KAR98 cleaning kit.

[DamDSx]

i recently picked up one of those cleaning kits that have misteriously appeared in many gun stores, and to my surprise i actually saw some original markings. there is a really tiny german eagle on the top that is missing the right wing and the swastika (maybe scratched off? i see no damage around it though) and the pull through chain has markings that read NA (or NAS, hard to tell) 67 below another really tiny eagle and G. APOEL (or APBEL not really sure since it is barely visible) next to the other markings mentioned above and around the last chain link. it also has some numbers, i believe it is 1889, but they are barely visible so i might be wrong. on inside of the bottow cover someone scratched the numbers 349 right next to eachother. looks as if this was made with a knife or some sharp, pointy tool.

is this piece authentic? what other sings should i look for? inside the bottom cover there is signs of rust, and the can is pretty beat up. maybe the reason why the swastika and a wing are missing is because the russians scratched it off? please advice.


also, anypone have any idea how to use it? i picked it up because i thought it would be a nice addition to my collection, but so far i have not figured out how to use it.

thank you

Damian Gonzalez A.K.A DamDSx

[P08]

It may not be much help, but the only markings on my K98k cleaning kit are makers mark and a WaA stamp.

[jbaum]

APPEL is a manufacturer of such cleaning kit cases. The waffenampt (eagle/number) stamping was often not held perfectly square with the can, and left one side of the eagle or maybe the swastika a little less obvious than the rest of the stamping. The kits were often numbered and issued to the soldiers. According to the cleaning kit manual, the original cans were not painted, so a number scratched into the lid would be an easy identification of the particular kit.

I have just finished translating into English the Denckler manual for the proper use of this kit. I'll be proofreading tonight, then I will have it available for sale. I don't even have it on my website yet, but I will have it listed within the next day or two. It details the proper use of the kit contents and how to properly clean the 98K rifle. It will be a good mate to the 98K Denckler rifle manual I've already translated.

[DamDSx]

thanks for the info. i guess i do have an original piece after all.

[DamDSx]

what does the NA 67 stamped on the chain below the eagle mean by the way? i'd like to find out.

also, what does the G before APPEL stand for?

[Adrian Stevenson]

Hi Damian, the "G" is for Gustav. There is a fair bit of info on these cleaning kits on the forum. One of the members is indeed writing a book on the subject. Try a search


Cheers, Ade.

PS. Welcome to the forum

[Johnny]

Dam DSX

If you want go to search & type in cleaning kits then click on floor plate takedown tool.MP44 posted a picture of how the tool was used to clean the chamber.The other end of the tool with the pin sticking out was used to depress the pin to remove the floorplate.The rest of your cleaning kit consists of a bore and chamber brush,oiler,and linked chain to pull the bore brush and cleaning cloth through.The cleaning cloth was stored in the bottom of the can. http://users.swing.be/sw017995/german-codes.htm here is a site that has german codes that has a lot of information. Johnny.