Mitchell's Mausers - Page 2

lefty o · 03-30-2008, 10:12 AM

there is nothing collectable about a refinished rifle. at least they should blue the bolt body, and bolt shroud, and the buttplate. if they are going to try and pass something off, they should at least try to make it a correct restoration. maybe if they called it a "refinished shooter grade", i wouldnt have a problem with it.

dante711 · 04-01-2008, 06:01 PM

...they're Yugo M48's (1948) produced in the Prodeuc (sp) 44 armory with a shortened M98 action with a large barrel ring. There is a nice Yugo crest on the receiver, and the hand guard wraps around the rear sight and extends to the action, and a bent bolt with a flattened ball to clear the stock.They are in excellent condition, but IMHO are overpriced.
They have NO WWII history, but they have matched parts and are good shooters. I wouldn't rebarrel the Mitchells, but other M48 Mauser's would be a good basis for a .308.

I had a Pred44 M48 with a solid light, wood stock (burch or ash), and a reworked Mauser that was captured by Yugo'lva. The German (Nazi) marking were ground off and replaced with the Crest. It had a matching bolt, a laminated stock, and shrapnel wounds repaired in the wood. The bent bolt rested in a cutout in the stock, and had the lock screws and the front sight cover. I bought both for $240 three years ago.

Dante'

Sarge · 04-02-2008, 01:46 AM

The K98ks they have been selling for the past couple of years are advertised in such a way as to give you the impression that they are all original and all matching. In actual fact they are neither!
All original - including the the polished bolt body and the new made stocks with the only marking being the ser nr of the rec.
All matching - including the 4 or 5 parts they have renumbered to match the rec.
What they are is reworked RCs. Some of the photos in their adds show the RC X.
Yes mitchels is a bunch of shyster SOBs!!!
Sarge

DWARREN123 · 04-02-2008, 10:11 AM

My M-48 is a great shooter but they (Mitchell's) are way over priced for theirs. They are shooters not collectables.

magicjeep · 04-22-2008, 05:47 PM

I bought a m48, actually received it as a gift, about 2 years ago from mitchells. Its a nice looking rifle, shots really well but myself and a friend of mine were both deceived into thinking it was a WWII produced rifle. In actuality it is a post-WWII produced surplus rifle. I think I paid $299 and it came with all the accessories, bayonett, ammo pouch, cleaning kit, sling. I just wish I had known about this site before buying the rifle. On the other hand I went and bought a ton of surplus ammo and have a blast shooting it.

TheWanderingMind · 04-24-2008, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sarge

The K98ks they have been selling for the past couple of years are advertised in such a way as to give you the impression that they are all original and all matching. In actual fact they are neither!
All original - including the the polished bolt body and the new made stocks with the only marking being the ser nr of the rec.
All matching - including the 4 or 5 parts they have renumbered to match the rec.
What they are is reworked RCs. Some of the photos in their adds show the RC X.
Yes mitchels is a bunch of shyster SOBs!!!
Sarge

And now, here's the thing: Remington is coming out with a "modernized Mauser action" - Made in Serbia, apparently by the same folks who produce the Mitchell Mausers. Glanced through a review at WalMart last night, and the writer was talking about the excellent quality, fit, etc.

So, either Remington has made a big booboo, or they're big enough to make the Serbs toe the line... Hopefully, that might translate out further into Mitchell's cleaning up their act in the hopes of retaining Remington's business.

lefty o · 04-24-2008, 03:27 PM

the remington gun is the old interarms markX, and charled daly mini mauser.

montalvo915 · 04-24-2008, 05:46 PM

Are you guys saying that only the M48's from them are crappy? Are the collector's grade ok?

Thanks,

Santiago Montalvo

F1609 · 04-24-2008, 08:40 PM

from what I have heard, just plainly stay away from Mitchell's. Go somewhere else. It's not worth the money. Buy a true k98 not a m48 if you want History. check out Welcome to Samco Global Arms, Inc. These are very nice, I'm not sure about authenticity but I'd pay that price for a refurb before I'd pay Mitchell's.

Big Dog · 04-25-2008, 08:35 AM

Physically, the Mitchell's Mausers are good guns. Nice to look at, and shoot well.

Just NOT what they are being advertised as. NOT collectible. Overpriced.

'Nuff said.

