Mauser K98 Experts?

[cantom]

I've seen using the search function that many among us are quite knowledgeable on Mauser K98's.
I picked up this rifle recently. I was told it's a RC Mauser K98, was reblued over pits by the Russians and then stored. That cross mark on the left receiver ring= Russian Capture?
The sling is 1951 Czech. Bore is as new, so perfect that I doubt it's seen a round. All numbers match except for the magazine floorplate and the barrel appears to have a different number as well. No sign at all of force matching, no electropencil, all stamps look done as new.

What can anyone tell me about it? It's my second Mauser ever. It was way too nice to leave sitting there...
S237= Berlin Lubecker?

 

[steve1973]

I don't think it is a Russian Capture, though the X on the reciever certainly lends to the idea that it was refinished postwar in a communist arsenal.

I would say it a Czech rework. A few things lend to that idea. The front flip up sight protector is distinctly Czech. In addition, the stock (too nice for an RC) is a semi-kriegs stock, and looks like a postwar Czech stock. Usually you don't see prewar recievers like this in Czech reworks but who knows how it got there. Any waffens or marks on the stock?

 

[cantom]

I don't think it is a Russian Capture, though the X on the reciever certainly lends to the idea that it was refinished postwar in a communist arsenal.

I would say it a Czech rework. A few things lend to that idea. The front flip up sight protector is distinctly Czech. In addition, the stock (too nice for an RC) is a semi-kriegs stock, and looks like a postwar Czech stock. Usually you don't see prewar recievers like this in Czech reworks but who knows how it got there. Any waffens or marks on the stock?

Can't find anything on the stock except the s/n on the bottom which matches.

 

[Riflechair]

I'm certainly no expert but I'll give it a try

Action was made by Mauser-Werke, Oberndorf on the Neckar also Berlin-Lubecker Machinefabrik AG, Werk Lubeck.

Is is not an East German (vopo) rework. Its missing all of those marks.

The stock is late or post WW2 and thus is not original to the rifle.

The front sight is BRNO (Czech) but anyone could have put that there.

The rifle has been reblued. The action shows visible signs of heavy pitting and a poor polish job. The slightly dull finish seems very similar to that which the Russians used on their capture rifles. Upon capture by the Russians, they would be refurbished (and re-blued) as well as often there would be an "X" added to the receiver (representing crossed swords).

I think your rifle is a Russian Capture that someone has placed in a nice post war stock and added a Czech front sight. Fortunately with this one, all swastikas and Nazi markings were left intact. I don't think that because it doesn't have electro-stencil or force matched parts entirely prohibits RC origins, but again I'm no pro. Also I have a strange feeling that this rifle has been rebarreled.

So I figure she's a RC Rework has been ebayed up a little to make her look a prettier. However - I'm not a K98 expert and could very easily be wrong.
Beautiful piece Cantom.

 

[Claven2]

IMHO it's a late pattern rework done in Czechoslovakia for East Germany. Not a VoPo, but definitely for East German stores.

It's not uncommon that late pattern EG reworks are done using rattier looking RC receivers since they mostly got new wood and barrels anyhow and EG was being readily supplied by the USSR.

The earlier pattern VoPo reworks usually are matched and have a minimum number of parts changed, along with the typical sunburst marks stamped on the wood. VoPo's often have post-war beech non-laminate handguards as well.

The later pattern refurbs probably coincided with the Czech tgf50 contract, also for East Germany.

 

[albayo]

Mauser Question

Its a rebuild with a newer barrel, and Czech front sight protector. I would have thought they would have did a better job on preparing the receiver for bluing.

 

[cantom]

IMHO it's a late pattern rework done in Czechoslovakia for East Germany. Not a VoPo, but definitely for East German stores.

It's not uncommon that late pattern EG reworks are done using rattier looking RC receivers since they mostly got new wood and barrels anyhow and EG was being readily supplied by the USSR.

The earlier pattern VoPo reworks usually are matched and have a minimum number of parts changed, along with the typical sunburst marks stamped on the wood. VoPo's often have post-war beech non-laminate handguards as well.

The later pattern refurbs probably coincided with the Czech tgf50 contract, also for East Germany.

Claven! That was my other mauser, years ago, it looked brand new and it said tgf 1950 on the receiver ring...I always wondered what the story was behind it...

Found this pic on the net, it was exactly like this.

Would the value on this new rifle be similar to the crop of RC rifles currently on offer?

 

[Claven2]

Personally, I would rate the EG reworks higher on the desireability scale than the RC hack jobs.