Sight hoods started to appear from the factory in late 1940 for some of the makers of the 98k. It is also possible for an earlier rifle to be found with a sight hood if it were rebarreled with a 41 or later barrel. Grooves for the hood were occasionally cut into the front sight base of an early rifle if it were brought in for repair or inspection. These are not that common though.
Jim is correct. Also some rifles that were sent back to German factories or arsenals for repairs were sometimes fitted with sight hood covers if they did not already have them. So it is possible to find an early dated K98 (such as a 1939 date), with a sight hood cover on it as well!
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