ERMA WERK K 98 Conundrum

[Conanred]

Hello, a good friend gave me a Erma Werk made k-98 rifle manufactured in 1939. It has a dent in the barrel 1/2 an inch from the bayonet mount. The only parts that match is the receiver and barrel. All other parts have different numbers. The barrel dent protrudes into the bore and using a sedge on brass rod it stops dead at the dent. Bore obstruction. Un safe to fire. Will take out the firing pen and spring for now. I don't know what to do with it. Wall hanger is all its good for now. I could re barrel for 308 was my first thought. Found a seller on Ebay selling new barrels made from Israeli design k-98 plans so it has the Mauser steps to match the wood inletting. That involves a gun smith and while I'm an hour's drive from a nationally known gunsmith shop he is pricy and dose quality work. Don't want to sportrise the thing as plenty exists on the market. I could part it out and make extra money but don't want to destroy historic firearm. Did the Germans reassemble guns with different parts at arsenal level? Sorry I'm not up on the history of K-98s. Hers the rub, aside from some loss of bluing all the parts are in great shape. No rust except on butt plate. Stock has no damage nor cracks with original finish being very strong. Strang, it has no importers mark anywhere.GI bring back? It's a very presentable rifle but I have no use for something I can't shoot. Also, it's another mouth to feed in a round that's not commonly found in my aera. Any thoughts will be very much appreciated.

 

[Conanred]

Have moved this tread to rifle country.

 

[tark]

If it were mine, being a gift that cost me nothing, I would turn it into a wall hanger. Otherwise, part it out. It may be a historic firearm, but in the condition it is in it is not worth any more than the sum of its parts. The mismatch of numbers doesn't help things any. There is no shortage of K-98 Mausers in this world. It would cost more to "sporterize" it than the cost of a new rifle and then you are out a lot of money for turning it into something that has almost no value.

And welcome to the Forum.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

You could have a local machinist counter-bore it past the dent, thus smooth-boring just the end of the barrel and removing the obstruction. If concerned that this area is then thin enough to cause a blowout with 8mm, at that point get a Shooters Box cartridge adapter and shoot .32 ACP through it. If the accuracy is acceptable, grind off a portion of the cartridge adapter rim (so the extractor doesn't grab it), and use a semi-permanent epoxy or Red Loc-tite to glue it in the chamber so it stays put.
Should be a fun gallery gun.

 

[1948CJ2A]

Sounds to me like you want to keep it in historic military configuration, but possibly also want to use it. If it were me, I would find a used cheap 8x57 milsurp barrel to fit your Mauser receiver, preferable the same contour. Since the #s don't match anyways, it doesn't really matter at this point, right? Shipping companies can help you if you don't want to drive to a gunsmith. I've sent off plenty of rifles to get re-barreled, rebored, rechambered, etc. You could also have the folks doing the re-barrel refinish the metal too if you want to spiff it up. I don't know much about the Erma-Werke made K98s. There are a few on GB with north of $2k asking bids, but with zero bids. So what are they really worth? Whatever someone wants to pay for one I reckon. The last K98 I bought was $150 at a local gun show back in 2008 or thereabouts.

While I prefer the 7x57 Mauser cartridge, the 8x57 Mauser is fantastic. I have an 8x57 Mauser sporter someone did on a BRNO receiver long before I got it. I took the best buck of my life with it 3 years ago. I also got an 8mm-06 in a VZ-24 receiver, also sporterized long before I came across it. I can't speak highly enough of the 8mm, especially on med-large game.

 

[Dave DeLaurant]

Darn, I already replied to the general thread.

To repeat here, could you post a couple of photos? There could be features that may help to trace how the particular parts mix may have happened in the past. See this recent post for some examples:

Mauser banner Standard model

Can someone give me some info on this rifle? I've posted some pics. I'm not sure about the markings. I know this is the place with all the knowledge here. Thanks in advance fellas

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