Fake Sniper rifle (Gunbroker)

**4V50 Gary** · February 16, 2025, 04:27 PM

Found this on Gunbroker. It's supposed to be a K98k which has a Soviet PU scope base on it. I bring it here for discussion:

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1087944589https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1087944589

Here's the issues I see with it:

1) brazed attachment. I think the Germans would have modified either the mount or the receivver. Brazing is a lot of heat and would probably require a heat sink in the receiver (if the barrel is removed).
2) Eye relief. If anyone has a M91/30 with PU scope, tell me if you can see the reticle with your head a further 2-3" back (or even more). I think not. The Germans had a short scope, ZF-4 but to mount it on the K98k they had to develop a swept back mount because the ejector/bolt release was in the way of mounting the scope further back.

I think it's a forgery.

FrankenMauser · February 16, 2025, 05:01 PM

That is the wrong mount, and the Germans always used removable fasteners.
Russian capture and field modification? Maybe. But unlikely and unprovable.

Also, your link is bad. It got double-pasted and needs to be edited.

FrankenMauser · February 16, 2025, 05:18 PM

I posted that link to a collectors' group and immediately got a response from someone claiming they've seen this before, with a back story that it was done post-war in France.
He is, however, now thinking it is not just the same style, but the same rifle.

It may be one of those hot potato rifles that people think they'll take a chance on, only to get it in their hands and regret the purchase - whether due to poor function, or something visual that scares them.

**4V50 Gary** · February 16, 2025, 06:55 PM

Thanks FrankenMauser for that guy's opinion. The "dwell" is too long and allows for double images. Link is fixed now. Here's an image from the website. Does the mount appear to be canted to the left? It should be parallel to the bore and I know the receiver ring is larger diameter than the area opposite of the raceway.

FrankenMauser · February 16, 2025, 11:21 PM

It is hard to say.
There aren't many straight lines that are suitable for comparison.

Overall consensus from the collectors' group is that this is a fake. Bubba in his garage.

bamaranger · February 16, 2025, 11:47 PM

Somebody thought it was worth over $1500.......I don't.

JT-AR-MG42 · February 17, 2025, 07:34 AM

It must have been put together some time ago, as the rifle looks like a straight '43 and would have brought in pretty good dough by itself.

Just another of those 'It seemed like a good idea at the time' moments.

JT

February 16, 2025, 04:27 PM	#1
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 22,306	Fake Sniper rifle (Gunbroker) Found this on Gunbroker. It's supposed to be a K98k which has a Soviet PU scope base on it. I bring it here for discussion: https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1087944589https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1087944589 Here's the issues I see with it: 1) brazed attachment. I think the Germans would have modified either the mount or the receivver. Brazing is a lot of heat and would probably require a heat sink in the receiver (if the barrel is removed). 2) Eye relief. If anyone has a M91/30 with PU scope, tell me if you can see the reticle with your head a further 2-3" back (or even more). I think not. The Germans had a short scope, ZF-4 but to mount it on the K98k they had to develop a swept back mount because the ejector/bolt release was in the way of mounting the scope further back. I think it's a forgery. __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*

February 16, 2025, 05:01 PM	#2
FrankenMauser Senior Member Join Date: August 26, 2008 Location: In the valley above the plain Posts: 13,776	That is the wrong mount, and the Germans always used removable fasteners. Russian capture and field modification? Maybe. But unlikely and unprovable. Also, your link is bad. It got double-pasted and needs to be edited. __________________ -Unwilling Range Officer -Unwilling Match Designer -NRL22/PRS22/PRO -Something about broccoli and carrots

February 16, 2025, 05:18 PM	#3
FrankenMauser Senior Member Join Date: August 26, 2008 Location: In the valley above the plain Posts: 13,776	I posted that link to a collectors' group and immediately got a response from someone claiming they've seen this before, with a back story that it was done post-war in France. He is, however, now thinking it is not just the same style, but the same rifle. It may be one of those hot potato rifles that people think they'll take a chance on, only to get it in their hands and regret the purchase - whether due to poor function, or something visual that scares them. __________________ -Unwilling Range Officer -Unwilling Match Designer -NRL22/PRS22/PRO -Something about broccoli and carrots

February 16, 2025, 11:21 PM	#5
FrankenMauser Senior Member Join Date: August 26, 2008 Location: In the valley above the plain Posts: 13,776	It is hard to say. There aren't many straight lines that are suitable for comparison. Overall consensus from the collectors' group is that this is a fake. Bubba in his garage. __________________ -Unwilling Range Officer -Unwilling Match Designer -NRL22/PRS22/PRO -Something about broccoli and carrots

February 16, 2025, 11:47 PM	#6
bamaranger Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 2009 Location: North Alabama Posts: 8,800	someone Somebody thought it was worth over $1500.......I don't.

February 17, 2025, 07:34 AM	#7
JT-AR-MG42 Senior Member Join Date: December 27, 2008 Posts: 558	It must have been put together some time ago, as the rifle looks like a straight '43 and would have brought in pretty good dough by itself. Just another of those 'It seemed like a good idea at the time' moments. JT __________________ I hunt not to kill, but rather to have not played golf...