A WELL TRAVELED MAUSER 98k

[paddywonka]

Found this well used 8mm 98k rifle at my local gun shop for $250. What first caught my eye was the double stamped 1917 and 1920 dates. Then noticed the receiver, barrel, bolt, butt plate, bolt release and trigger group were all numbered the same 6438. The stock appears to be a later WW2 type. The barrel's bore, though # the same, is too nice to be original. Looks like this rifle started life as a WW1 German AZ98,1917 Erfurt made kar98 ,as marked on the left side rail. Then was stamped after the war with the 1920 Weimar permission stamp, likely seeing police use . The newer 98k rear sight is marked with a 30s waffenamt. And the trigger group remarked and numberd with an even later waffenamt. The receiver shows a Russian capture mark. The newer barrel is numbered to the recever, but is marked with the East German 1001 mark. The bolt is tear drop shaped at the ball, and all of it's parts show early WW1 marks. The receiver and barrel are stamped with the Iraqi Republican Guard marking, what appears to be the upside down #2 in a triangle. Found some info on the net, that these rifles might have come into the States with some Turkish Mausers imported by FED ORD INC. S.E.M. CA. in the early 90s. Though it is properly import marked in regards to caliber, K-98/8 X 57, it is not marked with country of origin. When I took this rifle down to clean it, found the stock's barrel channel to be also marked with the serial number. Every where inside the rifle was packed with a very fine dust, guessing from the last country of ownership. Any input on this rifle would be great. Some pictures for you veiwing.

[Josh Beckett]

Has it been chromed? I cant tell. I just know that there is almost no original finish left. Its still really cool though.

[paddywonka]

No , it has not been chromed. Just shiney steel, with out a trace of bluing left. Can anyone make out the mark on the receiver just above the 1920 property mark?

[Josh Beckett]

You have an Iraqi issued 98k. Congrats. That mark is called the Jeem and shows up on just about all Iraqi issued equiptment.

The lack of finish is typical of Iraqi rifles and pistols. I saw a Desert Storm bringback Tokarev that honestly had no trace of bluing on it.


If only that thing could talk.


Added, I believe they were sent to some Eastern European country after Desert Storm.

[Gimpy117]

what an incredible pedigree! So this Rifle has seen WWI, WWII, The Cold war, And possibly the gulf war. amazing

[paddywonka]

Have a nephew who did a year plus in Iraq, one thing he was upset with, not being able to bring back any firearms like his uncles did from WW2. Think he will enjoy this one.

[dwmmg08]

K-98 mark- Polish?

The mark above the 1920 looks like a badly worn and stamped over Polish eagle to me?

This is a really cool rifle! It would probably be sick of being in any army if it could talk.

[besslein]

The mark above the 1920 looks like a badly worn and stamped over Polish eagle to me?

This is a really cool rifle! It would probably be sick of being in any army if it could talk.

the eagle stamp with eagle has not Polish but Prussia origin

[paddywonka]

Thanks for that information. Have a collection of Polish k98 and wz29 rifles. Some show previous WW1 and later WW2 German ownership. Believe besslein is correct though, with Prussian mark. Paddy

[Josh Beckett]

Have a nephew who did a year plus in Iraq, one thing he was upset with, not being able to bring back any firearms like his uncles did from WW2. Think he will enjoy this one.

It sucks doesnt it. The only ones you can bring back are antiques (and for cartridge firing antiques you must have a letter from the ATF stating its an antique).

[Matt Weber]

Very interesting rifle. Unfortunately the bolt has definately been re-numbered to match. Top of bolt handle has been ground down (too smooth), and numbers are not the same size/font as the rest of the rifle.
Also the magazine base looks to be "over stamped". You can see the original serial number was "6401" and someone overstamped the "01" with a "38".

Still an interesting piece with a lot of history!

Matt

[paddywonka]

Am sure this rifles parts were forced matched, just not electro pencilled like the Russians do theirs. Was reworked by the East Germans post-war, and who knows by who else.
Posted this rifle else where, had input that the mark directly above the 1920, could be a Czech Lion.

[mkb42h]

why is the trigger way forward in the trigger guard?

[MauserKar98k]

Well-traveled is right! A great assortment of marks on that Mauser.

why is the trigger way forward in the trigger guard?

That's a good question, it's like the trigger assembly is mounted too far forward in the stock.

[paddywonka]

Was told the reason the trigger sets so far forward in the gaurd, is because it is an original Gew trigger with a later 98k trigger gaurd. Believe the trigger (Imperial stamped and numbered to the rifle) and the receiver are the only original 1917 parts still on the rifle.