Please excuse the long post... It has taken more text to explain opines on the matter. I have not mastered the use of magic "?????????????" marks to make my ideas clearer.
The Question was about value of unissued Yugo M48 mausers. If you want to put the same value on an unissued and "used" firearm, that is part of your collecting/buying strategy. Just so long as when selling a a firearms the buyer is made aware that a rifle is unissued, unfired or an excellent Used condition mauser. Otherwise that would be deception...
I understand that "unissued" with military anything is a grey area. From factory to transfer to military control, one may consider the item delivered/issued. Something factory fresh sent to 50 years of military storage, I would consider "military new." Unissued is a term used to mean not used or assigned for use by a service member or any individual.
Used is Used.....
Nothing wrong with used!.... that is why I collect MilSurps, I like 'em full of character, cosmolene, stains and dings....
Except for the single unissued military new condition Yugo BO, all of the others in the collection have seen considerable use of one type or another.
IMO...Once a rifle goes to the range it can not be considered "unissued" any more in present tense. Only past tense. As in "this was an unissued rifle that I have used and fired 200 times..." And its overall value should reflect that use.
IMO... the Real unfired (w/exception of factory proofing process) and unissued condition rifles will hold a premium over the 200 round lightly fired models (fired by an old lady and only on Sundays).
A point to remember with these Yugo mausers. Every once in a while a random selection of the "unissued" rifles were taken out of storage and sent to the range for functionality checks. I consider these used. I have one with pristine wood and outside metal finish and it came oozing with cosmolene. However, it had a nasty barrel due to lack of proper maintenance.
every rifle has been fired???????????????? test fired range fired????????????
Yes...it is a fact every complete production rife has been at least factory proofed and zero fired. The different proofing and zeroing rounds are designed to be no-corrosive and built to tighter standards..
and another couple 100 rounds won't make a difference?????????? Unless some damage is done to the rifle during the firing process!
take care
alex
I am confused by your statement.... Your flip-flop answer sounds like a politician. Seems middle of the fence and supports both of our differing opinions.
.
FACT is Every round fired in a rifle creates wear and tear of some-kind. 200 rounds is gonna leave permanent marks somewhere. Include in this wood finish being affected by handling dings, permanent changes in wood finish caused by high heat of using a firearm, body oils from handling and chemicals from cleaning impregnating the wood.
If someone wants to keep shooting a mauser and continue to call it new/unissued, that is their business.... I consider that used. We just have a different of Opinion here on this topic.
I have an old Russian Capture k98 that came with a ratty pitted dark bore. After, 200+ rounds the lands are shiny and sharp (look almost new). The grooves are still pitted, but it is a nice shooter.... The the 4 trips to the range have resulted in the lands being polished to a shine.
NagantM39.... In My Opinion, So long as your Yugo mausers have remained unfired they are in unissued status and can be valued separately and higher from excellent condition mauser. If used at the range or on hunting trips, I would consider them used. Unfortunately their value appreciates slower that other kinds of mauser.
Whew..... now it is time to take care of some honey-dews so I can go to the gun-show to look at used rifles....