selection is severely limited.

Pete

It should be the "high velocity" J-S bore since it was manufactured after 1905. It may be a good deal for someone who is looking for that exact rifle, but if you are just looking for a good mauser action rifle I've ran across the interarms mark x rifles for $300-$350.00 price range before. The most recent was a nice older 7mm rem mag with plenty of life left in it for $300.00. I know I should of bought it

I encounter sporterized 8x57s all the time, prices run
from 150 to 500. Most are pretty amatuer, every now and
then I see a real nice custom that really catches your eye.

I just bought a very clean 1900 Erfurt Gew 98 from a pawn shop for 150. It's rebarreled to 30-06, peep sights, bolt handle is bent, plain walnut stock, original safety and trigger. Numbers match. It needed to be cleaned up, and I stripped the varnish and tru-oiled the stock but a very presentable rifle. I think I might have got it 50 - 100 under what it's worth, but not 200.

For $350 I'd pass unless somebody who knows more about mausers sees something I'm missing. If you're looking for one keep your eye out, a better buy will come along.