Mine doesn't have an X. It has what I guess is called a Jeem. I'm not sure on the exact spelling. I will get a picture of the receiver and put it on here.

It has another one of those on the barrel directly above the receiver as well.

 

Most of these showed up a year or two before Iraq got involved in Kuwaite. Seems the Iraqis sold off a bunch of older weapons to fund purchases of newer stuff in preperation for the invasion of Kuwaite.

They are found in all sorts of trim, and it looks like the Iraqis baught supplies of k98s from numerous sources post war.

 

Some of the rifles that were purchased by Iraq and have the Jeem marking, were bought from East Germany. The rifle I have is marked with a Suhl Eagle and a crown U. It also has the Jeem mark. There are a couple more examples on Gunbroker but they were put on the forums here first. They wanted too much for the rifles and they were mismatched. One even had a yugo stock!

 

While in Iraq I got a chance to look over alot of captured K98s. None were like the RC models we have comming in now or in previous years. They were not refinished in any way or renumbered. Some did have the X on the receiver some did not. Some were stamped with the IPM (iraqi property mark) others were not. Some had all matching numbers but most just had a mismatched bolt while others were totally mismatched. Some of them even still had the original WW2 German slings still attached as well as cleaning rods and capture screws. Only a handfull still had the original sight hoods. From what we heard Russia had dumped tons of surplus WW2 weapons into the region in the late 1950s into the 60s. These included many captured German weapons like the K98, Mp40, Mp44, Mg34 and Mg42. Several times I even saw a few Luger and Walther pistols.

 

Did you happen to have a 'heavy' duffelbag when you came home?

 

I wish I did, there was quite a bit of C&R weapons around. I was however given permission to take off the German slings and bring them home so at least they made it back. As for the mausers, I'm sorry to say that the EOD guys took them out in the desert and disposed of them along with a bunch of munitions.

 

As soon as I read about you finding weapons I knew that is how it would end. I read that all weapons that the U.S. or it's allies cannot use are disposed of.

 

heres a few pics of my israeli.

may not be from iraq, but as you can see there are no rc markings, also imported by CAI through vt.

 

It really is a shame that all these historical weapons are being destroyed. I'd much rather see them imported into the US and sold to collectors but that's never going to happen.

 

Here are some links to past posts regarding Iraqi Mauser rifles. I personally have never seen a Iraqi marked rifle with the typical Soviet refurb marks. Not to say they don't exist, I just have not seen them. Many, if not most of the Iraqi Mausers rifles on the West coast at least were imported and sold by Federal Ordinance ( Fed Ord) of South El Monte Calif. Later the company was known as Briklee Trading.

I remember at Fed Ord looking through racks of Mauser rifles from the middle East Many had the Iraqi "Jeem" mark. Most were purchased by Fed Ord from the Israeli's. The Israeli's captured literally tens of thousands of rifles from the Syrians and Jordanians during their many conflicts. Syria and Jordan obtained many rifles and other war materials from the Iraqi's, and I'm sure that is the main source of the Iraqi marked rifles we see today.

These rifles are very interesting, and a favorite of mine. Recently they have gotten very expensive though.


http://forums.gunboards.com/showthread.php?t=31484&highlight=iraqi+mauser


http://forums.gunboards.com/showthread.php?t=23088&highlight=iraqi+mauser

http://forums.gunboards.com/showthread.php?t=34660&highlight=iraqi+mauser

http://forums.gunboards.com/showthread.php?t=24258&highlight=iraqi+mauser

Here are some photos of the crests of some of my Iraqi marked Mauser rifles.

 

Jimmy C. Your right out of all the K98s we looked at none that I can remember had the IPM and the Russian X on the same rifle. Many did have czech sight hoods installed but it's been so long I can't remember what was marked on the receiver of those rifles.

 

Just for kicks next time you see one check for the Fed Ord or Briklee Trading importer stamp!