[geladen]

They also purchased under contract Czech Model 24s (Vz24) and some German 98k (15,000?) rifles, although I have never seen one of the later with provenance. The Japanese issued a manual for three Mauser 98 variations the aforementioned two and a third that is labeled as the "Standard Model." Maybe these were captured Chinese rifles???? Can anyone comment on this last point???

Frank

The Japanese Navy purchased 40,000 VZ24 rifles in 1938 (and also Type I rifles). The Japanese Army captured all three types in China: VZ24, K98k, and Standard Modell rifles. The main Chinese rifle, the Chiang Kai Shek, was a Standard Modell clone.

Regards,
Bill

 

[geladen]

Ronin48 wrote "Japan purchased 20,000 K98ks, S/42, 1937 and 1938. Reference, Richard D Law and Walter Schmid Dipl-Ing. (FH) (?) Copyright 1992, copies were self-published, printed at KINKO'S, 601 Terry Parkway, Suite A, Gretna, LA 70056." and "The book is a page or two introduction followed by the original German specifications for the Japanese K98k and an English translation. Law notes that the specifications call for the K98ks for Japan be pulled "at random" from the assembly line to insure the Japanese were getting the same quality rifles as the German troops. Nothing like trust between "friends.""

Jon Speed wrote "Just for info I went over my 1938 Mauser/Japan contract data and have the very interesting clearance letter that had to go to the WaA to explain that the Mauser firm was selling the 20,000 98k to Japan which came direct from the Wehrmacht production series then on order! All the Jap 98k were marked exactly as the normal German Army examples!!! If you need a copy of this let me know as it is from 1938/39 period and shows the procedures that had to be followed to do such exports at this time etc."

Bruce 98k wrote "The big difference between the Chinese and Jap contracts is that the Chinese contracts as a rule did not use HwA inspected parts (mostly 2nd tier and reject parts), while as Jon stated, the Jap contract was pulled from standard military production. Also the Chinese will have the nationalist emblem stamped on the rec and stock."

Regular production K98k rifles would have no Mauser banner. The only Standard Modell rifles the Japanese had would have been captured from China. My Chinese K98k rifle has a Mauser banner.

Regards,
Bill

 

[geladen]

Mauser banner on Chinese K98k.

 

[geladen]

You can tell if a rifle is not a Japanese K98k easily if it is not an S/42 1937 or 1938. If it is that, then it might or might not be Japanese and you would need Kanji painted on the sling or some other indication of Japanese use.

Like the VZ24 rifles, if you find one in a condition approaching unissued, you may suspect Japanese use.

Regards,
Bill