Just picked this up from the FFL, neat (early) 3 digit VK98, one of the first 500. It has a few things I didn't expect for a VK98, but being early it's obviously before the production changes that were accepted. The biggest difference is the bolt has the plunger that keeps the gas shield from rotating - the later VK's have a notch in the bolt that eliminated the need for that plunger and spring assy. Also, no "V" markings on bolt or bottom of receiver.
This one has a straight bolt too, which Weaver's book says is a late feature. It's clearly the original bolt, numbered to match as well. Stock is cut down Kriegsmodell stock, typical of early versions, and is not sanded. Appears to have been heavily coated with cosmoline (still some jammed in the bolt gas escape holes) which GI's loved to do (probably put that stuff on toast too). Barrel code is early to for these, the majority I see are EK lot code. Anyway, a few pics - I passed on this the first time I saw it, but it was still on Gunbroker the next morning. I tried talking someone else into buying it be he declined so I bought it - glad I did now since mine was a bolt mismatch/demilled resto.
Look at that cocking piece - the edge is broken off at the cartridge notch (I guess that's what it's called). Cheap parts...
This one has a straight bolt too, which Weaver's book says is a late feature. It's clearly the original bolt, numbered to match as well. Stock is cut down Kriegsmodell stock, typical of early versions, and is not sanded. Appears to have been heavily coated with cosmoline (still some jammed in the bolt gas escape holes) which GI's loved to do (probably put that stuff on toast too). Barrel code is early to for these, the majority I see are EK lot code. Anyway, a few pics - I passed on this the first time I saw it, but it was still on Gunbroker the next morning. I tried talking someone else into buying it be he declined so I bought it - glad I did now since mine was a bolt mismatch/demilled resto.
Look at that cocking piece - the edge is broken off at the cartridge notch (I guess that's what it's called). Cheap parts...
