K98 serial numbers : Find the original owner?

[florian_geyer72]

Hello guys,

Is it possible to find the original owner , soldier, unit,... with a k98 serial number ?
I know that the germans were very meticulouses.

Can you tell me if it is possible or what is the best way for it ?

All the best.

Florian

[bodes]

Florian, The information could be found in the soldier's Soldbuch.....However, I'm certain a large share of those are long gone.......Not to mention, you'd have to have access to the information in all of them (or be lucky enough to find yours by sheer luck).......A daunting task, to say the least......Bodes

[Jean-Loup]

There are only four numbers per rifle, meaning that thousands of rifles had the same number.

[Rich Pouncey]

Correct me if I am wrong about this, but the four digit serial number on a 98k is also associated with a letter of the alphabet with each letter accounting for 10,000 pieces produced. From this it is a simple matter to ID a 98k in the production line-up. For example, my ce 41 with 91XX "o" on the barrel and receiver shows my rifle to be number 150,91XX produced out of a total of 210,592 made in 1941.

Now, IMO, the Deutsch being Deutsch made a record of where that 98k went into active service and to whom it was issued. It would be extremely interesting to know the outfit and individual who received this piece initially.

[vaughn99]

well there a few problems MOST serials recorded never included the letter block. if the letter block was included the year of the rifle and manucaturer were NEVER recorded so u might find serial 9999 f by some sure luck and if the book was dated 1943 you would have 15 differnt manufactures and years to get a chance of getting this rifle. lets say you find a CE43 with serial 9999 f (F) block well he could have been issued BYF 43 9999 f (F) block there is just NO way of telling and the records were NEVER kept with this much info to ever find out. heck you coudl find BSW 1939 9999 f (F) block doesn't mean it was that soldiers the the Solbuch you own.



vaughn

[florian_geyer72]

Hello guys,
Thank you for your informations!
If I understand it's very very hard and rare to find the original owner of my mauser (dou 43 2169 r )
I believed that it was consigned in some kind of central archives of databases of the German Army forces.

[FestungSpanien]

Now I have another question for you,boys
Did the rifle and the bayonet issued to the soldier have the same number?
Silly question I know
Ace

[evilmike]

i would have thought not

[bodes]

There are only four numbers per rifle, meaning that thousands of rifles had the same number.

Not to mention the various manufacturers sharing the same serial numbers.....Soldbuch data would not include the manufacturer code of the rifle......Bodes

[gew98]

This is a silly question , but I'll help clear it up a bit.
The german serial sequence of up to four digits with and without an alpha prefix is known - as well as some variances with this in 1943 and later dated 98k's with 5 digit serials.
Anyhow the germans did not follow serials rigidly due to their system of serials and simply how they issued them. If you understand the german depot system of supply , refurb and how these depots were supplied you would see that simply amounts were recorded ( number of rifles not how many by what serials ).
Soldbuchs are a bad reference for such a dream - as noted when serials have been recorded in them the maker/date is never used , and rarely is the alpha ever noted.
In the US Military all arms are given a unique serial by type. For example alot of data has been dug up in US archives that show when a specific 45 pistol was made , accepted and issued to what unit.There are 1911 collectors that have such documented pistols , but short of daily unit rosters with property books and hand receipts it would be impossible to know which individual had any of those pistols. The exception being if the veteran noted the serial in something he kept for a collector to find.
As for German bayonets - they were a separate weapon and were made obviously separate from rifles , any 'matched serials' would be coincedental at best , and as well meaningless unless nubers fascinate the individual.

[FestungSpanien]

I asked because I remember seeing a portuguese contract Kar98k from 1937,that was full matching,down to the bayo.
Ace

[AndyB]

So its little curios, germans have some problems with evidence of people in last days of war, not speaking about rifles and bayonets, the amount is closely 15 Millions dont speak about other millions of captured weapons. best regards,Andy

[Rich Pouncey]

Thanks for posting this info and correcting what I had just assumed about serial numbered 98k's.

[gew98]

I asked because I remember seeing a portuguese contract Kar98k from 1937,that was full matching,down to the bayo.
Ace

Fest ; Contract rifles are a whole different ballgame than the issue 98k's that went to the wehrmacht. Such niceties as bayonets numbered to mate with rifle's serial are those little details that find their way into such 'commercial' contracts supplied outside of the armed forces ( wehrmacht in this case ).

[Benratterree]

I have a rifle from nazi germany and i cant figure out what type it is

IMG_0141.jpg22C0B3E6-DB4B-4E17-B591-CADCBA3D8D6C.jpg

IMG_0140.jpg
it has a hairpin trigger and a non removable scope. it has three Reichsadlers with the number 280 below them stamped on to the left side of the barrel. its stamped with 1939 on the top of the barrel. if yall know what type it is that would be very helpful.