I agree there, it's worth having. Matching bolts are a big win on 98b
Rescuing a sporterized Kar98b?
- Thread starter AN-94
- Start date
AN-94
Well-known member
Well, I was out all week on a business trip but I stopped in today and picked it up for $560. Only modification to the metal was a small grind to the follower to remove the bolt hold open but didn't notice until I had gotten home. Not how I envisioned getting my first German Mauser but I guess I'm starting off with an uncommon one. Taking it apart only confirmed that it was once all matching but I will need a stock set, front and rear bands, a buttplate, a cleaning rod, and the bolt takedown disc now to restore it. Bubba varnished the wood with the action in the stock so now I'm cleaning the varnish that he slathered on the action. Does anyone know what the star on the receiver indicates?
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A very worthy save! If a 98b stock pops up anywhere, you'll be the first to know. Looking forward to the full spread.
luftpirate
Well-known member
I always question how and why people thought this was an improved aesthetic over what was there originally.
Fal Grunt
Senior Member
Good to hear you were able to pick it up.
I have handled many a sporter that I had to wonder how and why the owner thought it was an improvement. However, I have to remind myself, there were many a veteran who grew up in a dirt floor, one room shack, prior to WWII. There perspective was quite different than hours. I was fortunate enough to meet many from the generation that served, and they spanned the spectrum from true custom rifle connoisseurs to farm boy types that thought a rifle was simply a hammer.
I have handled many a sporter that I had to wonder how and why the owner thought it was an improvement. However, I have to remind myself, there were many a veteran who grew up in a dirt floor, one room shack, prior to WWII. There perspective was quite different than hours. I was fortunate enough to meet many from the generation that served, and they spanned the spectrum from true custom rifle connoisseurs to farm boy types that thought a rifle was simply a hammer.
AN-94
Well-known member
Thanks! I just hope to find a stock set that's unsanded. Otherwise, I might go with a Fox Military stock since a brand new stock would nearly match the appearance of the metal in terms of condition. Need parts with E/6 waffenamt now.
I know, it just looks tacky and poorly done and adds weight back to the stock they chopped to save weight. I might try my luck at removing the filler just to see if I can.
AN-94
Well-known member
Busy holiday season kept from getting around to posting this but thought I would at least post what I have now that I have the time. It took me a while to clean out the varnish and old grease but it's finally clean. Here's the full spread of everything I could find on it.
Receiver: 7773f, E/81, E/43x2, Last "S" variant
Barrel: 7773f, 7.9, K100B, E/81x3, E/6
Bolt body: 7773f, E/81
Extractor: 73, E/81
Safety: 73, E/81
Cocking piece: 73, E/6
Bolt sleeve: 73, E/6x2
Firing pin: 73, E/6
Front Sight: 73
Rear Sight Leaf: 7773, E/81, E/6
Sight Slider: 7773, E/81
Rear Sight Base: 73, E/81, s.S (updated to s.S Patrone)
Ejector Box: 73, E/6
Trigger sear: 73, E/81
Trigger guard: 7773, E/6x2
Trigger guard screws: 73, E/6 on rear, E/33 on front
Floor plate: 73, E/6
Follower: 73, E/81
Stock: 7773, 7773 in barrel channel, E/H, E/43, E on right side, large E on wrist behind trigger guard
Handguard: 7773
Buttplate: Missing
Front barrel band: Missing
Rear barrel band: Missing
Bayonet lug: Missing
Cleaning rod: Missing
Following parts are inspected but not numbered
Magazine Spring: E/81
Floorplate Detent: E/6
Trigger: E/81
Extractor Collar: E/81
Ejector Box Screw: E/6
Rear Sight Leaf Spring: E/6
Front Sight Base: E/6
Ejector Box Spring: E/6
If anyone has any spare Kar98b stocks or parts laying around, I would be very interested in getting some!
Receiver: 7773f, E/81, E/43x2, Last "S" variant
Barrel: 7773f, 7.9, K100B, E/81x3, E/6
Bolt body: 7773f, E/81
Extractor: 73, E/81
Safety: 73, E/81
Cocking piece: 73, E/6
Bolt sleeve: 73, E/6x2
Firing pin: 73, E/6
Front Sight: 73
Rear Sight Leaf: 7773, E/81, E/6
Sight Slider: 7773, E/81
Rear Sight Base: 73, E/81, s.S (updated to s.S Patrone)
Ejector Box: 73, E/6
Trigger sear: 73, E/81
Trigger guard: 7773, E/6x2
Trigger guard screws: 73, E/6 on rear, E/33 on front
Floor plate: 73, E/6
Follower: 73, E/81
Stock: 7773, 7773 in barrel channel, E/H, E/43, E on right side, large E on wrist behind trigger guard
Handguard: 7773
Buttplate: Missing
Front barrel band: Missing
Rear barrel band: Missing
Bayonet lug: Missing
Cleaning rod: Missing
Following parts are inspected but not numbered
Magazine Spring: E/81
Floorplate Detent: E/6
Trigger: E/81
Extractor Collar: E/81
Ejector Box Screw: E/6
Rear Sight Leaf Spring: E/6
Front Sight Base: E/6
Ejector Box Spring: E/6
If anyone has any spare Kar98b stocks or parts laying around, I would be very interested in getting some!
