[Doucme2]

A friend of mine just brought over a 98k mauser for me to restock. The rifle had been sporterized in the past but only the stock was changed. He recently completely broke off the rear of the stock at the wrist and then promptly threw away the broken piece. The Serial number on the rifle is 1660 and has all the Nazi markings intact and the number 42. My eyes aren't what they used to be but I can see several eagles holding a swastica in a circle and others with the no.37 under them. Every part of this rifle matches including the sight, all the parts of the bolt, the handguard and whats remaining of the stock. The original stock was cut off at the second barrel band so what is missing is the front barrel band, the cleaning rod and the sight protector. There two letters in script on the top of the receiver over the 42. The bluing seems original and is about 98%. Is it at all feasable that the original stock could be repaired since both remaining parts are stamped with the serial number? This rifle has to have some collectors value.

[Robert]

What is the letter stamp over the "42"? The letters are the stamp of the factory that made the rifle in 1942, hence 42. Numbers matching, but parts missing it is worth more than a Russian capture but not nearly as much as it would be if it were in tact. A nice clear pic of the receiver with the factory initials and the date would go a long way to identifying where this K98 was made.

[Doucme2]

One other thing, there is no import mark. I suspect this was a take home and the stock was cut a long while ago. My clumsy friend recently got the gun from his father who does not remember where he got it, just that it was already altered.

[Doucme2]

This is the best my camera can do. There are two letters in script and they look like CR to me.

[Doucme2]

This one is a little better.

[Hud]

Probably a vet bring back since it has no import mark & was duffel cut at the rear band.
It was made by J.P. Sauer & Sohn (that is a script CE over the date), Suhl in early '42.
Can't give you a value as I'm not a collector, but it would be worth restoring.

Here is some more info. on it:

The 1942 Sauer K98k has two variations based on the manufacturing code. The slanted Script “ce” was
changed to a vertical script in th "n" serial number range. The waffenamt "280" as a final acceptance proof
appeared on the right side of the receiver ring in the “p” serial number range, and the use of subcontract
buttplates (“gqm”). It appears that when the shape of the code letters was changed the style of the Mod.98 on
the siderail was also changed from block to script letters (it is not known if both changes occurred at the same
time). Stocks are branch of service marked (Heer) the known serial number range is from 3139 to 3339s,
with an estimated production run of 195.000 rifles.

If you need more information on collector value, you might want to post this here:

http://forums.gunboards.com/forumdisplay.php?6-The-K98-Mauser-Forum

These guys are collectors & can steer you in the right direction on value & restoration.

Regards, Hud

[NCsmitty]

Here's a reference to a similar rifle.

http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=330645



NCsmitty