just got a 98k, sweet rifle accurate got a new stock, sight hood, sling i wouldnt buy one made after 1942 as they tend to be a little crude or not made in the mauser factory at all. probably better than the mosin in every way. the stock was terrible and soaked with that cosmoline that russians put on them after they were captured. but it couldnt be any better now picked 1 out of like 30 rifles no pitting in the rifling or wear at all, i remember my brothers nagant had terrible pitting and the diameter of the muzzle was like 2x width of the bullet, i guess the carbine version is nice though but has a decent amount of recoil.