Friend Cal
 

I agree that a number of '98 Mausers I have encountered over the years have been used and abused. I wonder if the neglect occured in the military service or afterward.

Last Sunday, I saw a mint 1944 Russian carbine that had left the gun shop a few months ago and returned as a trade in. I offered to run a patch down the bore. What a surprise, the bore was genuine moonscape. The previous owner shot a bunch of corrosive ammo and put the gun away. He ruined the bore. What a shame. All the best...
Gil