K98 Action Sportmodell .22LR repeater, what model is it?

Hey guys,

I recently purchased a rifle identified as a "Mauser DSM 34" at the local gun store. I knew nothing about it, but it was in good shape and very high quality so I bought it.

Once home, I started a little research on it and it's becoming clear it's not a DSM 34. Based on the stickies on this forum, I think mine is some sort of Sport/Hunting version of a DSM 36? There are 3 serial number locations that I could find: Barrel, receiver, and base of the bolt handle... all numbers match. The one thing that is really throwing me is mine has a box magazine port. It took a long time to find a photo of a DSM 34 trigger guard area, but when I did, there was no magazine port... it's a single shot. So what model is mine?, year likely made? (serial is 48xxx), and does it appear to have been modified?

Thank-you!!

IMO, a DSM-36 (gas port on the receiver) that was modified to a sporting arm… stock cut/ refinished, front sling band doesn’t quite work with the side sling stud.

Take down disc is a military feature, not sporting arm. Not sure how the repeater feature was created, and blue seems off. A 48xxx would be ~1939.

Front band is US 45/70.

This one is a puzzle but think that it was modified from a DSM 34 by a skilled craftsman.

The 48XXX serial number is well within the production range

Agree with comment about the band being from something US as indicated by the U mark. I think I see a plugged hole for a cleaning rod at the end of the forearm. That and the other features mentioned above supports the idea that the military stock was cut.

The step in the trigger guard flat stock adjacent to/behind the front action screw is unlike DSM or other B series that I have or can find in pictures.

It looks like the action screws are scalloped to accept locking screws like a full size 98. These are likely 98 screws that have been polished and blued.

I am curious about the magazine feed arrangement. Unlike one from a production rifle. The catch seems fabricated and not part of a production configuration. Unlike any of the pictures I have in reference material. It would help to have pictures of the magazine catch, magazine, if available, top view of the magazine well with the bolt open and the bottom of the action out of the stock.

There is no magazine unfortunately. The employee that received the gun into inventory said the prior owner shot it single shot, no mag.

It's definitely somebody's attempt to make it mag-fed. More than likely here in the USA given the US barrel band. There is a "groove" on the right side of the magazine cavity for what I'm guessing is clearance for a "follower-thumb-knob" (sorry if this is the wrong term). I don't have a huge collection of firearms, but all my magazines with thumb-knobs are 10 round pistol. Given the receiver and stock angles, it would likely have to be a straight magazine with near parallel ends similar to a Woodsman, but not as steep of an angle as the Woodsman. The curved MAS 45 mag just doesn't sit right, plus it's too long by what appears to be exactly one round.

Question (1): Is anybody aware of a 4 or 5 round mag with a thumb knob on the right side that would have served as the test-mag?

Question (2): Is the hole in the receiver directly below the magazine catch a modification? (circled in photo) That's the only feature I can see that would stabilize a magazine.

The only option to fire the rifle is to fully chamber a round and close the bolt. It just doesn't feel "right" when doing so, it feels like more pressure to close the bolt than necessary. This is confirmed by its failure to extract, the extractor is not seating in front of the rim. The bolt comes back and the case is still fully chambered. If hold something in the magazine cavity and lay the round on it (I used a MAS 45 mag), the bolt is able to gather the round with the extractor positioned properly in front of the rim. The bolt then "feels" right when closing and of course the case ejects as it should.

Question (3): Should these rifles be able to deal with a round fully chambered before closing the bolt? Realistically, this is the exact scenario when standing with the muzzle pointing down. I would think it should be able to deal with this. Thoughts?

Thanks again guys. When I get a chance, I'll remove the stock for better photos and to check for a serial number.

Pictures confirm to me that this is a one-off fabrication. A mag slot was cut into the original action and the feed ramp was built up by welding. The hump in the trigger in the flat stock in front of the trigger guard appears to have been cut and then rewelded with added material. I think this is to provide clearance and a lip for the front of the mag to engage. Possible that an unknown .22 magazine was modified to fit this arrangement by adding a lip brazed or silver soldered to the front. Mag catch is a fabrication.

Ruger 22 pistol mags have a loading button on the side but they are probably too angled. Depending on the model (Mk I / Ml II) they made mags with buttons on the R and L. I am thinking it is a .22 rifle mag. I looked through the Triple-K site for some ideas. Squires-Bingham rifle mags may be a start point but they don't have a loading button. Will think more about what magazine may fit.

Since this was originally a single shot, the extractor should easily snap over the rim upon bolt closing if the round is pushed into the chamber straight. I would check for burrs on the extractor tip or any binding caused by powder residue. If the round is entering the chamber at an angle it could cause the closing difficulty you describe. Also, if the extractor is loose the cartridge may push it out of alignment with its recess in the barrel shank and cause closing issues.

too bad the mag is gone.. figuring out what bubba used isn't going to be easy. Go to a show with a guy with a ton of mags and start trying them till you find one that fits.

Might as go ahead and finish modifying it to use one of those 60 Round 10/22 Banana Clips. The DSM-10/22

GEM said:

Since this was originally a single shot, the extractor should easily snap over the rim upon bolt closing if the round is pushed into the chamber straight. I would check for burrs on the extractor tip or any binding caused by powder residue. If the round is entering the chamber at an angle it could cause the closing difficulty you describe. Also, if the extractor is loose the cartridge may push it out of alignment with its recess in the barrel shank and cause closing issues.

Click to expand...

Ok good, glad I wasn't forcing it to do anything that I shouldn't. I'll take a look at the bolt and make some adjustments.

I'll probably fashion a wood plug to fill the cavity making it easier to load in single shot mode while I workout finding a suitable magazine to try. This project may never get finished, but I'll have fun trying!

I now realize that’s an elm stock. Crazy ray cells give it away. These are found generally later (yours) in the production run.