Vz98/22

[Donnied418]

Looking at one, and currently can't find much info online about them. Was wondering if anyone could provide any information The one l'm currently looking at has 3 straight lines of text and ho E22/23 markings anywhere. European numbers on the rear sight leaf. Would that be a Turkish bought or civilian sold?

 

[AndyB]

Majority of them were changed to east arabic nummerals as 90% of Vz98/22 were delivered 1926 to Turkey.

 

[Donnied418]

That's what I've been reading, but its been hard to find much information. The serial number has no prefixes, the crest is the 3 straight line marking, and nothing besides mismatched proofing marks (the rifle has almost no matching parts)

 

[Stan]

Straight line text would be later production 98/22. The only examples like that I've seen have been E-prefix. I think some 98/22's may have been sold to China too. Being a total mismatch as you say, anybody might have pieced it together.

 

[Donnied418]

I've seen some things saying that they were built on vz24 receivers for the later models? I believe I've also seen Chinese ones without any prefix. Maybe Chinese one pieced together with various different parts?

 

[AndyB]

The straight line receiver marking was only delivered to Turkey as no enough rifles were avialable for this contract VZ98/22, as Stan mentioned all are E prefix marked. There are no czechoslovak army proofs as the rifles were made 1926 directly for export contract.

 

[Donnied418]

The straight line receiver marking was only delivered to Turkey as no enough rifles were avialable for this contract VZ98/22, as Stan mentioned all are E prefix marked. There are no czechoslovak army proofs as the rifles were made 1926 directly for export contract.

Ive seen that information corroborated but I have not prefix on my serial number, which is what confuses me. Unless the rifle was marked again after the older one had worn off

 

[AndyB]

Should be presented but i assume You have a Vz.98 also plain Gew98 made prior the 98/22 contract.

 

[Donnied418]

I can take photos when i get home from work, but that's what confused me. Straight line crest, and normal tangent sight, but no prefix as I've seen on other rifles. Rifle matches the Vz.98/22 pattern

 

[AndyB]

So not period serialing then, as Vz98/22 were not made post 1924 only for Turkey.

 

[Donnied418]

I see. Any ideas on what this rifle is? Or how it ended up this way with incorrect serialing?

 

[Pat]

Any other information without photos would be purely speculative.

 

[AndyB]

Pictures speaks they own language, as mentioned by Pat and others.

 

[Donnied418]

Finally got to get photos of the rifle. Everything seems like a Turkish Vz 98/22 except for the serial number

 

[Stan]

The receiver and bolt serials look to have been scrubbed and renumbered. How is the rear sight numbered? I think all the Turk 98/22's I've seen have the original receiver s/n in place. Still, possible it may have been renumbered by the Turks I suppose.

 

[Donnied418]

Rear sight is numbered in English numerals, from 1 - 20. The serial number is whats been throwing me off

 

[AndyB]

Sights by Vz98/22 could be not started from 100, they started at 400-2000m so Your barell or sights are not proper, as mentioned pictures are explanation, the receiver is a Vz24 or Vz22 in case of E range, but here scrubbed and reserialed. Similar serialing on bolt was never used by czechoslovaks, You should remove upper handguard or dissasembly it and looks at stamping on barell. On right side of receiver should be normally a CS lion but that side is here not visible. The bolt doesnt look CS as no Z in circle on any parts here visible. Most real a mixmaster done on older parts?

 

[Stan]

Being that this example seems to have been scrubbed and renumbered, it may be impossible to say for certain which user may have pieced this rifle together from various parts. So often these things were kept in service by second and third hand users for a long period of time. Surplus rifles were like dust in the wind in various locations around the world. In many cases, each leaving a trace of their usage at each stop. I didn't see any mention of it being import marked or not.

 

[Donnied418]

Being that this example seems to have been scrubbed and renumbered, it may be impossible to say for certain which user may have pieced this rifle together from various parts. So often these things were kept in service by second and third hand users for a long period of time. Surplus rifles were like dust in the wind in various locations around the world. In many cases, each leaving a trace of their usage at each stop. I didn't see any mention of it being import marked or not.

It is import marked. CAI but it's just listed as a M98. I heard some people saying that the rear sights were swapped again by the Turks post service, but not entirely sure. Definitely is a big mix master which is what threw me off so much.

 

[Stan]

It is import marked. CAI but it's just listed as a M98. I heard some people saying that the rear sights were swapped again by the Turks post service, but not entirely sure. Definitely is a big mix master which is what threw me off so much.

CAI and Navy Arms did import a lot of rifles from Turkey in the 80's and 90's, and of course from other locations. It's possible the Turks reworked it at some point. They were indeed creative at piecing rifles together from various parts. I've not seen one renumbered like that, but can't say they never did such things. My Turk 1903/30 rear sight starts at 100 meters (1-20), so perhaps they put one of those on it. That pattern looks very similar to the Czech Vz24 style rear sight, so might fit on the 98/22. Look for any crescent moon stamps on various small parts. Beyond that, impossible to say anything for certain.