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Kar98b Barrel Code Closeup.jpg -
Kar98b Barrel Code.jpg -
Kar98b Barrel Number.jpg -
Kar98b Barreled Action.jpg -
Kar98b Ejector Box Markings.jpg -
Kar98b Receiver Number.jpg -
Kar98b Receiver Ring.jpg -
Kar98b Receiver Waffenamts.jpg -
Kar98b Side Wall Marking.jpg -
Kar98b Trigger Number.jpg -
Kar98b Trigger Waffenamts.jpg
AN-94
Well-known member
The travesty of this whole piece, the stock set. Not pictured is the original lower buttplate screw was ground flush and the butt was drilled with 2 new holes for the rubber pad.
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Man, great save. I'm not sure if it's feasible but boy would that stock be worth saving or at least making it a bit better.
You did very well here!
AN-94
Well-known member
Thanks Chris! I can probably strip the varnish off and maybe make a plug for where they inletted the heel of the stock for a lower sling swivel but that's about the extent of my woodworking skills. The butt and handguard would probably be the hardest part given that the butt has been shaved to fit the pad and has a ground screw stuck in it and the handguard has been crushed and split at the front. If there's any woodworking gods that want to take a shot at restoring this one, feel free to PM me but I think it would take a Herculean effort to save this one.
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Warrior1354
ax - hole
Unfortunately the fate of many rare rifles sadly. Even still well worth the ability to restore this one though.
Fal Grunt
Senior Member
That was a good save, great looking gun.
There is a guy in Washington that could probably fix that stock. The missing wood around the buttplate might not be feasible. The rest of it... He has done some things that I did not know were even possible.
It's up to you on whether it is worth it or not. He reworked a stock for a rifle that I was restoring for a customer. His restoration work was around $2k if I remember correctly. Can he fix that stock? I have no idea... wizards rarely tell the whole story.
There is a guy in Washington that could probably fix that stock. The missing wood around the buttplate might not be feasible. The rest of it... He has done some things that I did not know were even possible.
It's up to you on whether it is worth it or not. He reworked a stock for a rifle that I was restoring for a customer. His restoration work was around $2k if I remember correctly. Can he fix that stock? I have no idea... wizards rarely tell the whole story.
AN-94
Well-known member
I'll take his contact info if you have just to see if it can even be saved. Otherwise, I'll be looking for a replacement stock and handguard to restore this one. I just wish Bubba stopped at the rear barrel band, he really didn't need to chop the handguard.
AN-94
Well-known member
Finally made some progress in restoring this rifle. I managed to win a more salvageable stock off of eBay, would just need a front end and to fill in the gap that was cut for a turned down bolt. This stock saw a lot more use than the original mine had, has a plethora of additional depot stamps present on it. If anyone knows of a cheap stock or front end that matches this wood reasonably well, please PM me!
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Waffenwerk
Member
Very nice...How many of 98b rifles are actually known?
I have a repro stock from Leszek Foks on my 98b and it is great....searching here for a original is an impossible task.
I have a repro stock from Leszek Foks on my 98b and it is great....searching here for a original is an impossible task.
That's a complicated question..There's a large number known. Not common by any stretch, but not rare..the rarity increases very quickly depending on original it is. You'll see a pretty good number of mismatched Albanian or other imports (I see several a year of those on Gunbroker alone). A bolt or stock mismatch, but otherwise matching is a great find. A matching bolt and stock one with depot work is really tough. Factory ones are exceptionally rare. The other factor to consider is whether or not it's dated or one of the blank receiver ones. Dated ones are the harder ones to find (with 1925 being most common) A lot of people look for 98b for a long time if they want something other than an import mixmaster.. these are a opportunity piece that if you see a nice one you move quickly.
Then there's S28s which are sort of a sister to the Simson production.. they're much less common-- maybe 40ish documented in any condition with maybe 5 or so known that are matching (or mostly so)
Regarding stocks-- I see one or so a year on eBay, but they usually become slugfests.
Waffenwerk
Member
Thank you.
Mine is a a block, with S on the receiver without siderail designation, unfortunately it came without the stock, so I bought one from Leszek in Poland because I´m from Slovakia it´s a logical step. I think that locate a proper stock for it here is near impossible, it is super rare around here but It doesn´t matter so much, I´m quite happy how it turned out. Besides that it is in great shape, everything matching, with it´s own bolt. It´s a nazi depot rebarrel which is period.
