Bottom line - you'll pay more and maybe get less, but that depends are your expectations.
Actually I think it's a truism that has little to do with expectations. Where expectations come in is whether or not the person is happy with it and I think in that case ignorance truly is bliss.
I didn't want an over-priced over-worked "pretty" K98k.
Then it's odd that you defend Mitchell's because that is almost
exactly how I would describe what they sell.
Look at their K98 bolt and butt plates - all pretty and silver. It certainly wasn't issued like that but Mitchell's doesn't want to take the time to reblue some of the parts (or thinks they're "pretty" they way they sell them) so they leave them incorrect and indeed they must strip off what blue they have left so then the shine makes pupils dilate and dollars leap from the pockets of those who truly don't know any better. To which I say :barf:!
And for proof a bit of gunshop searching and/or Gunbroker browsing will yeild results here's my K98. I've got far less into it than I would have a Mitchell's, it's got a new Norwegian .30-06 barrel (after the Norwegians kicked the German's back out they re-worked their captured K98s), it's a parts rifle without matching numbers, has had some re-bluing and as such is just as un-collectible as a Mitchell's, but it's not import stamped, is correct in it's general appearance and as such looks great and shoots even better with the new barrel:
For something different this is my all numbers matching, like new and totally unfettered Spanish M43 Mauser 98. I've got less into it than what Mitchell's charges for a freakin Yugo, it has no fugly import stamps, shoots GREAT in original 8mm and looks even better:
Seriously people, skip Mitchell's pimped (and thus ruined from a collector/heirloom perspective) rifles and either find a cheapo non-matching K98 and pimp it yourself for less money or spend just a bit more for something nicely authentic with lasting value.
Or, if you want something that's really nice, shoots great, has some excellent history, good collector's value, and doesn't cost like a German K98 mauser consider a Finn M39:
They're re-worked Mosin-Nagants, have the sweetest trigger you can imagine, shoot the powerhouse 7.62x54 Russian, come with much better sights and stocks than a Ruski Mosin, and can be had with really neat Sako cartouches and proofs. You can buy them in like-new, never issued condition all day long right here:
http://www.gunsnammo.com/
Mitchell's Mausers. :barf:
Just one man's opinion however...
Oly