Cigarette Rifle

[lrs]

About 10 years ago, at a gun show, I spotted an old rifle, a 98 mauser, military action, 8mm of course.   It had been sporterized a bit, and upon close inspection, was stocked with a very fine piece of european walnut. 
It has double set triggers.  The metal is pretty worn, the trigger assembly has a small amount of rust, nothing major. 
The feller I bought it from said it was a "cigarrette rifle".  I think he said after the war, german gunsmiths would coble up a rifle, and trade it for a pack of cigarettes, something like that.
I bought it, have never fired it.  I refinished the stock with tung oil/polyurethane.  Very nice wood.  I might checker it.
I was thinking of having the barreled action reblued, and having the double set triggers examined for safety's sake.
Does anyone know more about these rifles? 
Finally, does this rifle have any appeciable value.  I paid $200 for it.
Thanks

[GatCat]

I've heard the same thing, after the war new rifles were not available, so 'smiths would make do with what they could, simply to survive. Yes, they would trade them for whatever necessities they could get.
I think value would depend on a bunch of things, like how good was the action to start with ( not all 98's are considered equal ), how well the work was done, etc. I'm sure most of them are quite nice, but in the long run, they are just sporterized '98's. Even if built on a nice action, with an excellent bore, and with very nice wood, I think about $500. would be tops. But, at that, you have a handcrafted rifle for less then most new rifles.
Mark

[Brithunter]

I've heard the same thing, after the war new rifles were not available, so 'smiths would make do with what they could, simply to survive. Yes, they would trade them for whatever necessities they could get.
I think value would depend on a bunch of things, like how good was the action to start with ( not all 98's are considered equal ), how well the work was done, etc. I'm sure most of them are quite nice, but in the long run, they are just sporterized '98's. Even if built on a nice action, with an excellent bore, and with very nice wood, I think about $500. would be tops. But, at that, you have a handcrafted rifle for less then most new rifles.
Mark

Oh how this made me laugh  according to your thoughts GatCat a Griffin & Howe, Rigby, Holland & Holland, Westley Richards or Frank Wells built rifle is worth about $500 US because it just a 98 action    Also not all 98 Mauser type actions ( I say that as stricky speaking only those made at Obendorf are really Mausers ) were military as manufactures like Brno, CZ, FN Herstal and Santa Barbra all made commercial actions or the Mauser 08 type as well as DWM, Sauer, and Obendorf them selves in Germany.

As for the OP well price is dependant on quality, that is certainly true  , also the rifle needs careful examination as some of the Mauser 98 types made during the last part of the war were of mediocre quality. Quality is had to control when your being bombed night and day! and you need to find out for certain what it's chambered for and what bore size it is.

[GatCat]

I will stand by my opinion. He is not asking about a G&H, Rigby, H&H or any other "brand name" custom. He is talking about an apparently nicely done-up rifle by an unknown person, possibly re-done throughout it's life. OP did state "sporterized a bit". Heck, it could have been done in this country, and would be considered a "bubba" rifle, with a nice stock.
As I mentioned, he has a nce, apparently handcrafted rifle for not alot of $. I'm glad I made you laugh! Humor is a good thing.
Mark

[beemanbeme]

Deleted by me. Wrong thread. Sorry.

[beemanbeme]

Cold and hungry can make value a malleable thing.  A pack of cigarettes is 20 trade items. 1 for a carrot, 1 for an onion, 4 for a potato, 4 for a 1/4 head of cabbage, 10 for a couple oz's of meat(don't ask) and your family's fed.    Folks did some pretty basic services for a pack of smokes, a pound of coffee and the like.  On both sides of the Channel.
Jack O'Connor used to run some pictures of some pretty fancy rifles made on mauser actions.  Not being an aficionado, they're all mausers to me.

[lrs]

Jack O'Connor was before my time, but I know who he was.  I might try to locate these pictures you mentioned.
The rifle I described was once a great looking rifle.  If it had taken care of it still would be.  The walnut stock would be an expensive item in today's market.
As I mentioned, I refinished the stock.  The metal needs to be reblued, I'm pretty sure.  I think I could spend a couple of hundred dollars, and come out with a nice rifle.

[Badnews Bob]

From what i've seen, a cheap set of set triggers run 150.00+ and most mauser(type) actions are going for 30 to 50 bucks with rust pits all over them. I think you probably got your moneys worth and then some. I would love to have set triggers for one of mine.

BTW I just had a M48 sporterized and chambered for .376 Stery, It was just appraised for $1200.00. Pretty good for a $50.00 action thats 60 years old.

[lrs]

Funny you mention that.  One of my favorite chamberings is a 9.3x62.  I think there is enough metal on the barrel that this might could be bored out to a 9.3x62.  Of course, I would get a gunsmith's opinion, but it's fun to think about.

[jcn59]

Badnews.....I have an old mauser double set trigger assembly if you are interested...

Nomosendero, can I say this, or must I put it in classifieds first.  Just delete it if I've sinned.

[Catfish]

My guess would be that you have a fine rifle well worth referbing. Most of the older 98 customs were built on the best actions. That said some were not. Dor instance, I have a $400 piece of wood on a $40 Turkish mauser action with a $10 Miltiary barrel in 7.62x36. What a waist of a pretty piece of wood.