1940 Mauser Carbine?

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Woogies

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So I was browsing a small local gun shop and I found something odd. it was a short 8mm Mauser (model 98). I've never seen a carbine version of the rifle before and I can't seem to find any on google either. Probably only a 18" barrel. Its a beefy one too, thicker near the front and steps down smaller halfway to the front

It was from 1940 (so WWII era) with a a sub 1500 serial number (all matching). it was in good shape especially for it's age. It still has the Nazi coat of arms stamped on the rifle.

I don't have a picture, but I was hoping someone could help me identify it and give me some info whether its worth something
 
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As above, it sounds like a K98 rifle someone cut down.

By the 1920's the Germans were no longer making carbines for their military.
By the post-WWI days about the only users of carbine Mauser's were the South and Central American countries who used them a police and cavalry carbines.

Within the last 10 years or so, it's gotten popular for importers to cut down rifles to sell as "Tanker" carbines. I've seen assorted Mauser's, Lee Enfield, and US M1917 rifles altered to carbines.
 
It'll make for nice fireworks at night though! My M49 Persian (20") barrel sporter sure can produce a splendiforous ball of flame.
 
Sounds like it could be a Gewehr 33/40 (T) which was a short barreled carbine used primarily by German mountain troops, paratroopers, and glider assault troops. It was made in Czechoslovakia before the war as the vz 16/33 or vz 33. After the Germans occupied the country in 1938 they took over production of the standard rifle, the vz24, and the vz33 for their own use. I think production of the carbine was halted sometime in 1943.

I would say that probably not many of these carbines survived the war. They were being made for several small elite units, they were a non-standard Army weapon to begin with, and that they saw heavy use, particularly with the paratroopers and glider assault troops, early on in the war. Both these units suffered heavy losses, in terms of men and equipment, in their attack on Crete and were pretty much relegated to ground actions after that. As such, while they still remained a distinctive specialized unit, they no longer needed such a specialized (a short, lightweight carbine), weapon anymore.
 
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It doesn't look like the 'Tanker' versions; but you guys are probably right, it's probably just a hack job. Too bad, I was hoping I stumbled on a treasure... It was only $275 too, I would have probably would have bought it just to have a nice bolt action carbine. Problem is that 8mm ammo costs an arm and a leg
 
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If you don't want it, will you pass on contact details (phone number) for the shop in question. I may be interested. :)
 
It's cheap enough, you should pick it up. It just might be a treasure!

Like the Enfield Jungle Carbine I found in a pawn shop for $150. I wasn't really sure that's what it was until I could get online and look it up, and obviously the pawn shop guys had no idea what it was. Just a funny-looking little rifle that looked like an Enfield somebody Bubba'd. Turned out to be the real thing, matching numbers and no import marks.
 
I might actually go in tonight and take a look at it. Does anyone have any suggestions of how to tell if it was modified? Any markings on the barrel that would indicate whether it was original or not?

I do remember that the sling mounts on the back were oddly filled in and the rear sight was a small notch sight mounted on the barrel and folded down
 
I don't think it is a Gewehr 33/40. Not only does it look totally different but it has Mod98 stamped on the receiver
 
Buy it, work a deal with the shop. Offer 200 and haggle from there, if it's a "tanker" style then make it into a scout rifle. At least you would have it for future re-sale or trade, or you get lucky and it's something unique and original.
 
a well done modification can still be a good gun. not a collector anymore but a good shooter.
 
Woogies said:
So I was browsing a small local gun shop and I found something odd. it was a short 8mm Mauser (model 98). I've never seen a carbine version of the rifle before and I can't seem to find any on google either. Probably only a 18" barrel. Its a beefy one too, thicker near the front and steps down smaller halfway to the front

It was from 1940 (so WWII era) with a a sub 1500 serial number (all matching). it was in good shape especially for it's age. It still has the Nazi coat of arms stamped on the rifle.

I don't have a picture, but I was hoping someone could help me identify it and give me some info whether its worth something
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You said it probably has a 18 in. barrel, just by eying do you think you can tell the difference between 18 & 23 inches, just look at your hand, that`s the difference between 18 & 23 inches. The K98k, ie; The Karabiner 98 Kurz or Carbine 98 Short had a 23 in. barrel. It was probably a K98k..............
 
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