1918 Danzig K98a 1920 marked

[Berthier]

I won this rifle at auction recently for a steal. It's all matching but the bolt, which is scrubbed. I can tell it's probably a Weimar rebuild from the 4 digit serial number on the front band and the stock being the wrong style than what was used in 1918. Any idea why this bolt was scrubbed? It has a Polish handguard which I assume was put on stateside. It's missing the rear sight slider button. I can find a complete Polish rear sight, but would prefer just the button if I can. I assume the Polish one would work though, right? It's also missing the rear band screw. I assume that is unobtanium, but maybe I could find one at the hardware store that can work?

 

[Loewe]

Loose rear band screws are aptly described as unobtainium... 15 years ago when I was on an 98a obsession I had accumulated 2-3 RB spares (the FB are more difficult); queerly enough I sold them to a guy in Poland and he paid a premium...

I would try the HW store, but unless you have the "Trump luck" I doubt you will find much satisfaction. Put something in the trader and maybe luck will find you...

*** the 1920 property alone is proof it was in government hands after the war (most known Danzig/18 are property marked, though strangely enough the highest known Danzig/18 (CB owned) is an unit marked 9800 L-block lacking a property mark...

 

[chrisftk]

I have had luck in making my own replacement screws. It required modifying an existing screw but I found slotted-head screws of the correct size aside from length (needed to be cut down). I will have to check and see if I have any left.

 

[cj556]

Loose rear band screws are aptly described as unobtainium... 15 years ago when I was on an 98a obsession I had accumulated 2-3 RB spares (the FB are more difficult); queerly enough I sold them to a guy in Poland and he paid a premium...

I would try the HW store, but unless you have the "Trump luck" I doubt you will find much satisfaction. Put something in the trader and maybe luck will find you...

*** the 1920 property alone is proof it was in government hands after the war (most known Danzig/18 are property marked, though strangely enough the highest known Danzig/18 (CB owned) is an unit marked 9800 L-block lacking a property mark...

Paul, how many “Imperial” Danzig 18 98a have you recorded out of curiosity? I know CB had one (7948 something was the serial perhaps the same gun you mentioned if Amoskeag got the suffix wrong. I do know where this gun ended up too).

 

[Cyrano4747]

Loose rear band screws are aptly described as unobtainium... 15 years ago when I was on an 98a obsession I had accumulated 2-3 RB spares (the FB are more difficult); queerly enough I sold them to a guy in Poland and he paid a premium...

I would try the HW store, but unless you have the "Trump luck" I doubt you will find much satisfaction. Put something in the trader and maybe luck will find you...

*** the 1920 property alone is proof it was in government hands after the war (most known Danzig/18 are property marked, though strangely enough the highest known Danzig/18 (CB owned) is an unit marked 9800 L-block lacking a property mark...

Do we know the diameter, thread count, and pitch of those screws? Should be simple enough to measure off an original.

I've yet to find a bizarre enough threading that I couldn't find some shop able to sell me something that would fit if I had the right measurements.

 

[OnlyMil]

I have a German Kar98a rear sight leaf and slider you can have on the cheap. If you are interested just shoot me a PM.

EDIT -Whoops! Mine is also missing the button, Nevermind sorry!

 

[Fal Grunt]

I've been planning on making a batch of both front and rear band screws. Just haven't gotten around to it as there is not a lot of demand.

I have several front band screws, but no rear band screws currently.

 

[Berthier]

I have a German Kar98a rear sight leaf and slider you can have on the cheap. If you are interested just shoot me a PM.

EDIT -Whoops! Mine is also missing the button, Nevermind sorry!

Damn! I found a couple of complete rear sights, I may just buy one of those.

I've been planning on making a batch of both front and rear band screws. Just haven't gotten around to it as there is not a lot of demand.

I have several front band screws, but no rear band screws currently.

If you do make some rear band screws, lemme know!

Anyone have an ideas on the bolt? It doesn't have Imperial proofs.

 

[OnlyMil]

Damn! I found a couple of complete rear sights, I may just buy one of those.

If you want the rear sight and slider I have, just LMK. Like I said, I'd part with it super cheap. I don't have much use for it. It is a 1918/later style leaf, with the screw holes. One looks like it had a screw broke off in it, but should retain find with one screw (don't have any screws).

 

[Fal Grunt]

Damn! I found a couple of complete rear sights, I may just buy one of those.


If you do make some rear band screws, lemme know!

Anyone have an ideas on the bolt? It doesn't have Imperial proofs.

I probably have a pin type rear sight if you prefer, I will have to check.

The bolt looks Polish to me, possibly Spanish rework. Just guessing based on what I've seen. If you strip the bolt down, it would give us a better idea.

