by
Lubeck
I must have missed it - what was odd about the serial number?
In all the K98's I have had over the years - and that is MANY - I have had from lows (serial - 1 f - comes to mind) through multiple double-suffix ones (a few bb suffix for starters), some no suffix (my last high turret sniper didn't have a suffix, and it was 1945 production). None were unusual or special regarding a serial number.
The only ones I think that are special in regards to serials are those with an alpha-PREFIX letter to the serial, especially the S prefix.
I will say it one last time, and until there are other photos, I will not say any more - as it stands with what is visible, you have a bog-standard K98 (apparently 1935 production, which is not inherently rare, unless it is a specific maker), that was post-war messed with stock wise (militarily in Turkey, as well as civilian ruination with sandpaper and polyurethane, or worse, Truoil), MAY be metal refinished, and has had a commercially available REPRODUCTION/RECREATION WW1 trench magazine added to it, and probably sporterised scope mount holes on the left rail. All adds up to a $400 TOPS rifle.
PLEASE, whatever you do, don't go wagering your kids college funds or the farm or paying off credit cards debts with it, as you are going to be VERY VERY VERY sorely disappointed, as the rifle is VERY VERY far from what it is purported to be. Even if miraculously it WAS a sniper (before someone donked with the stock and added the honky magazine), without the proper matching rig, it is still not worth much, and EVERY single serial on the gun would have to match (and be ORIGINAL, not faked match).
As Gew98 said, in a word, you got hoodwinked, and believed what a well-trained salesman told you, and got advice from someone who claims to be an expert, yet no one in the long term collecting circles seems to know (and he of course doesn't wish to come online...).
Believe in it all you like, but please, do not make such enormously brash and bold statements about it without getting widespread critique and appraisal. So far, the pro arguments have been hear-say from people who we don't know and who apparently won't discuss things online.
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