K98 id and any good?

[sean weber]

Hi all
Can any of the moderators or fire arms forum regulars give me the benefit of their knowledge on this rifle my brother is thinking of buying, its a wartime K98 Dated 1940, manufactures mark code is 42, wAa no 655, serial No 3794 ,other markings are 40si14.The wood work is almost new and waampt and marked with a P (Politzei?)
The weapon is in almost new condition all matching numbers except the bolt which is totaly devoid of markings the bore appears crisp and unused .is this gun anything special or bog standard? the owner is asking $400. Has it more value as a collectors piece than a serious shooter?
Thanks to all in advance

Sean W

[tankdriver]

To be a correct and matching piece ALL serial numbers should match. The code 42 was Mauser's, the stock should be numbered to the gun on the bottom of the stock. At the time this gun was made, it would never got out of the factory with a un-number bolt. If a repair was done in the field, the armorer had stamps to restamp the bolt with the serial #. With it being mis-matched I'd say about 300.00 to 350.00 would be correct. It would be classed as just a shooter.

[david w]

If the stock was replaced inthe field there should be a byf stamped in the wood behind the small of the stock; if the bolt was replaced it should have the code S42 stamped on the flat of the underside of the bolt handle.Otherwise it is not right.In any case they should be numbered to the gun , value $300.00-$350.00.

[sean weber]

Thanks for comments and info


Cheers for info etc

Sorry forgot to mention stock numbered to rifle on wood and also butt plate , the only question mark appears to be the bolt that appears to have no markings at all. but the condition is the same as regards finish wear etc( Im not trying to convince myself that this is the bolt that was issued with the rifle just the lack of any markings seems unusual and I thought somone may have info on this???)

Thanks one again

[david w]

The bolt is not original to the rifle. Rifles leaving the factory right up to the day before we kicked in the front door were serial numbered to match the receiver with few exceptions,.When your rifle was made standards were extremely high.Price range is still as quoted in prior response.

[Matt Weber]

I agree with David.

Matt