The original K98

[Josh Beckett]

Anybody have an original K98 (the really early one with the butterknife bolt handle)? I saw one in a magazine and was wondering how rare they are.

[Craig W.C. Brown]

There are several versions; if you mean the so-called "Einheitskarabiner 98" of 1904-1908, then I have one. They are not common.

[Josh Beckett]

Yep, thats the one.

What is the barrel length on them? I have never seen one in person. What year is yours?

[Craig W.C. Brown]

Barrel length measured per ATF regs is 404 cm. Date on mine is 1904; no unit markings, unfortunately.

[Josh Beckett]

How did you run across it? Were they used in WWI or even WWII?

[Craig W.C. Brown]

Turned up at an auction about 17 years ago; not cheap even then; about 5 times the going price of a regular Gewehr 98 at the time as I recall.
They were used in some of the German colonies by some Police units into
WWI. I have seen at least one WWI era photo taken in Europe with one in a vehicle but they were officially withdrawn and replaced beginning in 1908. Some were converted to 5mm gallery practice rifles 1908+; there is one of those in the Springfield Armory Museum collection. Some were surplussed off and ended up in Mexico converted (by whom I do not know) to 7x57; these occasionally show up but those I have seen were "ridden hard and put away wet" in Mexican service. Formal use during WWII seems highly unlikely but one never can say for sure they were not used, especially at the end.

[Josh Beckett]

If I were to come across one today, how much would I be expecting to pay?

[Craig W.C. Brown]

That's very hard to say. I haven't seen one for sale in years although I heard somebody found one at the SOS earlier this year. One of the predecessor versions in decent shape but missing the entire rear sight assembly was sold earlier this year for just under $3K. I passed on it because of the missing rear sight.

[kerryboo]

I also have one, although, sadly, with a replaced bolt. I posted it a couple of years ago as "Rare 98 carbine". I am not sure how to attach threads, but try the above. Is this the weapon you refer to?

[Craig W.C. Brown]

That's the "Einheitskarabiner." Mine has the right type of spatulate handle bolt but it doesn't match (with these you take what you can get). Does yours have any unit markings? Lehner's article is certainly the best thing available in English on these.

[kerryboo]

Hello Craig. The buttplate tang is marked with 3 "script" letters, hard to decipher, and 145. I think it will be beyond my skills to photograph, but I will try this weekend,
Kerry.

[kerryboo]

I revisited Lehner's article, and the letters are KGP with a serial of 145. The weapon is Erfurt 1904 serial, matching aside from the bolt, 4757. The rearsight base is marked from 3-1800 metres.

[kerryboo]

I now have a correct form bolt, it has taken me over a decade to find! Apologies for the rubbish photo, my camera is "up the creek" and my tablet, which I used, has a very low-res camera in it. The finish on the bolt is not ideal, but I think the best thing to do is to remove the garish blueing and allow it to "age" somehow.
Kerry.