krukster86
Well-known member
This is one of my longest "project" rifles to date that honestly I should have thrown in the towel years ago, but I have a "never say die" attitude, much to my wallet's disappointment.
Many years ago, I bought a rifle sold on GunBroker as a Polish rework of a German Kar.98a, back when I knew very little about both Imperial German rifles and Polish Mausers. I saw German markings, and the tell-tale Polish K98 stock features and stacking rod, and whipped out my wallet.
It wasn't till a significant amount of research later (and looking at authentic examples of Polish Kar98a reworks on the warrelics.eu forum), that I realized that I actually just acquired someone's Kar98a sporter rescue, which they most likely bedded in a SCW Polish K98 stock (likely from Springfield Sporters back when stuff was plentiful).
It had a WW2 German K98k trigger assembly, RC K98k floorplate (that was painted black to hide the electropencilling), and some sort of K98k triggerguard. I pieced together the correct WWI Kar98a parts I needed from eBay, Numrich, Apex, and GunBoards members, and in the process, learned the difference between a Gew.98 trigger design and a Kar.98a trigger!
Now onto the rifle, which is a bit of a mutt. The barrel, receiver, bolt stop, magazine follower, front and rear sight assemblies are all matching. The rest of the parts do not match,as they were pieced together from loose parts acquired separately. The exposed metal of the receiver above the woodline appears to have had its bluing removed either by chemical process or by polishing it off (likely the latter since some of the stamps are not as deep as my other Kar.98a).
The non-matching bolt is polished to an almost chrome shine, but slides effortlessly in the action like butter. Surprisingly, any other Kar.98a bolts I have in original condition/finish tend to get bound up when cycling the bolt on this rifle!
Surprisingly, the bore condition is most excellent and it is a GREAT shooter, when I had it in the Polish K98 stock.
Many years ago, I bought a rifle sold on GunBroker as a Polish rework of a German Kar.98a, back when I knew very little about both Imperial German rifles and Polish Mausers. I saw German markings, and the tell-tale Polish K98 stock features and stacking rod, and whipped out my wallet.
It wasn't till a significant amount of research later (and looking at authentic examples of Polish Kar98a reworks on the warrelics.eu forum), that I realized that I actually just acquired someone's Kar98a sporter rescue, which they most likely bedded in a SCW Polish K98 stock (likely from Springfield Sporters back when stuff was plentiful).
It had a WW2 German K98k trigger assembly, RC K98k floorplate (that was painted black to hide the electropencilling), and some sort of K98k triggerguard. I pieced together the correct WWI Kar98a parts I needed from eBay, Numrich, Apex, and GunBoards members, and in the process, learned the difference between a Gew.98 trigger design and a Kar.98a trigger!
Now onto the rifle, which is a bit of a mutt. The barrel, receiver, bolt stop, magazine follower, front and rear sight assemblies are all matching. The rest of the parts do not match,as they were pieced together from loose parts acquired separately. The exposed metal of the receiver above the woodline appears to have had its bluing removed either by chemical process or by polishing it off (likely the latter since some of the stamps are not as deep as my other Kar.98a).
The non-matching bolt is polished to an almost chrome shine, but slides effortlessly in the action like butter. Surprisingly, any other Kar.98a bolts I have in original condition/finish tend to get bound up when cycling the bolt on this rifle!
Surprisingly, the bore condition is most excellent and it is a GREAT shooter, when I had it in the Polish K98 stock.
