[alseides]

Greetings Everyone! I've been reading this forum for quite some time and I have finally gotten around to taking some photos of my rifle. I'd like to ask the forum's expertise in gleaning as much information as possible about this rifle. I have figured out that the S/27 code means it came from the Erma factory, the year 1936 is stamped in the receiver ring, there are some inspection marks in what looks like Weimar-style eagles, the front band is an early style, and there are no grooves for a hood on the front sight. I can't quite tell if it is a Russian capture or not. The shellac on the stock looks like it would be but there is no large X stamped into the receiver ring. There is also no "Model 98" stamped into the side rail. The bore is in excellent shape, makes me think it was re-barreled at some point. Serial numbers are a jumble, I don't think much information can be gained there. No locking screws or cleaning rod either. Any assistance or additional information would be greatly appreciated. Thank you everyone.

 

[Kursk]

That is an rc. Not all of them had the x on the ring. Looks like a decent rifle. If it was rebarreled then there would be an 0,2 on the top of the barrel shank right in front of the receiver and most likely the barrel serial number font would not match the receiver font.

 

[PK 637]

That has to be some of the worst Russian shellac I've ever seen.

 

[daltrey99]

I bet that old girl would look very good with the shellack stripped off. I bet you have good looking lumber under there.

 

[alseides]

@award: Thanks for the quick reply and info. I thought that might be the case but I just wasn't sure. There is a four digit serial on the receiver ring and barrel and the numbers and font match. But I doubt those are the original serials. Since the bore is in such good shape, I doubt it is the original barrel because I think it is unlikely it would survive WWII in such good shape.

@PK 637 and daltrey99: No disputing that, the shellac is patchy, worn, and not nice to look at. I've seen a little of what the wood looks like underneath and it looks in good shape.

My first Mauser rifle was a Yugoslav-capture. Most markings had been scrubbed off and you could not tell which factory it came from. Bore looked "fuzzy" when you shined a borelight down it. Still had good lands and grooves though. When I saw the bore on this one, the price was low enough that I decided to get it. Does anyone know why some rifles have the Mod 98 on the side rail and some don't?

 

[THunter]

Nice RC. If you decide to strip the shellac. Use DUCT TAPE. It will work perfectly. It wont resaturate the shellac and stain the wood like denatured alcohol does.

 

[PK 637]

Nice RC. If you decide to strip the shellac. Use DUCT TAPE. It will work perfectly. It wont resaturate the shellac and stain the wood like denatured alcohol does.

Good advice, especially with this particularly flaky looking shellac. If you want an even gentler method, I'll bet you could get the shellac to fall off this rifle by just giving it mean looks.

 

[Kursk]

Show a closeup pic of the barrel/receiver serial numbers. I wouldn't take the shellac off. You have a nice code there and in reality you would be lessening your potential buyers in the future if you alter the coating.

 

[alseides]

Here are some close ups of the barrel and receiver serial #s and a closer look at a place where the shellac has flaked off and you can see some of the stock underneath.

 

[Turbo Archie]

I bet duck tape will take most of that off ..



..

 

[Kursk]

It is your rifle and you can do what you want. Some people like to take the shellac off and some don't so that the history of the rifle stays as it came from the last country that owned it. If you decide to take it off then duct tape may be the best way and it should keep the original finish on the wood. There is no guarantee that all the shellac will come off though. I used to be one that thought taking the shellac off was doing the rifle justice but have since changed my mind a couple years ago. I would leave the shellac alone.

I cannot quite see the s.n.'s good enough but it looks like the barrel is original to the rifle (based on the font).

 

[co-van]

As to the excellent condition of the bore suggesting that it's not the original barrel. Not all rifles were fired a lot; some probably never in anger. Your unit's location, your assignment and duties, your mental attitude in combat, etc. All these would affect how much a rifle was fired.

 

[SimsonSuhl]

Do a picture of the right receiver acceptance, is the first waffenamt eagle/132? Or are they all eagle/280?

The barrel is almost certainly original, with that fireproof, but if you really want to know, image the barrel code under the wood, as it will tell you for sure. Also "0,2" is not necessarily a re-barrel, it is seemingly only used by depots, usually on "new" ordnance spares. It is a sure sign that it is a new - non factory barrel but there are occasions where a re-barrel will not have the 0,2 but most are as Award has stated.

Re the stock, the serial on the stock doesn't match the receiver serial, and while I am not a "rc" collector, isn't it typical that the numbers match the receiver? If so, then the stock is not original even to the soviet refurb process.

 

[PK 637]

Re the stock, the serial on the stock doesn't match the receiver serial, and while I am not a "rc" collector, isn't it typical that the numbers match the receiver? If so, then the stock is not original even to the soviet refurb process.

I've had or seen other RC's w/mismatched Soviet electropencilling or stamped numbers-- mostly stocks or bolts. Impossible to tell whether the parts were switched out back in the USSR, before import, by the distributor, or aftermarket, and I guess unimportant. But without matching numbers I can't imagine why anyone would want to preserve the flaking shellac, whether that's your thing or not.

 

[Turbo Archie]

And people think I'm crazy when I ask if a RC is matching..

With the m/m stock, I would say your free to do what ever you want, parts gun, re-finish ect...


..

 

[alseides]

Thanks for all the info and the advice everyone! The serial #s do not match except for the barrel and receiver. I was not expecting them to as when I bought it, I very much thought it was an RC. I have yet to take this rifle completely apart, so I have not yet seen underneath the stock. I have not even shot this rifle yet either so no range reports yet. I will work on getting a closer, better photo of the markings on the right side. I have given some thought to removing the shellac and using boiled linseed oil on the stock. From what I can see in the places the shellac has flaked off, the wood looks to be in good shape.