[markrw]

All,

I have just got my first k98k. I have done some reading and have got some info but I am looking to fill in the blanks. It is marked on the top of the receiver with "42" 1940 and .91 (no 7 before the .91). So I understand this means it is made in the Mauser Oberndorf plant. The S/N appears to 899 with the bolt force matched (electro pencil 899).

Other markings are as follows:
Right side (left to right) "nazi eagle",S/N 899, WaA655, R, "nazi eagle", 899 with X above and 'CC' below. Mod. 98 (Refer to picture)
Left side: five WaA655 (refer to picture)
Bolt: '6357' and 'WaA26' on the cocking piece
Magazine floor plate: '45'
Magazine housing: 'd2548'
H-band: 9282 (left side), 'S' and Wa?
Butt plate (flat type): '78683', WaA655, '4181'
The butt is made of wood not laminate (correct me if I am wrong) and has the following on one side: two "Wa655" with eagles below a smaller eagle with a difficult to read letter (see pic)
It has no groove for a sight hood and has a cleaning rod and bayonet lug.

Can anyone:
1. Tell me if it is laminate or wood.
2. What the non mauser oberndorf parts are?
3. What the 'CC' means and what the weird symbol below the eagle is, it looks like the number 5 on its back (refer to pic)
4. What the butt plate markings mean.

Long post and thanks in advance,

Mark

 

[Bob in OHIO]

walnut stock... 'cc' is part of the serial number... the '5' on the side =??... and no buttplate is shown

 

[Vulch]

"Hello old mate!" - that Mauser Oberndorf USED to be mine! Bought from Barry, traded back to Barry. I know that stock INTIMATELY - it came from Norway (NOT original to rifle), and is solid walnut. I restored the stock from what it was (Norwegian lacquered) and hand-rubbed it with oil. THe number with a dash each side of it on the buttplate is the Norwegian serial.

Glad to see it went to a good home. I still have some WaA655 parts I was going to put on it if you want them - unnumbered safety, rear sight etc.

Where in WA are you? I am Armadale. Got 2 more from Barry - KEEPERS

 

[Vulch]

BTW, it's a LUFTWAFFE marked stock - makes it a little nicer (I wanted Luftwaffe for mine, since I work in aviation). Stock cost 1/4 the rifle price!

 

[markrw]

Vulch,

I live in Fremantle - but originally from Gosnells - where my folks still live.

I picked up a nice 1919 SMLE from Barry a year or two ago so when it came time for a k98 I went back to him as the SMLE shoots like a dream.

Barry said he had a bunch coming in and when I went there the other day he had already sold them! Did you get one of them? Mind sharing what they were?

I'm surprised the Eagles remain on a Norwegian stock?

So - How does it shoot, I only got it last Friday and haven't had a chance to go to the range in Jarrahdale....?

 

[Vulch]

Never shot it. Traded it back to Barry for a safe!

Yes, ALL the new batch pre-sold almost instantly. I looked over 7 or 8 - most were BYF (Oberndorf mid-war).

The 2 I have are a LOVELY BCD '43 (from Barry), and a S/137 '37 (from Vadim in NSW). I don't have any good pictures, and stilll waiting for these to be put on my license. Totally rebuilding them with correct maker parts, as in original RC trim are just plain FUGLY and not Mauser sensual

MOST of the Norwegian stocks do NOT have the markings removed. Some light (like yours), since the Norwegians tended to scrape / sand refinish them, and apply a lacquer finish (which I always remove).

As to parts for yours, checking my parts drawers I have an unnumbered safety, an Oberndorf bolt body (NOT RC electro-pencil renumber), original finish rear sight, and a muzzle/front sight protector (NOT hood - the early guns had a slip-over front sight protector that detaches for firing). I even have a sling if I was persuaded enough.

 

[markrw]

Fair enough. The bore looks okay so I guess I'll find out when I hit the range.

Thanks for doing the hard work fixing up the stock - it certainly looks nice now.

Yes - most were byf with laminate stocks and a fair bit more than mine thanks to the Aussie dollar plummeting! I counted myself pretty lucky to get mine.

You sound pretty knowledgeable on all things k98 - what is your overall impression of the rifle.

I have ordered myself a repro sling from Lawrance along with a couple of chargers - not too sure of the quality so am hoping it is okay.

I have a nice bayonet with frog I have had for about ten years which will go nicely with it.

I guess I would be interested in those parts if you are willing to part with them. I will be using it as a shooter but would be nice to have matching parts.

 

[Vulch]

Those repro slings are very, err, ho-hum. Not too much like the originals at all. I do also have some chargers - I think 5 or 6 Czech ones.

If I selected the rifle for myself, you can be assured there's a LOT going for it Yes, the bore is average, but seeing I am a collector, and NOT a shooter, it didn't worry me too much. The metal is SUPER nice for an RC - typical early war Oberndorf where they still took time and effort to finish a rifle. The RC "X" is also pretty small (both mine do NOT have the capture mark)

The rod in it is reproduction too, from the rifle I bought from Vadim. I may have a spare original.

ORIGINALLY, your rifle had a decent laminate stock, shellaced to heck. The stock was from a different maker.

 

[markrw]

That is a shame about the sligs. Everyone seems to claim to sell the 'best' repro sling. And then there is the M48's Yugos. Its difficult to make an informed deciosn based on pics on the internet.

All metal parts are certainly in good condition. I think the bore isn't too bad - I've seen alot worse bores on other guns shoot pretty straight - although I must admit I haven't looked down the barrels of alot of k98s so I don't have a reference point for what is a good or bad k98 bore.

Thanks for the info. Any ideas as to what you want for all those parts.

 

[Vulch]

How long did your permit take? Mine seems to be dragging.

As to the parts, I'll dig them out again and let you know. Digging usually yields even more

 

[markrw]

Permit took about two and half weeks! Fremantle is a district office I guess so doesn't take long to approve. Barry seemed to know the firearms officer there as he said to pass on his regards.

My SMLE took a much longer time though probably 5 weeks.

Thanks in advance for the parts.

 

[solman]

hows it shoot? LOL
NSW? i wanna go on a hog hunt! yea.
and what is that brown stuff you all put on your toast?
UGH.

 

[markrw]

Sorry - I thought it was a firearm? I could be mistaken, but I thought it was designed to be used for that purpose....?

Each to his own.

 

[solman]

well. ill admit ive never cleaned a rifle with vegemite before.

 

[Vulch]

Vegemite is Australia's equivalent of cosmolene - tastes about the same too!

Though, considering Vegemite's salt content, I doubt it would be a good metal preservative.

 

[markrw]

I think cosmolene may have the advantage taste wise.......