I do have a Imperial marked Kar98 bolt, I'll message pictures later.

 

[krukster86]

I've been planning on making a batch of both front and rear band screws. Just haven't gotten around to it as there is not a lot of demand.

I have several front band screws, but no rear band screws currently.

I’d be down for one, if that helps!

 

[krukster86]

Anyone have an ideas on the bolt? It doesn't have Imperial proofs.

My guess is MAYBE Polish, but I haven’t seen those “lucky charms” before.

 

[Loewe]

I've been planning on making a batch of both front and rear band screws. Just haven't gotten around to it as there is not a lot of demand.

I have several front band screws, but no rear band screws currently.

RB screws are easily lost, at least easier than FB, - I have had more than a couple that didn't set reliably.

 

[Loewe]

Paul, how many “Imperial” Danzig 18 98a have you recorded out of curiosity? I know CB had one (7948 something was the serial perhaps the same gun you mentioned if Amoskeag got the suffix wrong. I do know where this gun ended up too).

1835. Unit Marked KAR 98A Bolt Action Carbine by Danzig

Click on images for enlarged versions.​

​ Zoom ​

serial #9468l, 8mm Mauser, 24" barrel with a fair bore that shows oxidation and pitting throughout its length but evident rifling. The metal surfaces of this 1918 dated carbine retain 90% arsenal blue with the bands fading to a brown patina, some scattered moderate fading and scattered areas of fine pitting and light oxidation. The beech stock rates very good as cleaned with a 1/2" chip at toe, a thin 2" crack at front of rear sight on handguard, scattered dings, handling marks and scratches. The safety and buttplate appear un-numbered, the follower appears numbered "69", the bolt parts, rear sight leaf, stock, floorplate, triggerguard, stacking hook and front band are matching but the remaining parts appear mismatched. There is a unit mark on top of the buttplate that reads "R.B.10" likely for a Weimar era police unit. A solid KAR 98a overall. (207879-43) {C&R} [Craig Brown Collection] (400/600)

 

[Loewe]

The L-block high is supported by 6527/L and 5 K-blocks (28k, 722k, 3444k 7701k, 8741k... 5 is pretty good for high for a rifle like a Danzig/18, where the Entente and Poland would so much sway in 1918. Danzig/18 is a difficult subject to pontificate over!)

 

[Loewe]

Paul, how many “Imperial” Danzig 18 98a have you recorded out of curiosity? I know CB had one (7948 something was the serial perhaps the same gun you mentioned if Amoskeag got the suffix wrong. I do know where this gun ended up too).

I have every CB correspondence (and over 100 save worthy forum post CB made -that I came across, and isn't like I "stalked" him!) since 2003. No record of 7948, but the last "inventory" he shared with me was 2009 and he passed in 2016 I think... and I have every email he included me in, which often were group emails with his friends, talking about pressure, I rarely replied as his friends were whose who of P08 circles and back then P08 collectors were IT for research... (real archival diggers some of them, way, way out of my league)

Regarding Imperial 98a Danzigs, not many probably, but trend sheets do not categorize them this way in my system (mostly two themes for Imperials... barrel-receivers-bolts in one spreadsheet another for stock patterns - NS 5 spread sheets covering more component trends), I would have to review each rifle, I will try to do this for a furthering of the discussion (and because it is probably possible with such a maker as Danzig/18 (so few probably qualify!)

 

[Loewe]

1918 Danzig 98a (no postwar signs):

2202 - super nice Imperial bolt-stock original
2469 - DC original stock looks Imperial
8339 - original stock looks Imperial
6110 b - original stock looks Imperial
4704 c - probably Imperial but really screwed up
7948 c - CB owned few details CB email 2009 inventory list - looks Imperial Amoskeg
9568 c - HH auction 2009 few details
1193 d - HH auction 2016 maybe Imperial
2608 d - maybe Imperial but screwed up
2935 d - maybe Imperial but really screwed up, no property stamp anyway and most d-blocks have 1920
7680 e - maybe Imperial but lousy pics and one way or another messed up
8845 e - probably Imperial
8846 g - JZ owned maybe Imperial probably org stock but too few pics

Most Danzig/18's have property marks (1920), obvious tampering-sporters and a good number of seriously screwed up situations, latter blocks a few Pole jobs. A really nice Imperial D/18 is a truly rare thing, almost all have one issue or another, probably the Property marked are the least FU'd

 

[Honkey Tonk Devil]

real archival diggers some of them, way, way out of my league)

This made me laugh. I can only speak for myself, but I'm sure there are others that feel the same way. That I feel this way when you comment in a thread. Always look forward to info you share.