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1936 Polish Wz.98a Long Rifle

krukster86

krukster86

Well-known member
https://imgur.com/a/5otjN8r

Snagged another one, thanks to a delightful in person meetup with another forum member here.

Interestingly, the conversation on this one started when I was doing research for my video on the Wz.98a Long Rifle. I contacted various members on the K98k Forum and GunBoards that posted examples of theirs from a while back and asked for more information and detailed photos. Only one member reached out back to me, and they hinted that if they were ever to sell it, I would be getting “first dibs”. Several months later, I happened to be on an out of state assignment for work and about 15 minutes away from that forum member, so we had a meetup and we came to a handshake deal on it.

I am very pleased to add this one to my collection. It is a 1936 dated example, the first year of Wz.98a production. It has the correct Polish unmarked triggerguard, follower, floorplate, and has a correct Wz.98a matching bolt, and it is not import marked. While it is a bit “salty”, it shows no signs of any rework. Bore is in excellent shape, and should be an excellent shooter, though I rarely have any time to hit the range these days.

The story that the forum member relayed to me (from the original owner of it), is that it was a bring back by a family member and the stock was sporterized, so a reproduction (PPHU Fox?) late WWI pattern Gew.98 stock and bands were fitted to it, which honestly is a good enough facsimile for a Wz.98a pattern stock.

I do have a FB marked Polish rework of a Gew.98 sitting in a Wz.98a stock, so when I get back home, I might do some stock swapping to put this one into its original configuration.
 
MrB said:
That is awesome. I'm looking forward to more pictures when you swap the stocks!
Click to expand...
Finally made it back home. One of the first things I did was attempt to swap stocks. Unfortunately, the Wz98a stock I have on my Polish Gew.98 rework doesn’t seem to want to play fair with fitment of the 1936 Wz.98a. Rather than use force and potentially cause damage to a rare stock, I just let it be and returned everything to their former stocks. I’m ok with that.
 
As part of a quick update, I was able to replace the repro Gew.98 stock with a Yugo rework of a Wz.98a stock. The original Polish markings are faded and “stamped over” with Yugoslavian markings (BK and VK in a circle for 'Voina Kontrolla’). It features a two piece beech wood construction with the tell-tale hardwood dowel near the internal magazine area. I am not bothering with trying to locate Polish Wz.98a barrel bands, those are unobtainium.

The handguard was a bit more work. I selected an Israeli K98k beechwood handguard, the darker and “grainier” the better. Unfortunately it was quite oversized and required some woodworking with a chisel and file to work.

I am quite happy with how it looks now.


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