Mike82 · 05-08-2008, 12:49 PM

so, who on here is a mauser expert? need a few questions answered.

oldhorse50 · 05-08-2008, 01:04 PM

no experts here ...mike82 that i can see

Mike82 · 05-08-2008, 01:18 PM

alrighty

lefty o · 05-08-2008, 01:21 PM

yep, no experts. some of us just know enough not to pay top dollar for improperly finished rifles.

Laufer · 07-07-2008, 03:32 AM

Here is the ad in (NRA) "The American Rifleman", July 2008, on page 31:

In paragraph 4, "It bears original German markings that document its production in WWII Germany".

Do they use a bit of 'artistic license' with the words "WW II Germany"?
How would an attorney interpret such clear, simple language?

I'm brand-new to this site, but have already read negative reviews of Mitchell's advertising when reading topics on other gun websites.
I've never seen a WW2 gun with such a clean appearance. The quality of Mausers at the end of the war was supposed to have degraded due to the stressful conditions, and many of them were captured by the Russians etc.

Big Dog · 07-07-2008, 04:33 AM

Laufer, welcome to G&G!

Mitchell's Kar98k Mausers are indeed the real deal - as far as being produced in 'WWII Germany'. What we object too are two things....

1) The Kar98k's are totally refinished, which in the gun collecting world is a NO-NO - it removes much of the collector value, like totally refinishing a classic car. The rifle looks pristine, and is beautiful - but it's not a 'collector'.

2) They equate the Yugo M48, in some of their ads, with being the "same as a K98" or being a "variation of the K98" - totally untrue! The M48 is a different rifle - the major parts will NOT interchange with the Kar98k.

Many owners like their Mitchell's Mausers rifles - they just need to know the facts behind them. No need to pay WWII Collector Grade prices for a different rifle of post-war commercial manufacture or assembled from a box of parts.
All we want is "Truth in Advertising".

BOHICA1962 · 07-07-2008, 08:34 AM

I have 3 Yugo M48s and they are all in perfect condition..........Mitchells? Maybe but I paid $169 for each one. I don't care whether they're collectibles or not. They're solidly built and the actions are smooth........but the triggers are terrible. I'll pick out one to shoot and smooth up the trigger and leave the others as they are for my grandaughter. Are Mitchells marked in any way to indicate they're Mitchells. I agree Mitchells are overpriced and are not what they calim to be.

Laufer · 07-07-2008, 11:17 PM

Thanks Big Dog:
Pardon me if I stated some things which are not accurate or wrong.
Others gun forums have warned people not to alter classics, due to the inherent value.

Although middle-aged, I'm new to guns in a practical sense and only plink with them.
Last October went from almost never shooting an ancient .22 Savage when I was much younger ('81-'85), to a MN 44, used Mini 14 and 30, then an unfired SKS.
If I had somehow found a heap of equally low-cost 8mm ammo (as with 7.62x54R) and realized how low prices are for some good Mausers, I would have bought one instead of a Mosin.
Oh well...am happy with the Mosin and the rest, having spent enough on rifles and for now, on ammo. Just saw some cheap 7 x 57 ammo at the SAMCO website, but the two Spanish (Oviedo) Mausers I've seen in pawnshops don't look so good, and doubt that the truth about them would be revealed (or known) before purchase.

What a blast with these guns!

K.H. · 07-08-2008, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NRAJOE

Yup...been around for awhile...see them at the gunshows and Cabela's in Dundee has two of them...Excellent shape, like brand new...just ain't into them.

Really, last time I was there the only old military guns they had were a couple of lugers.

Aviator · 07-08-2008, 10:03 PM

Well I guess I am scratching my head a bit here. I was wondering about the ad and then the fancy foldout mail advertisment they sent to me showing the $299 rifle as an "K98-M48". I thought they were two different rifles so why are they showing it that way? The ad says they were made in Serbia after the Nazis had been "thrown out". They have Serbia makings instead of Nazi markings.

When I called them on the phone they are suppose to be "un-issued" which is why I was intererested. I forgot when they told me they were made or even if they did.

The next page of the foldout shows a list of K98s with various markings ranging from $499 to "call" and or $2,499!!! That one is a K98 that is a "Banner Model with Mauser Crest". Must be real special for that price.

In any case I do want an M48 but so far have not found anyone with them other than these guys.

I have a RC-K98 and a M24 at this point and I would like to grow the collection a bit.

