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Gewehr 98 hiding in dad's closet

My dad recently passed and I got a rifle that was hiding in the back of a closet. It *appears* to be a Gewehr 98 in 8mm. If the serial # is left side just after a logo of some sort, it is 720. I can read Gew 98 and some of the top factory info that looks like Waffenfabrik then Mauser A (or 4) - G then Oberndorf then what looks like 1915. I havent really checked other numbers, stock #, bolt # etc. Stocks has been sporterized and bolt is no longer straight. Just picked up the gun last night. Wondering if it is worth returning to stock condition or shoot as is and enjoy.

Any info appreciated.

Kevin
 
These arent great pics but should get us started. Will take more specific pics if you want to tell me what you want to see.
 

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This is a likely a Spanish/Interarms rework. Originally a Gewehr 98, it was reworked to a G98m post WWI, then sent to Spain. After WWII Spain reworked and sold to the US, where many were reworked by the importer (Interarms among others) to make them more saleable.

Hopefully it is in more original than not condition, as it is an interesting rifle.

Wurttemberg antler on the top?

Interesting rifle with a lot of history though!
 
Numbers i found. K27 S on bbl just behind rear sight. Circle with triangle inside same place. Another stamp same place i can't make out. Wurttemberg crest might be logo to left of serial number - which looks like 720 but there could be a very light 3 at the front (but it looks nothing like the other #s, spacing is way off vs other 3 digits...could just be pitting). 95 on rotating band on bolt. Also looks like a hand inscribed 3 same location. 395 on bolt handle (amazed that survived being sporterized). There is a single antler above the factory designation if that is the one you asked about. Buttplate heavily pitted but might have an s over a g. 7656 on the plate opposite end of trigger guard.

That's all I see without removing bbl.
 
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Here are some pics. Interested in what you see.
 

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Basically it all depends on what you want out of this rifle. "Worth" it to restore? Depends on how far down the restoration rabbit hole you are and what your objective is. Restoring it won't add much net value to the gun if that's what you're asking -the final value will more or less be the sum of the current value and the parts you put into it - but it would also likely be easier to sell down the road if that's what you end up doing. It's a neat gun with some neat history but it isn't going to be a big collector's item.

That said, if you just want to put it back into a military configuration you could manage for not crazy amounts of money. Get a replacement stock, put on some military stock bands, and you're most of the way there. Replace the bolt body with one that hasn't been turned down at your discretion.

FYI the antlers that Fal Grunt mentioned are the acceptance mark for the German Kingdom of Wurttemburg. Long story short, in the imperial era the kingdoms that made up the German empire maintained their own militaries which fed into the larger imperial apparatus. The Mauser factory at Oberndorf (where your gun was made) supplied arms to the Prussian military but also did contracts for Wurttemburg, the kingdom that the factory was in. They're not as common as ones marked for Prussia, so rifle nerds tend to perk up a bit when we see one.

Neat gun, sorry to hear about your dad.

In your shoes I'd probably turn it into a project, getting it back into military trim, but it wouldn't be a money making endeavor. Not terribly expensive, though - under $500 for certain unless you got really particular about parts.
 
Great info. I'll probably go the project route to put it back in original configuration. I do like the military guns as hunting pieces, but i already have a converted Arisaka 99 for that purpose. I think this one, particularly due to age, would be more interesting restored.

If anyone has any of those pieces for sales, hit me up. I may be interested.
 
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