FN Mauser K98K type

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Jasonmackuk

Jasonmackuk

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Hi all I’ve recently brought a FN Mauser K98k type rifle that’s been converted to 7.62x51mm . It was advertised as a Possible Israeli converted FN rifle ( I didn’t buy it for that reason just liked the rifle )
It came with an Addley scope mount fitted so I couldn’t see the rifles markings or crest on the receiver , ( I bought it from a gun dealer that was not local and had it shipped so I didn’t inspect the rifle )
Once I got the scope mount off it came apparent it’s was not an Israeli rifle as there were no Israeli markings or indicators.
I’ve done some research and I think it’s a Chinese contract rifle pre 1937 so possibly a 1924 or 1930 pattern FN Mauser am I on the right track ?
 

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That receiver could be Chinese contract. But that stock was not made for that receiver then..

So like what matches..??? Stock?? Barrel?? Receiver??

Does it have 7.62 engraved anywhere on the stock???
 
As you probably are aware, the stock and furniture is a mix of early/pre and very late-war Wehrmacht components. The markings on the underside of the barrel near the bayonet lug are an indication of British proof, required for domestic sales. I believe the L - C in crossed swords indicates Birmingham proof 1984, but that should be confirmed by someone more knowledgeable. See https://www.shotguns.se/html/uk.html

If the receiver left FN after WWII, you can probably find a date code on the underside flat of the receiver, just behind the recoil lug. If you find one of the marks on this table, you can work out the quarter and year it was manufactured:

FNDateCodes.jpg

If you don't find one of these, then I think you can safely assume the action was made pre-1940.
 
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A check with Vanderlinden's book on FN Mausers makes me think you are on the right track with Chinese contracts, at least for the receiver -- that FN logo was introduced in the mid-1930s to help distinguish the real McCoy from other makes, especially local copies. The Chinese didn't spend extra money to have their rifles marked with a national crest, as just about every other military customer would have insisted on. The Chinese local manufacturers often attempted to copy European logos, but when they did they usually got the proportions wrong or misspelled the factory name.

The turn-down bolt handle may be a later replacement. In fact, you could have a lot of fun trying to identify where most of the individual parts originally came from. The handguard on Chinese FN M1924 and M1930 extended all the way to the receiver, so I'm guessing there are quite a few German parts in the rifle.
 
Dave DeLaurant said:
A check with Vanderlinden's book on FN Mausers makes me think you are on the right track with Chinese contracts, at least for the receiver -- that FN logo was introduced in the mid-1930s to help distinguish the real McCoy from other makes, especially local copies. The Chinese didn't spend extra money to have their rifles marked with a national crest, as just about every other military customer would have insisted on. The Chinese local manufacturers often attempted to copy European logos, but when they did they usually got the proportions wrong or misspelled the factory name.

The turn-down bolt handle may be a later replacement. In fact, you could have a lot of fun trying to identify where most of the individual parts originally came from. The handguard on Chinese FN M1924 and M1930 extended all the way to the receiver, so I'm guessing there are quite a few German parts in the rifle.
Click to expand...
I was thinking it’s been upgraded over the years I was wondering by whom
 
Dave DeLaurant said:
A check with Vanderlinden's book on FN Mausers makes me think you are on the right track with Chinese contracts, at least for the receiver -- that FN logo was introduced in the mid-1930s to help distinguish the real McCoy from other makes, especially local copies. The Chinese didn't spend extra money to have their rifles marked with a national crest, as just about every other military customer would have insisted on. The Chinese local manufacturers often attempted to copy European logos, but when they did they usually got the proportions wrong or misspelled the factory name.

The turn-down bolt handle may be a later replacement. In fact, you could have a lot of fun trying to identify where most of the individual parts originally came from. The handguard on Chinese FN M1924 and M1930 extended all the way to the receiver, so I'm guessing there are quite a few German parts in the rifle.
Click to expand...
I read on another site that the capital D on the side stamp was used pre 1937 is that true I’ve seen other FN stamps with lower cased d fonts
 
Jasonmackuk said:
I was thinking it’s been upgraded over the years I was wondering by whom
Click to expand...

I can't imagine any official military would contract for a cartridge conversion without a bunch of clear markings like the Israeli's and Norwegians put on their converted Mausers.

One outside possibility: CIA rework for arming the Contras. They also supplied surplus Israeli .308 Mausers so this configuration would be familiar, and the Contras wouldn't care about markings.

Remodeling by an importer for resale to reenactors is another possibility, assuming they would prefer .308 blanks over 8mm for some reason.
 
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Just doing Some thinking on this guy, and I bet this rifle was one of those Chinese imports in the 80s and 90s.. Alot of those that came in had Sewers for barrels and the stocks were pretty beat. There were a good number of mauser 7.62x51 barrels out there on the market at the time. And there were a good number of stocks out there at the time..

My Suspicions is some rascal took those parts and put them all together. It is pretty obvious that that receiver has seen some real abuse sometime in its life.

That is a darn nice stock on that...
 
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