Aviator

04-01-2008, 06:01 PM	#22
dante711 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 2 Trader Rating: (0)	Mitchells Mausers are... ...they're Yugo M48's (1948) produced in the Prodeuc (sp) 44 armory with a shortened M98 action with a large barrel ring. There is a nice Yugo crest on the receiver, and the hand guard wraps around the rear sight and extends to the action, and a bent bolt with a flattened ball to clear the stock.They are in excellent condition, but IMHO are overpriced. They have NO WWII history, but they have matched parts and are good shooters. I wouldn't rebarrel the Mitchells, but other M48 Mauser's would be a good basis for a .308. I had a Pred44 M48 with a solid light, wood stock (burch or ash), and a reworked Mauser that was captured by Yugo'lva. The German (Nazi) marking were ground off and replaced with the Crest. It had a matching bolt, a laminated stock, and shrapnel wounds repaired in the wood. The bent bolt rested in a cutout in the stock, and had the lock screws and the front sight cover. I bought both for $240 three years ago. Dante'

04-02-2008, 10:11 AM	#24
DWARREN123 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: BETWEEN TN & KY Posts: 750 Trader Rating: (0)	My M-48 is a great shooter but they (Mitchell's) are way over priced for theirs. They are shooters not collectables. __________________ Have a nice day!

04-25-2008, 08:35 AM	#30
Big Dog Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Tallahassee, Florida Posts: 10,069 Trader Rating: (0)	Physically, the Mitchell's Mausers are good guns. Nice to look at, and shoot well. Just NOT what they are being advertised as. NOT collectible. Overpriced. 'Nuff said. __________________ Moderator of: AR15/M16, M14/M1A, New/Beginning Shooters and Militaria/Collectables.

05-08-2008, 12:49 PM	#31
Mike82 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Vicksburg, Mississippi USA Posts: 794 Trader Rating: (0)	so, who on here is a mauser expert? need a few questions answered. __________________ No Trespassing! Violators Will Be Shot! Survivors Will Be Shot Again!

05-08-2008, 01:18 PM	#33
Mike82 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Vicksburg, Mississippi USA Posts: 794 Trader Rating: (0)	alrighty __________________ No Trespassing! Violators Will Be Shot! Survivors Will Be Shot Again!

03-30-2008, 10:12 AM	#21
lefty o Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: mn Posts: 4,692 Trader Rating: (0)	there is nothing collectable about a refinished rifle. at least they should blue the bolt body, and bolt shroud, and the buttplate. if they are going to try and pass something off, they should at least try to make it a correct restoration. maybe if they called it a "refinished shooter grade", i wouldnt have a problem with it.

04-02-2008, 01:46 AM	#23
Sarge Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Colorado Posts: 204 Trader Rating: (0)	The K98ks they have been selling for the past couple of years are advertised in such a way as to give you the impression that they are all original and all matching. In actual fact they are neither! All original - including the the polished bolt body and the new made stocks with the only marking being the ser nr of the rec. All matching - including the 4 or 5 parts they have renumbered to match the rec. What they are is reworked RCs. Some of the photos in their adds show the RC X. Yes mitchels is a bunch of shyster SOBs!!! Sarge

04-22-2008, 05:47 PM	#25
magicjeep Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Central NJ Posts: 47 Trader Rating: (0)	I bought a m48, actually received it as a gift, about 2 years ago from mitchells. Its a nice looking rifle, shots really well but myself and a friend of mine were both deceived into thinking it was a WWII produced rifle. In actuality it is a post-WWII produced surplus rifle. I think I paid $299 and it came with all the accessories, bayonett, ammo pouch, cleaning kit, sling. I just wish I had known about this site before buying the rifle. On the other hand I went and bought a ton of surplus ammo and have a blast shooting it.

04-24-2008, 03:27 PM	#27
lefty o Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: mn Posts: 4,692 Trader Rating: (0)	the remington gun is the old interarms markX, and charled daly mini mauser.

04-24-2008, 05:46 PM	#28
montalvo915 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Fort Wayne, IN Posts: 1 Trader Rating: (0)	Are you guys saying that only the M48's from them are crappy? Are the collector's grade ok? Thanks, Santiago Montalvo

04-24-2008, 08:40 PM	#29
F1609 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Medina, Ohio Posts: 201 Trader Rating: (0)	from what I have heard, just plainly stay away from Mitchell's. Go somewhere else. It's not worth the money. Buy a true k98 not a m48 if you want History. check out Welcome to Samco Global Arms, Inc. These are very nice, I'm not sure about authenticity but I'd pay that price for a refurb before I'd pay Mitchell's.

