Mauser K98 marking I.D. help

Agree, does not look like the typical RC "X" stamp but I have no idea what the stamp means or who used it.

The rest of the rifle checks out : the dirty birds are nice and clear and most numbers match except the bolt. I bought it as an non-RC so I'm just hoping I didn't get scammed.

You need to post about ten more pics to get any sort of meaningful answer. Based on the uniform dark color, the metal looks refinished to me, but that’s just a guess based on that one pic. Once the metal has been screwed with, all bets are off.

Fairly confident in saying it's a capture of some sort, likely Russian given the stamped serial number in the stock, electropenciled bolt and trigger guard and mismatched bottom metal.

100% a Russian capture. Stock looks to have been played with stateside. Lots of people thought they would be clever and strip off the Russian shellac, pretending that it somehow made the gun more original, but it didn’t.

Nice example regardless. If the bore is good you have an excellent shooter there.

Reblued + renumbered stock and bolt+ Imperial triggerguard on a 43 bcd = RC.
if you paid more than typical RC price tell the seller you want your money back or a price adjustment.

Thanks guys for the info. It is very much appreciated. I will contact the seller and hopefully it was just an honest mistake from his part.

If anyone else would like to share their knowledge or confirm the info above, feel free to do so

Its all dependent on what you paid......


I think she is a Capture that has been enhanced.......cleaned up of their typical refinish.....


The Eped numbers and stock stamp are telltale signs......

Welcome aboard.
We see a screaming RC, but their shellac has been mostly stripped-off the stock (from the pics, traces of it remain).
The Russkies tossed the front sight hoods, so that bit was added - & it's likely a repop.
The sling appears to be WW2 German pattern, at least - but is way too long for a K98k.

PTSanchez said:

Welcome aboard.
We see a screaming RC, but their shellac has been mostly stripped-off the stock (from the pics, traces of it remain).
The Russkies tossed the front sight hoods, so that bit was added - & it's likely a repop.
The sling appears to be WW2 German pattern, at least - but is way too long for a K98k.

Click to expand...

I think the sling is a post war G1 sling with a reproduction sling buckle. If the sling only has two holes for the buckle, instead of three, it’s a G1.

This sling's length & ricasso pattern will indicate which weapon it 's native to, & remember: the Mp.38 /Mp.40 series of slings also had only 2 stud holes, & were of different length. Just for the record here, I do not not see the WW2 pattern of ricasso in the above sling pix.

The buckle looks fine, & it's the frosh ("frog", or sling keeper - that small leather & brass/steel piece set-into the right side wrist mortice) which is an obvious repop.
More sling pics showing length, ricasso pattern & any markings - anywhere upon leather or metal, including the buckle are hereby requested.

runner said:

I think the sling is a post war G1 sling with a reproduction sling buckle. If the sling only has two holes for the buckle, instead of three, it’s a G1.

Click to expand...

Agree - Runner summed it up well!

The MP38/40 slings are approximately the same length as a K98k sling, about seven inches shorter than the Austrian Stg58/G1 sling on the rifle in question.

That makes sense. I just googled Stg58 sling and it looks exactly like the one on my rifle.
Since it's just an RC, I took this baby to the range today and had a blast. The bore and rifling and near perfect.
Thanks again to everyone. I've been learning lots about k98 Mausers and will know what to look for in the future.