My first Mauser?

[LightningLink]

It's been two weeks since my last rifle purchase, and I'm starting to get the shakes. I'm thinking maybe the Mauser bug has infected me and I gotta have one.

I think I've narrowed it down to a Yugoslavian M48 from AIM Surplus. I have a few questions if I may:

1) Is AIM Surplus as good a place as any?

2) Are there any questions I should ask when calling in an order? Should I have to be specific if I don't want an M48A?

3) What is this "crest" mark that some have and some don't? Is it better with, or without one?

FWIW - I don't have a solid reason for wanting one of these. It just seems a decent model at a good price for jumping into the Mauser foray.

Thanks for any input,
LL

 

[TABING]

Good choice, I've got 2 or them (paid $250 each for unissued, all matching with bayonet etc)
$109 is a good price and AIMsurplus is a reputable firm.
I think the 48A has pressed steel fittings,(barrel band etc.) but that is not a big concern. The one in their ad (C&R rifles) is 48.
Mine has YUGO crests, since these are post WWII they never had Nazi marking to grind off, so I think they all have crests. There are a lot of these around. look at CDNNinvestments, and Empirearms.

 

[Destructo6]

One of the reasons people like the crest to remain intact is that the receiver is usually ground to remove it. The grinding would tend to weaken the receiver, though I'm not sure if it's a matter of the metal removed or the heat produced during removal (both?).

Owning a version of the legendar Mauser is reason enough. That was my reason.