Mauser Gewehr 98

[Traffer]

I am looking into a Gewehr 98. I can only see pictures of it. It looks like a K98 K. The real carbine. But the markings on it are Gewehr 98. It is stamped 1916 and 1921 has a Crown stamp and Spandau on the receiver. The person selling said that the he knows the bolt is not from the gun (numbers do not match) The bolt is the turned down model from the later version K98. It also has a shorter barrel and a shorter stock. I am trying to ascertain if the rifling is good. The price is at $215. I know it probably has no collectors value. I would like to shoot it and maybe deer hunt with it. Anything you can tell me would be appreciated. (It is 200 miles away and unless its a great deal I wont bother driving that far)

 

[hoghunting]

The person selling said that the he knows the bolt is not from the gun (numbers do not match)

That could be a head space issue that needs to be checked with Go, No-Go gauges.

 

[Jim K]

A 1916 rifle was originally a Gew. 98, not a K.98k. While there was some conversion of the long Gew. 98 prior to the adoption of the K.98k in June, 1935,, most of the work was done after that as thousands of the older rifles were converted to the new configuration, primarily for issue to the SS and other non-military organizations. The issue of old converted rifles to the SS was intentional on the part of both the Wehrmacht and Hitler himself who, at that time, still favored the army over the SS, which was a Nazi party organization.

Jim

 

[Traffer]

A 1916 rifle was originally a Gew. 98, not a K.98k. While there was some conversion of the long Gew. 98 prior to the adoption of the K.98k in June, 1935,, most of the work was done after that as thousands of the older rifles were converted to the new configuration, primarily for issue to the SS and other non-military organizations. The issue of old converted rifles to the SS was intentional on the part of both the Wehrmacht and Hitler himself who, at that time, still favored the army over the SS, which was a Nazi party organization.

Jim

So this could have been modified by the Germans themselves? Would they not restamp or otherwise identify the gun as being updated? It looks exactly like a K 98k if you don't look at the marks. Could this be a good gun? I am try to get enough information to decide whether the trip to check it out is worth it.

 

[JT-AR-MG42]

As JK mentioned,the Germans did convert some G98s (mostly just the receivers) into k's.
They are considered an uncommon variation.

The photos you have would tell much.
You are correct, the conversion carbine's barrel markings would be the fastest way to identify the gun.
Experience would be helpful on a gun like this but for
only 215.00, I would probably make the trip to decide.

JT

 

[Jim K]

Many thousands, perhaps millions, of Gew. 98's were converted; Germany needed arms for its expanding army and could hardly overlook the millions of old rifles in storage, a valuable resource*. Some conversions retained the original stock, with the original rear sling swivel removed and a patch put in, then the new style sling slot cut. Others were refitted with new stocks, mostly laminated. In all conversions, the barrel was cut down, new style front and rear sights were installed and the bolt handle turned down. Karabiner 98b's were also (re) converted to the K.98k configuration, an easier job since many of the changes had already been done.

I may be in the minority, but I would consider a Gew. 98-K.98k conversion an interesting rifle and a necessary part of any Mauser collection.

*Following the WWI Armistice, the German Army was not disarmed by the Allies, nor did Allied troops seize German arms, either military or civilian, as they did after WWII. German soldiers simply took their weapons back to Germany; most were turned in and stored, but many were not, and that created some problems for the new government.

Jim

 

[Traffer]

The explanation

I found this post that explains it. I declined the offer and saved myself a trip:
http://www.k98kforum.com/showthread.php?1258-GEW98-rebuild-to-K98-question