Hello , I picked up a 1917 kar98a about a year ago, it's all matching, it's my only kar98a, made by erfurt, and I brought it home and stuck it in safe , not really looking at it until now , why ? What was the purpose for it being made , who used them , it's shorter then a gew98 , bent bolt , it's a great rifle , I only have a couple ww1 German rifles , mostly ww2 k98s , I stopped in a shop and there was a matching dot44 and this 1917 , I got both because his price was extremely low on each , who where the kar98a issued to ? Thanks mike
1917 kar98a question
- Thread starter mnmk98
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The 98a was first produced in 1907 (only two are known #455 & 629, only 629 documented); they generally were issued to support troops, communications, arty and cavalry. All the arsenals made them, none of the commercial firms did, most were made by Erfurt but Danzig made quite a few up to 1914 and during 1918 (actually Danzig was the major supplier pre-war...)
All matching is uncommon, but not rare for a 1917-1918, but many "all-matching" are actually not factory matching and were reworked to match during the republic and national socialist era. The latter is not necessarily bad, some postwar variations can be valuable, but generally the less factory the less value to collectors.
Everyone should own at least one 98a, they are damn fine carbines and when sportered make good tough rifles to tote around on foot, - I have a Erfurt/18 that is my go too when on foot.
All matching is uncommon, but not rare for a 1917-1918, but many "all-matching" are actually not factory matching and were reworked to match during the republic and national socialist era. The latter is not necessarily bad, some postwar variations can be valuable, but generally the less factory the less value to collectors.
Everyone should own at least one 98a, they are damn fine carbines and when sportered make good tough rifles to tote around on foot, - I have a Erfurt/18 that is my go too when on foot.
Paul pretty much nailed it, as usual! I'll just add that you can see some neat diversity in unit markings on some of these-- naturally most of the unit marked ones will be pre-war, but I have a couple with wartime unit markings.
Aside from Erfurt and Danzig, Amberg-made carbines are pretty rare and were only made from 1909-1911. Spandau are rarer still and only appeared in small numbers dated 1908-1910 (though the 1910 dated receivers seem to have been assembled into carbines at Erfurt later .)
If someone gave me the choice of rifle to carry from World War I, I would pick a M1917, or if I was limited to a central powers weapon, a kar98a.
To tell if one has been reworked post-war, the biggest giveaway is whether or not the bolt is blued. If it's still an imperial trim, the bolt should be in the white, though it gets sometimes be hard to tell because the bolts have patina-ed. (Also, you may find EWB or similar guns still with a white bolt) Another thing I look for is whether or not the bands have four digit serial numbers. This isn't foolproof, but on reworks they often added the full four digit SN. As Paul said, ones that have interwar reworking do often sell for less, I have a bunch and find them very interesting to collect given the variety of organizational markings and depot stampings they can carry. You can also find some neat police or Reichswehr markings.
Congrats on snagging one.
It has a bolt in the white, and bands with just the last 2 numbers , it's missing the sling , the dot 44 and this was according to shop owner both bring backs from ww2 from the same guy ? I know, I know enough to get me in trouble, I don't see any ewb marks , the bore is extremely nice , the shop had the dot for $800 , and the kar98a for $600. I almost on it , and said ok and grabbed the pair , I'll take some pictures and post them so I can find out more about it, I'm happy with it for sure , and I only just got curious about it because of what bayonet it would take , I asked that question below, thanks mike
AN-94
Well-known member
Stop reminding of how much I want one, they're non-existent locally
Wehrmann
Well-known member
Yes Sir, that's correct.
A photo from my grandpa in mid 30th.
Sixt soldier from left side.
He was an artilleryman. Member of the 29th Hawk Division. Later in the war that Division was part of the 6th Army.
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