Unfired German 98k

[bodes]

I believe they were all factory test fired as part of the "proofing" process. That being said there were probably a number of rifles that were never fired after that. There were probably many late war produced rifles that were not fired after proofing because the transportation system had been blown to bits and they just sat in their crates awaiting capture.

I was thinking the same thing....However, I believe they also used go/no go gauges to test things as well.....Or perhaps just took random rifles off the line and test fired them?.....Would stand to reason that as the war progressed, certain steps were hastened to increase the number of weapons leaving the factory....Bodes

[Bigdibbs88]

No 98s are unfired. They were all shot at the factory as part of inspection before shipment. This one is definitely not near new/unfired condition. The stock is refinished and the bands have heavy wear on them, just a guess but they may not even match the rifle. In any case more pics are needed

[scotty1418]

With a story like that, I'd expect to see an import marking somewhere...

[RHScott]

I was thinking the same thing....However, I believe they also used go/no go gauges to test things as well.....Or perhaps just took random rifles off the line and test fired them?.....Would stand to reason that as the war progressed, certain steps were hastened to increase the number of weapons leaving the factory....Bodes

A Go-No Go gage test is not the same as a proof firing or function check. They were all shot.

[Ronnie Fry]

I assume that, not referring to the gun up for auction, there must have been some mint unfired Mausers that were brought back by Allied soldiers, either from factories or storage units. Anyone ever had the pleasure of seeing or owning one? Based on the info from a US Marine vet who fought in the South Pacific, he said that when WWII ended, they were ordered to dump crates of ammo and new 1903 rifles into the ocean. Was the same done with captured German weapons?

Dan,
Here is one I have the pleasure of owning. I am by no means saying it is unfired, but it is pretty close to being "unissued", and perhaps captured at the end of the war. I wish I had some provenance on this rifle, but can only say that it came from a vet's estate in West Texas.

[Ronnie Fry]

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[Ronnie Fry]

3

[Alfred.R]

Dan,
Here is one I have the pleasure of owning. I am by no means saying it is unfired, but it is pretty close to being "unissued", and perhaps captured at the end of the war. I wish I had some provenance on this rifle, but can only say that it came from a vet's estate in West Texas.

nice one ,near mint

[me6_130]

Yes, looks hardly used. Nice


Carles

[Ronnie Fry]

By request--

[me6_130]

I guess it would be correct to call this one a textbook "kriegsmodel", no? The buttstock doesn't even look oiled!!

Carles

[Dan M]

Sweet! Thanks for sharing.