ARES Karabiner 98K Real Wood Spring Powered Bolt Action Airsoft Rifle
(Model: Deluxe Version)

"Just to address one thing in the above review...Mauser Oberndorf did start issuing test laminate stocks in late production 1937...I have a "y" block that has one of these early laminates...

So it wouldn't be out of place to see laminates showing up in 1939...

However a 1939 gun would still have a flat buttplate, and wouldn't be cut for a front sight hood unless it went through a re-work...

"This is the best airsoft Mauser karabiner 98k on the market! It feels and weighs like my original 1939 dated Mauser 98k! It also has magazines that can fit inside your 98k ammo pouches and paratrooper bandoliers. It is expensive but it’s absolutely worth it! 5/5 stars all together!

"I briefly owned this Ares 98k (without scope), but returned it due to a very poor fit of the butt plate to the butt stock, leaving a very noticeable, think hideous, gap. Also, the front sight/guard was canted about45 degrees to the right, and I couldn't manage to bring it all the way back to its correct position. Not acceptable for a $500 airsoft springer in my opinion. Did not test fire it before returning it. I appreciate the ease with which Evike handled my issue.
I come at this review from the perspective of a WWII weapons collector, so......
Pros.
laminate wood stock, although I'm not sure that's realistic for a '39 dated 98k (think hardwood stock).

Cons
Non-matching serial numbers, everywhere. Not one other applied parts serial number (on about six parts) matches the receiver's serial number, or any of the others for that matter. In the collecting community we'd call it a parts
"mixmaster". The Ares engineer involved in the design of this rifle must have had one of these mixmasters as his example?? If going to the trouble of including serial numbers on parts at least make them matching.
The rifle felt barrel heavy, and yes I've owned a few of the real 98k's.
I think a later manufacture date (such as 43) would be more appropriate for a laminate stocked 98k.

I was seriously interested in acquiring the Ares scoped version of this rifle but am having second thoughts.