Matching Luftwaffe 1940 Norwegian Mauser

[Illen]

Hello,

I’d like to hear you thoughts and comments on this 1940 Mauser. The seller claims it to be matching, but before I ask for more pictures I’d like to ask for your expertise whether it looks promising or not?

* How much does the KNM marking affect the value?

* Did they reblue the receiver after adding the KNM markings? I guess they must have?

* The stock doesn’t look sanded judged by the bolt cutout, but what about the rear of the stocks? Markings look a bit faded, could be a bad photo..

Any inputs are welcome!

/Illen

 

[Illen]

Added photos

 

[Illen]

The photo of the cheek piece of the stock reveals it to be a Luftwaffe contract rifle. The seller was not too keen on removing the upper wood due to the risk of damaging it.

Does anyone know if these rifles were reblued after being given the KNM marking? Bare metal would have been present in the marking otherwise, wouldn’t it?

 

[Northyuma]

Personally, I don’t like the KNM. The receiver does look buffed out and I’m not thrilled with the two different fonts of the “3”.

 

[waw44]

Personally, I don’t like the KNM. The receiver does look buffed out and I’m not thrilled with the two different fonts of the “3”.

This 1940 Mauser Oberndorf also has different font on the 3 on the bolt. Maybe normal...

Sold MAUSER 1940 42 CODE K98k RIFLE EXCELLENT ALL MATCHING EARLY WAR RIFLE - Pre98 Antiques

In excellent condition we have a hard to find early war all matching 1940 dated Mauser Oberndorf manufactured (42 code)

pre98.com

 

[Amateur_Gardener]

I have a 42/1938 Norwegian navy / coastal artillery capture.

The KNM marking looks the same / very similar to mine.

However, my receiver hasn’t been blued and shows a fair bit of wear that appears consistent across other parts of the rifle.

AG

 

[Muncher 1953]

the KNM mark is a property mark of the royal Norwegian navy, if genuine, it’s one of the captured rifles NOT converted to .30-06. None of the navy rifles were converted, ALL of the army & air force rifles were converted to .30-06.
(source: Vaughn 99) Some KNM rifles are stamped ‘in the round’ like this one, others I’ve seen have a small flat marked, but much smaller than the .30-06 converted ones.
I got nuthin on the obvious buffing, maybe done post import to prep for the reblue? (bubba)

 

[Illen]

the KNM mark is a property mark of the royal Norwegian navy, if genuine, it’s one of the captured rifles NOT converted to .30-06. None of the navy rifles were converted, ALL of the army & air force rifles were converted to .30-06.
(source: Vaughn 99) Some KNM rifles are stamped ‘in the round’ like this one, others I’ve seen have a small flat marked, but much smaller than the .30-06 converted ones.
I got nuthin on the obvious buffing, maybe done post import to prep for the reblue? (bubba)

Thanks for all your inputs!

This one was never re-barreled.

I'm not saying it has been reblued, but the fact that they made these KNM marking into an already blued steel surface..shouldn't that leave traces of bare metal inside or at least in close proximity of the markings?

Does the receiver look reblued? IMO the receiver finish matches quite well the finish of the barrel and bolt..

Any idea about the value?

 

[Muncher 1953]

yes, I would think that the stamping would require blueing, (but I’ve never tried it) and the photos look that way to me, but I could be wrong. the wear on the high points (edge wear) looks different to me on the rear bridge & bolt but may not in person. I don’t know about value, more than a russian capture (IMO), but perhaps less than an unmarked matching rifle of same code & year. Wasn’t someone else here looking for one of these?

 

[Cyrano4747]

Thanks for all your inputs!

This one was never re-barreled.

I'm not saying it has been reblued, but the fact that they made these KNM marking into an already blued steel surface..shouldn't that leave traces of bare metal inside or at least in close proximity of the markings?

Does the receiver look reblued? IMO the receiver finish matches quite well the finish of the barrel and bolt..

