Do you think a modified collectable has any value ?

TR Treeman 4 years ago

I was offered a 6.5 Portuguese Mauser yesterday, I turned it down. Years ago I was in a group in a friends walk in safe and he showed a 6.5 around, it had a dark red black fine grained wooden full stock. Somethings are "wow" others "beautiful". Some, well they great by what they imply by appearance, like tactical kitted weapons in black.
This Portuguese Mauser was pretty, dainty, looked like it would be of blue blood breed if it were human. It had pedigree.

I said I want it, I must have it, it will be mine, but that was years ago, no luck - I still recall the Teak like full stock.
I hate full stocks, fkn ugly.

Yesterday one of the blokes present that day in the safe offered me one of them Mausers, free, but it had a aftermarket stock fitted - plasteak.
I turned offer down, the weapon is of less than "for free" value in that form to me.

What say you all?

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Replies 11

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BB BBCT

I would say a modified collectable still has value, but what value and how much value is a murky area...........

In the example you quote, it probably no longer has "collector" value but maybe somebody would get a kick out of having an unusual calibre rifle.

What is collectable to one person might not be collectable to the next. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and all that stuff.

I have a .22 that isn't generally regarded as being a collectable brand or model but it has an unusual action, which ties in with my theme of collecting .22's with different actions. I had no qualms about shortening the barrel and fitting a suppressor because that didn't interfere with what I see as the "collectable" aspect of it, and gave the rifle greater utility. I like shooting with my collectable firearms anyway.

But I also have to say that certain of my firearms I will never tamper with......

[deleted]

I am with BBCT on this - beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

And turning down a free firearm? As long as the metal parts are still good, why not? One could redress the old lady in a copy of the original wooden stock, for example. If it is a true Carl Gustav K96, it is a treasure! The workmanship on those is truly something to behold.

TR Treeman OP

Ya, for me! - the calibre itself held no value to me (6.5), nor the cartridge (6.5x58), it was only the finished beauty of the complete item. I have gathered that if I ever get my 9.3 it would also have to be in original form.
Make no mistake though, I would not buy a rifle new today with an wooden stock, I believe in the new plastics and processed woods. If I bought a 2023 6.5x58, it would be laminated - stainless, but if I bought an old one, original it must be.

Funny thing human quirks, no logic about them.

BB BBCT

Treeman.....

Your last post makes perfect sense to me!

TR Treeman OP

Treeman.....

Your last post makes perfect sense to me!

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You say that like its unusual ;)

[deleted]

Just out of interest: did the rifle find a good home?

22 223

The 6,5x58 Portuguese rifle is not a Mauser. It is actually based on a split bridge Mannlicher type action, but manufactured by Ludwig Löwe in Berlin, who were also the owners of the Mauser trade mark at the time.

The rifles have some historical significance in SA as this is what the UDF under Smuts and Botha were issued with during WW1 and the Boer Rebellion.

Since they are not scarce and many examples in original condition still exist, their collector's value is low.

As a shooter their value is even lower, as getting or making ammo for them is problematic.

Treeman was wise to turn the rifle down.

Maybe one day when he manages to retire, he can spare the time to fiddle with one of these?

TR Treeman OP

The 6,5x58 Portuguese rifle is not a Mauser. It is actually based on a split bridge Mannlicher type action, but manufactured by Ludwig Löwe in Berlin, who were also the owners of the Mauser trade mark at the time.

The rifles have some historical significance in SA as this is what the UDF under Smuts and Botha were issued with during WW1 and the Boer Rebellion.

Since they are not scarce and many examples in original condition still exist, their collector's value is low.

As a shooter their value is even lower, as getting or making ammo for them is problematic.

Treeman was wise to turn the rifle down.

Maybe one day when he manages to retire, he can spare the time to fiddle with one of these?

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Yea ! not needing any more special needs children in my safe, already got one .303 that's got *&^*(^%97 mental issues.
I hate them fkn .303 again, so yes no issues weapons at the moment.

JA JamesNotBond

Yea ! not needing any more special needs children in my safe, already got one .303 that's got *&^*(^%97 mental issues.
I hate them fkn .303 again, so yes no issues weapons at the moment.

Is Treeman blaming his social inadequacies on the #4 I so kindly gifted him with ?

22 223

Yea ! not needing any more special needs children in my safe, already got one .303 that's got *&^*(^%97 mental issues.
I hate them fkn .303 again, so yes no issues weapons at the moment.

Is Treeman blaming his social inadequacies on the #4 I so kindly gifted him with ?

Naaah... That one is fine. It's all the others he's got that are keeping him awake at night. ;)

TR Treeman OP

No - it is the fuckin that # 4 that some ou built over into a jungle Carbine replica, very nice, looks very good even shoots nicely, its just?????? - well, its just where it shoots or should I say where ever it shoots.
I will strip this weapon and start all over, I assume its all wonky pressure points and lack of pressure points.