1909 98 Mauser Modelo Argentino Sporter -- whats it worth?

flyfishinjunkee

flyfishinjunkee

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This is a cool 98 mauser sporter in 25-06. I'm going to let it go so I can focus on current interests. The stock has been professionally done with action glass bedded and barrel free floated. Timney trigger. Very nice bluing, polishing and jeweling on the action which is as smooth as glass. It shoots as good as it looks. So, what value would you put on this one? Thanks!
Click the "Amazon photos" link which has a bunch of pictures: [ame]https://www.amazon.com/photos/shared/l6Ufh7irSDi560d1dKtHZA.C_2vfLwXp5TPa7MJZ5UlK5[/ame]
 

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In my area with lots of hunters, this would sit in the used gun rack at the LGS for a long time at $250.

The availability of relatively inexpensive hunting rifles with adjustable triggers and chambered in currently popular calibers has reduced the demand for guns like yours.

The 1960's "Weatherby" style maple stock, the grip cap and forend, the odd fit of the recoil pad detract from what is probably a nice rifle.

It might have nostalgic appeal to some.
 
Inusuit said:
In my area with lots of hunters, this would sit in the used gun rack at the LGS for a long time at $250.

The availability of relatively inexpensive hunting rifles with adjustable triggers and chambered in currently popular calibers has reduced the demand for guns like yours.

The 1960's "Weatherby" style maple stock, the grip cap and forend, the odd fit of the recoil pad detract from what is probably a nice rifle.

It might have nostalgic appeal to some.
Click to expand...

If your gun stores have rifles like this sitting there not selling for $250, I'd like to know where they are -- SO I CAN GO BUY EVERY ONE OF THEM.

Thanks for your opinions never the less.
 
That’s a very nice rifle. It reminds me of gunsmith school project guns I’ve seen over the years.

Having it built commercially today would be a pricey endeavor.

Unfortunately, tastes change over time and that impacts the market and the market value.

It’s a great rifle for deer and elk out here in the west, but would have been in greater demand in the 1970’s than today.

In a way, there are two values you can assign: one for it as a hunting rifle and another for it as a display piece. A nicely sporterized Mauser 98 in a good chambering is probably a $750 proposition. Add another $100 for the display value of the wood and finish.

It would probably take a fair amount of time to locate a buyer at that price. It would sell more readily for $400-$600.
 
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This appears to be a very nicely built sporter (quality of the quilted maple stock and its finish appears excellent) - more pictures required to really give a good estimate. But I agree with what others have said, unfortunately there isn't much of a secondary market for custom Mausers these days - unless they were built (and documented) by one of the older big name gunsmiths. I think you'd be looking at $600-800, but I wouldn't expect it to sell quickly.
 
Sportered milsurps are a narrow market and don't fetch much money. Despite the nice looks you would be lucky to get much past $350 for it IMHO, especially given the caliber.
 
Just saw the additional photos in the link. I'd say you're in the $450-$550 range. If you've got a cheap scope laying around to throw on it, you'd probably get $550-$650.

The recoil pad is odd, not entirely sure what is going on there. The stock is nicely figured, and finished, but I'm personally not a fan of square forends or curled pistol grips, it also appears to have a fairly pronounced palm swell which may or may not fit someone's hand.

The metal work has some finish issues. It does look like the triggerguard was thinned well, and that it has the hinged 1909's bottom metal is a bonus! In a used sporterized Mauser over $700, I want to see checkering, both on the stock and bolt handle. I've had plenty of Buehler style safeties in the past and they work, but a really nice gun should have a Win 70 style swing, or trigger mounted side safety.

Good luck with the sale, I know sometimes they are hard to let go of.
 
I'm curious is that buttpad screwed on and part of the gun or is it one of those rubber pull over cushions? If the second I'd remove it as it's the main visual deterrent.

Old sporterized Mausers are not my specialty but post WW2 many gun stores had barrels of old milsurp Mausers for well under $100 when a new Remington Model 70 or Ruger 77 cost considerably more.
Putting together a fancy looking rifle on a budget as a winter project was something sportsman did, today you can buy a used SS rifle with a polymer stock for bargain prices that come in multiple modern calibers.
As an interesting aside today clean original examples of older war guns are becoming collectible especially if you have something rare like an original sniper varient.
 
It's a 1970s gun. As others have said, it's a Mauser and its appeal was greater back in the 70s when commercial rifles were not as good of an option is there are today.

I love figured wood, and feel the effect would be better if the finish was darker. I can't tell, but the stock doesn't appear to be checkered. That's a sign of an "unfinished" stock to savvy buyers.

I didn't see any additional photos alluded to but I would like to see them. I'll bet it shoot well; looks naked without a scope on it.
 
High end classic custom rifles are still built using military '98 actions, particularly for those looking for CRF for dangerous game and classic calibers, and the 1909 Argentine is one of the better choices to start with.

Unfortunately your rifle, while it was probably someone pride and joy when it was built, has little to attract a buyer today. The over the top, high gloss, '60s-'70s stock, and heavily buffed receiver and jeweled bolt, really knock it down. If whoever built it had spent the same money and chosen to go with a more classic design stock with a nice oil finish, and rust blued action and barrel, and maybe topped it with some iron sights, you'd be talking about a gun that would probably bring a respectable price today.

This one will likely sit for a long while at $400.00, unless you find that one buyer.

Best regards,
 
I agree that the wood speaks for itself. So does the fore end.
 
It looks like a high school woodshop project. I'm in the $250 camp.
 
Forgive my ignorance but the lack of drop in the stock and long, square fore end makes me think this rifle was intended to be shot over a rest, not carried. Might just be the pictures. I have no idea the value but in my recent experience anything chambered in a caliber you cannot find at WalMart or Rural King is a harder sell.
 
Forgive my ignorance but the lack of drop in the stock and long, square fore end makes me think this rifle was intended to be shot over a rest, not carried.

That's my impression as well
 
That's not a deer hunting rifle. With the heavy stock and heavy barrel, that's more appropriate for bench rest target shooting or long distance varmint hunting. The bluing looks great, the stock finish looks great, I'd say it comes down to the condition of the bore. If there is no erosion and the muzzle is perfect, probably around $800. Any wear in the bore and the price goes down.
 
Gene L said:
I agree that the wood speaks for itself. So does the fore end.
Click to expand...

So you like Rosewood also ?
Yeah that fore end does say bench rest loud and clear.....not hunting.

Just the wood on that gun is over 250

Now I'm curious as to the barrel length and diameter
 
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Having begun my own life long interest in acquiring and eventually shooting vintage military rifles, it seems to me that sporter-ized military rifles used to be popular for the reasons posted above, where as now un-modified Milsurp rifles are worth more than the modded ones. All of my military rifles are as issued, with the patina of use.

I think as a sporting, hunting rifle it has limited appeal. As a collector piece, probably the same. Perhaps the best thing is to just keep it and use it in whatever way you wish if you do not need the money for it. I enjoy reloading and shooting my military rifles, and you might find yours an enjoyable way to spend hours on a range.

NV
 
For someone likeing the rifle as it is and wanting to buy it and shoot it in it's present form,,I'd say it would probably sell in the $350/$500 range depending on where you are if selling local.
Varmit/Bench shooting is likely the audience.

Others may want it just for the DWM mfg action, bottom metal & Timney trigger.
The stock, bbl in 25-06 mean little to them. So they are just buying the action & trigger and for that they will likely offer $250.
 
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