i have a 98k that was " sporterized" it has a beautiful wood stock that should be on a weatherby and the barrel was taken down some to remove some of the war scars....it was definently in battle...its evident on some of the metal still....it cost me 50 bucks to have the bolt modified and a new saftey and drilled and tapped for a scope plus leupold rings and base.....i didnt get charged infull because the guy had some problems and took a long long time and the smith didnt charge full price if at all....i think i only paid for parts....besides that and the stock everything is original....i did tap out the rear site so i could put a full sized scope on it....its chamberd int 3006 and shoots well....the next thing to go in it is a trigger....the trigger is original and very stiff and creepy....it was all refinished so its a beautiful rifle even with the battle scars...i love my mauser...i dont have more then...400 into the rifle and leupold scope and everything...and mauser actions are one of the strongest you can get...i rather have a mauser over a remington or winchester...sure it can get costly as vapodog said...but thats if you go all out and rechamber it and get a new barrel and expensive stock and everything....then all your using is the reciever and action....