Joined
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1,387 Posts
Well, about three weeks ago, I found a New England Westinghouse on GunsAmerica.com, and I TRIED to buy it. Before I sent funds and an FFL, I asked the seller to describe it to me. I got a rambling response and no pictures.
I waited too long to make a decision, and I lost. Another board member picked it up, and the rifle turned out to be a mint, matching NEW.....
Ok, ok, lesson learned. Next time I see what I think MAY be a good deal, I should just go with my gut instinct, and buy the damned thing.
At least the NEW went to a board member, and a good home (not Bubba's home)
Well, a week later, while surfing the 'net, I found what I think may just be the "mother load" for me.
I found a K98 Mauser for sale, which had only one very poor, out of focus, dark picture. The stock looked very glossy, like a Bubba polyurethane job.
I thought, "Wow, I don't know, should I go for it? Looks like it may have some potential. $475 seems kind of high"
I took the risk, and emailed the seller, and told him, "I'll take it!" In my email I gave him my phone number.
About an hour later he calls me and tells me it's mine, and then asks me if I would be interested in another old German Mauser as well. We negotiated deal, and I end up buying both of his "old Mausers". He told me that the first mauser didn't have any blue left, and the other had surface rust.
A week later, one box shows up with two rifles stuff into it. When I opened the box, I damned near had a heart attack.
I found a mint matching bcd-4, with sling and an ASW44 bayonet, and an excellent condition matching G33/40 with sling!
The bcd-4 was absolutely covered in thick polyurethane. The G33/40 was, well, black with dirt, grease, and mild surface rust.
It has taken me two weeks to very carefully clean and restore both rifles to their former glory. I used paint stripper to get the polyurethane off, and I have NOT oiled, stained, sanded, or otherwise screwed with the rifle.
Neither rifle has any import marks, and neither has the dreaded "duffle-cut". Both are 100% legit and matching examples.
The bcd-4 is a late-war (1944), with a clear phosphate finish. The gun looks virtually "un-fired", as in brand new right off the assembly line. It has a bys '43 dated barrel. The bore is a pristine mirror. The bolt is completely dry without any oil or grease. The chamber is spotless. I doubt that this rifle has ever fired a round, except for the firing proof.
The stock has "chatter" marks along both sides, which would be correct for late war rifle. Strangely, the stock is polished, which I thought was done only to earlier years.
The G33/40 is dated 1940 (first year), and I had a hell of a time removing the light surface rust from the exposed surfaces. I used light oil and super fine steel wool, gently rubbing the light rust off without damaging the blue. The rifle was filthy! The rear sight was frozen solid. I used mineral spirits to clean the wood and found a solid one-piece walnut stock with beautiful tiger stripping. The rifle has a MINT bore and is 100% matching. I am only missing the correct (and hard to find) cleaning rod. I also noticed some deep scratches on the G33/40 side plate, presumably from the crampons on the Mountain Troops boots!
Please take a look and tell me if I did ok with this purchase? Not bad for a couple of nice "vet" bring-backs. Hope I didn't get "hosed".
Kind regards, ARG
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I waited too long to make a decision, and I lost. Another board member picked it up, and the rifle turned out to be a mint, matching NEW.....
Ok, ok, lesson learned. Next time I see what I think MAY be a good deal, I should just go with my gut instinct, and buy the damned thing.
At least the NEW went to a board member, and a good home (not Bubba's home
)Well, a week later, while surfing the 'net, I found what I think may just be the "mother load" for me.
I found a K98 Mauser for sale, which had only one very poor, out of focus, dark picture. The stock looked very glossy, like a Bubba polyurethane job.
I thought, "Wow, I don't know, should I go for it? Looks like it may have some potential. $475 seems kind of high"
I took the risk, and emailed the seller, and told him, "I'll take it!" In my email I gave him my phone number.
About an hour later he calls me and tells me it's mine, and then asks me if I would be interested in another old German Mauser as well. We negotiated deal, and I end up buying both of his "old Mausers". He told me that the first mauser didn't have any blue left, and the other had surface rust.
A week later, one box shows up with two rifles stuff into it. When I opened the box, I damned near had a heart attack.
I found a mint matching bcd-4, with sling and an ASW44 bayonet, and an excellent condition matching G33/40 with sling!
The bcd-4 was absolutely covered in thick polyurethane. The G33/40 was, well, black with dirt, grease, and mild surface rust.
It has taken me two weeks to very carefully clean and restore both rifles to their former glory. I used paint stripper to get the polyurethane off, and I have NOT oiled, stained, sanded, or otherwise screwed with the rifle.
Neither rifle has any import marks, and neither has the dreaded "duffle-cut". Both are 100% legit and matching examples.
The bcd-4 is a late-war (1944), with a clear phosphate finish. The gun looks virtually "un-fired", as in brand new right off the assembly line. It has a bys '43 dated barrel. The bore is a pristine mirror. The bolt is completely dry without any oil or grease. The chamber is spotless. I doubt that this rifle has ever fired a round, except for the firing proof.
The stock has "chatter" marks along both sides, which would be correct for late war rifle. Strangely, the stock is polished, which I thought was done only to earlier years.
The G33/40 is dated 1940 (first year), and I had a hell of a time removing the light surface rust from the exposed surfaces. I used light oil and super fine steel wool, gently rubbing the light rust off without damaging the blue. The rifle was filthy! The rear sight was frozen solid. I used mineral spirits to clean the wood and found a solid one-piece walnut stock with beautiful tiger stripping. The rifle has a MINT bore and is 100% matching. I am only missing the correct (and hard to find) cleaning rod. I also noticed some deep scratches on the G33/40 side plate, presumably from the crampons on the Mountain Troops boots!
Please take a look and tell me if I did ok with this purchase? Not bad for a couple of nice "vet" bring-backs. Hope I didn't get "hosed".
Kind regards, ARG