05-08-2008, 01:04 PM	#32
oldhorse50 Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: michigan Posts: 15 Trader Rating: (0)	no experts here ...mike82 that i can see

05-08-2008, 01:21 PM	#34
lefty o Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: mn Posts: 4,692 Trader Rating: (0)	yep, no experts. some of us just know enough not to pay top dollar for improperly finished rifles.

07-07-2008, 03:32 AM	#35
Laufer Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Down south. Posts: 110 Trader Rating: (0)	Here is the ad in (NRA) "The American Rifleman", July 2008, on page 31: In paragraph 4, "It bears original German markings that document its production in WWII Germany". Do they use a bit of 'artistic license' with the words "WW II Germany"? How would an attorney interpret such clear, simple language? I'm brand-new to this site, but have already read negative reviews of Mitchell's advertising when reading topics on other gun websites. I've never seen a WW2 gun with such a clean appearance. The quality of Mausers at the end of the war was supposed to have degraded due to the stressful conditions, and many of them were captured by the Russians etc.

07-07-2008, 04:33 AM	#36
Big Dog Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Tallahassee, Florida Posts: 10,069 Trader Rating: (0)	Laufer, welcome to G&G! Mitchell's Kar98k Mausers are indeed the real deal - as far as being produced in 'WWII Germany'. What we object too are two things.... 1) The Kar98k's are totally refinished, which in the gun collecting world is a NO-NO - it removes much of the collector value, like totally refinishing a classic car. The rifle looks pristine, and is beautiful - but it's not a 'collector'. 2) They equate the Yugo M48, in some of their ads, with being the "same as a K98" or being a "variation of the K98" - totally untrue! The M48 is a different rifle - the major parts will NOT interchange with the Kar98k. Many owners like their Mitchell's Mausers rifles - they just need to know the facts behind them. No need to pay WWII Collector Grade prices for a different rifle of post-war commercial manufacture or assembled from a box of parts. All we want is "Truth in Advertising". __________________ Moderator of: AR15/M16, M14/M1A, New/Beginning Shooters and Militaria/Collectables.

07-07-2008, 08:34 AM	#37
BOHICA1962 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: LUBBOCK TEXAS Posts: 144 Trader Rating: (0)	I have 3 Yugo M48s and they are all in perfect condition..........Mitchells? Maybe but I paid $169 for each one. I don't care whether they're collectibles or not. They're solidly built and the actions are smooth........but the triggers are terrible. I'll pick out one to shoot and smooth up the trigger and leave the others as they are for my grandaughter. Are Mitchells marked in any way to indicate they're Mitchells. I agree Mitchells are overpriced and are not what they calim to be.

07-07-2008, 11:17 PM	#38
Laufer Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Down south. Posts: 110 Trader Rating: (0)	Thanks Big Dog: Pardon me if I stated some things which are not accurate or wrong. Others gun forums have warned people not to alter classics, due to the inherent value. Although middle-aged, I'm new to guns in a practical sense and only plink with them. Last October went from almost never shooting an ancient .22 Savage when I was much younger ('81-'85), to a MN 44, used Mini 14 and 30, then an unfired SKS. If I had somehow found a heap of equally low-cost 8mm ammo (as with 7.62x54R) and realized how low prices are for some good Mausers, I would have bought one instead of a Mosin. Oh well...am happy with the Mosin and the rest, having spent enough on rifles and for now, on ammo. Just saw some cheap 7 x 57 ammo at the SAMCO website, but the two Spanish (Oviedo) Mausers I've seen in pawnshops don't look so good, and doubt that the truth about them would be revealed (or known) before purchase. What a blast with these guns! Last edited by Laufer; 07-07-2008 at 11:25 PM.

07-08-2008, 10:03 PM	#40
Aviator Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 19 Trader Rating: (0)	Well I guess I am scratching my head a bit here. I was wondering about the ad and then the fancy foldout mail advertisment they sent to me showing the $299 rifle as an "K98-M48". I thought they were two different rifles so why are they showing it that way? The ad says they were made in Serbia after the Nazis had been "thrown out". They have Serbia makings instead of Nazi markings. When I called them on the phone they are suppose to be "un-issued" which is why I was intererested. I forgot when they told me they were made or even if they did. The next page of the foldout shows a list of K98s with various markings ranging from $499 to "call" and or $2,499!!! That one is a K98 that is a "Banner Model with Mauser Crest". Must be real special for that price. In any case I do want an M48 but so far have not found anyone with them other than these guys. I have a RC-K98 and a M24 at this point and I would like to grow the collection a bit. Aviator