So you think 900 Euros for a mismatched Kar.98k that has been converted into a non-firing "Deko" piece is a deal? That price is roughly $1,150 US by todays currency exchange values. $1,150 will purchase a matching, original condition Kar.98k in better condition here, even on the internet where prices tend to run high. Original condition Kar.98k's changed hands at LOW prices in the US from the end of the war until roughly the mid-1980's when the collectors market began to take off. For every matching condition, original rifle in a collection here, likely 4-5 were converted into deer slayers and/or eventually parts. Prior to the collector market taking off here, these rifles were viewed as something akin to junk (like Turkish Mausers were seen 10 years ago). So, you are saying that in the more or less 40 year period following the war when these rifles were in low demand, that crafty Europeans held onto their supplies of primo collectors pieces, knowing that some day the market would shift and they would be valuable? Nope. Not buying it.
I didn't see a single rifle on that site which wasn't either blank-fire only or deactivated. I also didn't see a single example listed as numbers matching. I stopped looking after about ten rifles. I try to save the word "rare" for things that one almost never sees. ax/ar, bcd/bnz--yeah rare. bcd/ar and rune rifles are uncommon (still desirable, just not in the rare category). All the Kar.98k's didn't come here but the bulk of the remaining rifles in collectible condition (matching, original condition) are here. The Europeans modified and/or destroyed the bulk of theirs. Many others went to third world nations. One other thing about that site is that most of their photos don't show much. An example of one that does show a detail is the swp 45. Their example shows a three digit serial number and defaced firing proofs. swp 45's didn't come with three digit serial numbers during the war.
