Matching 1918 Erfurt Kar98a Markings/Value?

crd1898 · 2025-02-23T14:46:41-0500

Hey All,

I recently made a trade for this all matching Kar98a. It is actually my first german military Mauser, so I'd like some help deciphering the markings and determining what its worth.

The serial numbers match down to capture screws. It is not import marked and does not appear to have been re-arsenaled or refinished in any way. As you can see, there is no "1920" stamp on the receiver - or any other obvious post-WW1 markings, which leads me to believe that it is likely a bring-back.

I would say its in overall good to very good condition with a good bore (Strong rifling with a little bit of pin-pricking in the lands)

I'd appreciate your thoughts and info.

AN-94 · 2025-02-23T15:24:59-0500

Welcome to the forum! As far as firsts go, this is a pretty nice one for your first! There's a lot to like with this one including what looks like an original WWI sling on the gun, the only thing that detracts from it is someone put the recoil lug in backwards and butchered the holes on the nut in the process. As for the rifle, it's a standard Kar98 made by Erfurt in 1918 as clearly marked on the receiver and I'm not sure what block it is as I can't make out the suffix on the serial number. The three markings on the right side of the receiver are the proofs for receiver acceptance with a similar acceptance pattern on the right side of the stock. The "B" on the stock indicates the wood used in the stock manufacture with B for beech wood and it looks like yours is a two-piece stock judging by the butt. The heraldic eagles you see on the receiver and bolt are firing proofs and the crown/RC marking on the bolt indicates additional inspection needed for acceptance on the this bolt in particular. I would like to see the serial numbers on the bolt components and the stock should be numbered on the keel near the buttplate. Some of the experts here do trend research so any additional pics of markings you can find is always helpful though Erfurt was very consistent during the war for acceptance patterns. Congrats on picking this one up!

chrisftk · 2025-02-23T15:29:13-0500

AN94 is right---It looks like a solid 98a in Imperial trim. Biggest giveaway is the bolt still in the white and the bands still having 2 digit SNs. (Bolts were blued and all 4 SN digits generally on the bands with interwar reworks)

Good pick-up and welcome!

crd1898 · 2025-02-23T15:43:38-0500

AN-94 said:
Welcome to the forum! As far as firsts go, this is a pretty nice one for your first! There's a lot to like with this one including what looks like an original WWI sling on the gun, the only thing that detracts from it is someone put the recoil lug in backwards and butchered the holes on the nut in the process. As for the rifle, it's a standard Kar98 made by Erfurt in 1918 as clearly marked on the receiver and I'm not sure what block it is as I can't make out the suffix on the serial number. The three markings on the right side of the receiver are the proofs for receiver acceptance with a similar acceptance pattern on the right side of the stock. The "B" on the stock indicates the wood used in the stock manufacture with B for beech wood and it looks like yours is a two-piece stock judging by the butt. The heraldic eagles you see on the receiver and bolt are firing proofs and the crown/RC marking on the bolt indicates additional inspection needed for acceptance on the this bolt in particular. I would like to see the serial numbers on the bolt components and the stock should be numbered on the keel near the buttplate. Some of the experts here do trend research so any additional pics of markings you can find is always helpful though Erfurt was very consistent during the war for acceptance patterns. Congrats on picking this one up!

Thanks for the reply!

Do you think the recoil lug could of been installed that way by mistake in the factory? Is it worth trying to reverse?

Any idea what this 14 means in the buckle cut-out?

Here are some more photos. I haven't disassembles the bolt yet.

crd1898 · 2025-02-23T15:49:32-0500

chrisftk said:
AN94 is right---It looks like a solid 98a in Imperial trim. Biggest giveaway is the bolt still in the white and the bands still having 2 digit SNs. (Bolts were blued and all 4 SN digits generally on the bands with interwar reworks)

Good pick-up and welcome!

Good info. Thank you!

Are you aware of any way to identify where or to whom the rifle was issued?

I wish I knew how it avoided Weimar arsenals and import.

Jdt · 2025-02-23T15:52:57-0500

crd1898 said:
Good info. Thank you!

Are you aware of any way to identify where or to whom the rifle was issued?

I wish I knew how it avoided Weimar arsenals and import.

Without a unit mark or the soldier soldbuch there is no way of knowing who it was issued to unless ya maybe had veteran info with his unit and a date of when it was captured. As for the cross bolt, no the factory would not have installed it backwards by mistake.

crd1898 · 2025-02-23T15:59:48-0500

Jdt said:
Without a unit mark or the soldier soldbuch there is no way of knowing who it was issued to unless ya maybe had veteran info with his unit and a date of when it was captured. As for the cross bolt, no the factory would not have installed it backwards by mistake.

Is it worth reversing do you think?

I don't want to risk damaging anything.

AN-94 · 2025-02-23T16:04:17-0500

crd1898 said:
Thanks for the reply!

Do you think the recoil lug could of been installed that way by mistake in the factory? Is it worth trying to reverse?

Any idea what this 14 means in the buckle cut-out?

Here are some more photos. I haven't disassembles the bolt yet.

For the recoil lug, no. There was a standard procedure for installing recoil lugs and they had the correct spanner to not brutally mar up the holes on the recoil lug nut. You'll see it often in Mausers that someone with a makeshift spanner tries to take the lug out and slips, leaving the idiot marks on the nut in the process. Same thing goes for action and capture screws, someone with a non-hollow ground screwdriver slips and peens the edges of the slot in the screw. If you have the tools and patience to do it, you can reverse it. Otherwise, do not attempt without a proper fitting spanner as you'll only make it worse.

As for the 14, it's most likely an internal process stamp on the stock.

chrisftk · 2025-02-23T16:08:35-0500

I'd leave the cross bolt as-is

crd1898 · 2025-02-23T16:18:41-0500

AN-94 said:
For the recoil lug, no. There was a standard procedure for installing recoil lugs and they had the correct spanner to not brutally mar up the holes on the recoil lug nut. You'll see it often in Mausers that someone with a makeshift spanner tries to take the lug out and slips, leaving the idiot marks on the nut in the process. Same thing goes for action and capture screws, someone with a non-hollow ground screwdriver slips and peens the edges of the slot in the screw. If you have the tools and patience to do it, you can reverse it. Otherwise, do not attempt without a proper fitting spanner as you'll only make it worse.

As for the 14, it's most likely an internal process stamp on the stock.

Thanks again for the great info.

Fal Grunt · 2025-02-23T16:24:46-0500

I was going to recommend on Gunboards that you post here, but you already found it!

Nice of you to join, and a great rifle as well. Great rifle that I would leave as is! While there is a slim possibility that the lug was reversed at some point post war by an armorer or depot level work, it was most likely done stateside.

garrom_56 · 2025-02-23T16:44:01-0500

For value, $1800-$2000 maybe?

Matching 1918 Erfurt Kar98a Markings/Value?

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