Mauser dilemma

[thequintessentialman]

Have an old WW2 era Czech #23 Mauser I bought from an older guy who used it hog hunting. It's in working condition and shoots well.

I can't decide if I should get it fitted for a scope or leave as is with modest collector value. The time and place it was mfg has an interesting history. Should I make it more useful or keep as a novelty? The alterations and a decent scope will almost triple what I paid for it.

 

[Moonpie]

Leave as is.
1.) it will cost a lot to get it done.
2.) it destroys the collectability.
3.) find a modern gun to Bubbatize.
4.) it will still he an old beater when you're done.
5.) leave it for the next generation of gun nuts.

 

[Mikewood]

Let's say you paid $100 for it. Mods will run $300?
What can you get for $300?
Quite a few good budget rifles.
So leave it as is and get a budget rifle. Don't do it because it is a collector rifle but because it's a cool old gun that is fun to shoot.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[Dawico]

My recommendation is always to buy a new gun. No surprise there.......

 

[motorcarman]

Sell the Mauser to collectors like ME!!!!!!!!!!!!

bob

 

[majormadmax]

Concur with Moompie and motorcarman (Bob), don't ruin the historical value of a rifle especially as you pick up a decent hog rifle for the price of the modifications you were proposing...

 

[thequintessentialman]

Thanks, that reinforces what I was already thinking. A colleague of mine recently took his father's old 7mm Mauser to a GS and had it bored, bolt arm bent, and configured for a scope. I had considered putting a scope on mine some time back, right after I got it but gave up the idea when I found out it required putting new holes and other mods on the gun. I can be hopelessly sentimental when it comes to historical artifacts, even the insignificant ones like this. Talking to my colleague earlier this week, I just started wondering if I was missing something. The rifle has had a new bolt installed by a previous owner and I did run a nogo gauge on it before firing the first time. Talking to my colleague earlier this week, I just started wondering if there was some thing I was missing.

It does have an interesting history, best I can tell, it was made for Romanian forces by the Czechs after '38. It has SR in the serial number and no lion crest. Still trying to figure it out though...

 

[MTA]

Beating the dead horse but I think that is important. Just pick up a Ruger or Savage cheapo bolt gun instead. If you are looking to get rid of the mauser, let me know

 

[thequintessentialman]

... but it's bad luck to get rid of a good gun...