Israeli swp45

D

Dradzk

Junior Member
This past weekend I had an Israeli 98k pretty much dropped in my lap and I was unable to muster up the ability to say no, so here it is for your inspection.

The first thing that stuck out about it is that it is in fairly nice shape with a nice bore. It is built on an swp45 receiver, so I don't know if that means it is a heavily rebuilt German rifle, a postwar Czech rifle with a surplus German receiver, or perhaps given some of the parts involved an Israeli build. The only WaA marked parts are the receiver, the rear sight leaf (early style), and the front sight. The left side of the receiver looks to be ground and is numbered to the bolt, which looks like a Czech style body. The only other serials are on the safety flag, the front band, and the extractor, none of which match. The trigger guard assembly is stamped, the magazine floor plate is milled and has Hebrew stamps.

From my limited research the stock seems to be an Israeli, but please correct me on that if someone recognizes the origin. Also included was an Israeli sling in fairly nice shape. Lastly, the rifle is not import marked, so between that and the condition I am guessing it never made it to South America.

As always, any thoughts or corrections are appreciated. Other than that, enjoy!

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One of the cleanest I've ever seen. Nice score.
Postwar Czech base rifle. Any lion proofs on the left side of the receiver?
 
Dradzk said:
This past weekend I had an Israeli 98k pretty much dropped in my lap and I was unable to muster up the ability to say no, so here it is for your inspection.

The first thing that stuck out about it is that it is in fairly nice shape with a nice bore. It is built on an swp45 receiver, so I don't know if that means it is a heavily rebuilt German rifle, a postwar Czech rifle with a surplus German receiver, or perhaps given some of the parts involved an Israeli build. The only WaA marked parts are the receiver, the rear sight leaf (early style), and the front sight. The left side of the receiver looks to be ground and is numbered to the bolt, which looks like a Czech style body. The only other serials are on the safety flag, the front band, and the extractor, none of which match. The trigger guard assembly is stamped, the magazine floor plate is milled and has Hebrew stamps.

From my limited research the stock seems to be an Israeli, but please correct me on that if someone recognizes the origin. Also included was an Israeli sling in fairly nice shape. Lastly, the rifle is not import marked, so between that and the condition I am guessing it never made it to South America.

As always, any thoughts or corrections are appreciated. Other than that, enjoy!

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Great find! 👍🏻
 
Receiver was made under germans maybe april may 1945, still E/63 there, other parts are moretime refurbishment. Possible there was czechoslovak fireproof when assembled post may 1945, but now not visible.
 
Depends on what you are looking at. One that went to South America and is pretty beat up? ~$800, depending on how bad the bore is. One that skipped South America and is in nice shape? North of $1k as best I can tell. More if it is nice and still in 8mm. Others can probably say better than I can though.
 
The stock is the same pattern as used on the rifles delivered by FN. I do think the Israelis did make their own copy of that same style stock as well.
 
Great rifle! The original (Czech) serial has been scrubbed and a new one applied. You see this pattern sometimes on WW 1 rifles that have been completely overhauled, parkerized and reissued. No idea why they issued a new number here.

T
 
Stan said:
The stock is the same pattern as used on the rifles delivered by FN. I do think the Israelis did make their own copy of that same style stock as well.
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many guys here eschew the finger grooves as not correct or German but they’re actually pretty handy on a shooter. Note that they are asymmetrical left to right to match a soldier’s left hand. I have a couple of these solid beech stocks, NOS, I’ve thought they were Israeli made, but could also be FN supplied. There are a couple of inspection stamps on each in capital Roman letters ‘F’ or ‘P’.
 
Muncher 1953 said:
many guys here eschew the finger grooves as not correct or German but they’re actually pretty handy on a shooter. Note that they are asymmetrical left to right to match a soldier’s left hand. I have a couple of these solid beech stocks, NOS, I’ve thought they were Israeli made, but could also be FN supplied. There are a couple of inspection stamps on each in capital Roman letters ‘F’ or ‘P’.
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Agree. Interesting that the finger grooves eventually evolved on the Gew 98 and Kar 98a, and still seen on some Standard Model and Banner rifles, but was dropped again for the K98k.
 
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Stan said:
Agree. Interesting that the finger grooves eventually evolved on the Gew 98 and Kar 98a, and still seen on some Standard Model and Banner rifles, but was dropped again for the K98k.
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Basically old world tech and unnecessary to the Germans from what I gathered with the Bruce and Steven Milsurphq podcast episode because that question was raised.
 
My thought was that they were incompatible with the laminated wood of the stock - too much material removal across laminations in the particular location, something that was not a problem with solid wood stocks.
 
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Muncher 1953 said:
My thought was that they were incompatible with the laminated wood of the stock - too much material removal across laminations in the particular location, something that was not a problem with solid wood stocks.
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As a counterpoint, they were using solid wood stocks when they settled the 98k pattern. No finger grooves on the early rifles either.
 
Jdt said:
Basically old world tech and unnecessary to the Germans from what I gathered with the Bruce and Steven Milsurphq podcast episode because that question was raised.
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@Jdt, do you recall about where in the podcast that was discussed? I haven’t found time to listen, yet.
 
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Muncher 1953 said:
@Jdt, do you recall about where in the podcast that was discussed? I haven’t found time to listen, yet.
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I don't remember, I'll take a listen after work and get back to you with a time stamp. It was half way or 3 quarters of the way thru during speed question I think. Some of our members participated.
 
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