Any idea about the value?

Maybe, maybe not. i'm just going by import marks I've looked at, but plenty of the shallower ones don't show any naked metal in them.

 

[mos]

Here are a few pics of my original-caliber KNM for comparison. Also all-matching… also 1940… also W. Germany import marked… particulars below.

- Norwegian Surrender Mauser (42/1940) w/ matching receiver, barel, rear sight, bolt & release, shroud, safety, cocking-piece, floor-plate, rear guard screw (front is 80), follower, barrel bands & stock (#1598 nose-cap & butt-plate, Heer/Infantry ("H") w/ Norwegian arsenal varnish)
- Norwegian Navy Serial # & Proofs (K.N.M. Nr. 1913, 8x57 JS, Anchor)
- Waffen Franconia (F/W's) W. German Import (2IG (Feb '86), Mellrichstadt Shield (1968-Present) & Nitro Proof (Eagle / N (1952-Present)
- No import mark


mos

 

[Illen]

Here are a few pics of my original-caliber KNM for comparison. Also all-matching… also 1940… also W. Germany import marked… particulars below.

- Norwegian Surrender Mauser (42/1940) w/ matching receiver, barel, rear sight, bolt & release, shroud, safety, cocking-piece, floor-plate, rear guard screw (front is 80), follower, barrel bands & stock (#1598 nose-cap & butt-plate, Heer/Infantry ("H") w/ Norwegian arsenal varnish)
- Norwegian Navy Serial # & Proofs (K.N.M. Nr. 1913, 8x57 JS, Anchor)
- Waffen Franconia (F/W's) W. German Import (2IG (Feb '86), Mellrichstadt Shield (1968-Present) & Nitro Proof (Eagle / N (1952-Present)
- No import mark


mos

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Thanks mos for the pictures!

Indeed the blueing of the reciever looks original, despite the markings..

Could it be that they only used cold blue or something where they added the KNM markings as material has been filed of the receiver?

However as previously stated, the receiver has a quite shiny appearance, so most likely buffed.. Yours on the other hand looks like it still has the original bluing.

 

[GeeRam]

Odd, the KNM number is missing the . between the KNM and is missing the Nr as well......? The one posted by mos has the Nr and dots, as does mine, see attached. Mine is also a 1940, and happens to be a double Navy issue rifle, as it was originally a Kriegsmarine issue before being selected for the KNM

 

[mos]

Odd, the KNM number is missing the . between the KNM and is missing the Nr as well......? The one posted by mos has the Nr and dots, as does mine, see attached. Mine is also a 1940, and happens to be a double Navy issue rifle, as it was originally a Kriegsmarine issue before being selected for the KNM

@GeeRam’s post made me go back and look closer at the op’s pics, and his stamping is so different than mine and @GeeRam’s that it makes me think it’s been faked, Either that or it was one f the very first the Norwegians rearsenaled… like, before they had their tooling in place… it looks hand-engraved.

 

[Cyrano4747]

@GeeRam’s post made me go back and look closer at the op’s pics, and his stamping is so different than mine and @GeeRam’s that it makes me think it’s been faked, Either that or it was one f the very first the Norwegians rearsenaled… like, before they had their tooling in place… it looks hand-engraved.

I don't disagree that the markings look different, but is anyone out there really faking KNM markings? On an otherwise normal and untouched K98k? It's not like a KNM marking adds to the value, and if anything it detracts from it compared to an equal condition rifle in full WW2 German trim.

It's kind of like finding a suspected fake capture X. You could certainly do it . . . but why?

 

[nirvana]

I have several stripped Norwegian rebuilt actions. All show evidence of being reblued AFTER the new receiver stamps were added. They were NOT left bare metal.

 

[1984Landcruiser]

For comparison here is my 42 1940 Luftwaffe rifle: https://www.k98kforum.com/threads/lgs-find-k98k-42-1940-luftwaffe-marked.36378/