Needing help identifying K98 I recently acquired.

[Jdt]

The Germans had no problem using Czech VZ 24 parts, they're fairly common on reworks. On pg. 326 of the "Kriegsmodell' book you can learn most of what you need to know about these.

I figured that was the case for military arms in the depot system. What kind of surprised me was seeing it on a commercial rifle, something I didn't expect even tho they used depot spares or rejected parts..really curious who made this particular example.

 

[ClintBinder]

Welp first off welcome, and second off when you get the stock pulled off and find a 3 or 4 digit date on the bottom side of the barrel with some commercial proofs like a heart for example, then congrats. Very, very strong likely hood that I'm willing to bet money on that you have a commercial production K98K. The new theory to these rifles is ammunition testing for ammo production facilities. Similar to why there is a Chinese Mauser that was given to Winchester in the 1930's in a batch of 10 rifles and one our head guys here (Bruce) has it.

Thank you for the insight, I will try to get it off this weekend. The band that hold the forward portion of the stock do not move easily and I don’t want to mar the finish.

Another late Sauer commercial

I swore I posted this before, but I just can't find it. Wanted to add it to the sticky with the other 2 that have been shown here. Mine has some milling errors on various parts, rejects, plus a reused component. The "X" on the barrels indicates parts that failed waffenamt inspection, the X is...

www.k98kforum.com

@ClintBinder here is one variant of a commercial rifle from our picture reference section.

thank you

 

[ClintBinder]

I’m skeptical, but I don’t want the OP to feel I’m picking on him or his rifle.

ClintBinder, what can you share with us about how the rifle came to you? (its’ provenance

The Germans had no problem using Czech VZ 24 parts, they're fairly common on reworks. On pg. 326 of the "Kriegsmodell' book you can learn most of what you need to know about these.

I’m skeptical, but I don’t want the OP to feel I’m picking on him or his rifle.

ClintBinder, what can you share with us about how the rifle came to you? (its’ provenance)

Hi, thanks for looking. I recently acquired it from a local man who inherited it from his elderly father in law who has since passed. Apparently the father in law has had it many years and was just “stowed away in a safe”. I have tried to do my due diligence on researching markings, but this one really stumped me. Not my first Mauser, but first k98

 

[Muncher 1953]

when you take it apart, turn the front sling band around so that the loop is on the left side of the rifle. you are right to be concerned about damage, I use one of these, it doesn’t mar the wood or metal, & usually holds the spring strongly enough so I can then gently tap the edges of the front band with a 5/16” diameter hard wood dowel. ( leave no tool marks! )

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Pony-2-in-Spring-Clamp/5014221369

 

[ClintBinder]

when you take it apart, turn the front sling band around so that the loop is on the left side of the rifle. you are right to be concerned about damage, I use one of these, it doesn’t mar the wood or metal, & usually holds the spring strongly enough so I can then gently tap the edges of the front band with a 5/16” diameter hard wood dowel. ( leave no tool marks! )

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Pony-2-in-Spring-Clamp/5014221369

Good idea, I have a few of those, thanks

 

[Jdt]

@ClintBinder what @Muncher 1953 said. I have a AR 41 and the front barrel band was nightmare tight on it plus the barrel band spring was also one of the tightest I've ever encountered. You can use a solid brass screw as well but the wood dowel rod should be perfectly fine. (My dowel rod got mangled up abit but it did the job getting the barrel band back on, ig mine are not hardend)

 

[Muncher 1953]

Good idea, I have a few of those, thanks

just be sure to check the integrity of the soft coating on the jaws, sometimes it gets damaged, or has imbedded crud, which can leave marks. (why I linked a brand name clamp, rather than harbor freight or =)

 

[ClintBinder]

Welp first off welcome, and second off when you get the stock pulled off and find a 3 or 4 digit date on the bottom side of the barrel with some commercial proofs like a heart for example, then congrats. Very, very strong likely hood that I'm willing to bet money on that you have a commercial production K98K. The new theory to these rifles is ammunition testing for ammo production facilities. Similar to why there is a Chinese Mauser that was given to Winchester in the 1930's in a batch of 10 rifles and one our head guys here (Bruce) has it.

 

[ClintBinder]

Please help identify this rifle

I took the stock off and found more markings

 

[ClintBinder]

I took the stock off and found more markings

 

[ClintBinder]

Good idea, I have a few of those, thanks

That worked great, thanks

 

[Jdt]

BINGO! Commercial rifle.

 

[Jdt]

Interesting use of mostly if not seems to be 99% Berlin Lübeck parts. Can you make out the first digit to the left of "44"? Seems like a 2 or 7. Nice to see a 1944 commercial rifle tho.

 

[ClintBinder]

Welp first off welcome, and second off when you get the stock pulled off and find a 3 or 4 digit date on the bottom side of the barrel with some commercial proofs like a heart for example, then congrats. Very, very strong likely hood that I'm willing to bet money on that you have a commercial production K98K. The new theory to these rifles is ammunition testing for ammo production facilities. Similar to why there is a Chinese Mauser that was given to Winchester in the 1930's in a batch of 10 rifles and one our head guys here (Bruce) has it.

BINGO! Commercial rifle.

Sweet

 

[ClintBinder]

Interesting use of mostly if not seems to be 99% Berlin Lübeck parts. Can you make out the first digit to the left of "44"? Seems like a 2 or 7. Nice to see a 1944 commercial rifle tho.

Looks like a 7 as much as I can tell

 

[Jdt]

Looks like a 7 as much as I can tell

Gotcha that means July of 1944 production commercial. Hey @Loewe any idea who made this? Or is this a type ya don't really follow?

 

[Jdt]

Sweet

Whoops that heart is there on the barrel so it was should be a Suhl made example.

 

[biggymu]

What Is It ???

Obviously a Sauer, but no serial numbers any where / no firing proofs / basically a new gun / bought 48 years ago and forgotten by me //// not a modern reblue either

www.k98kforum.com

Here is a good thread on commercial rifles and why they were made

 

[Sexton]

yes, some quantity of rifles were fitted w/surplus mg barrels, but based on pic 5/15, this isn’t one of those, as that mod required some particular additional machining to join the mg barrel to the receiver, and that isn’t present on this example. those also showed three distinct rings on the barrel OD at the muzzle that aren’t covered by the front sight base. we haven’t seen a clear photo of that aspect, as yet.

those rifles look like this one from the sticky -

https://www.k98kforum.com/threads/rare-bcd-4-with-mg-15-barrel.21080/#post-144165

bottom line, we need better photos to give the most accurate answer.

Thanks for this. I figured there would have to be some additional work but had no idea what. Appreciate you putting the link up. Now I'll know what I'm looking at in the event I come across a barrel like that.