Assistance With ID of Kar98K Mauser Please

[Travis Bickle]

I got this in a trade a ways back.

I don't know anything about them, nowhere near the level of knowledge of some ofthe members on here whom I've seen post in the past.

If anyone can tell me what the origin/state of this Kar98K Mauser, it would be greatly appreciated.

I am trying to sell it, I have already been told by other more informed persons that it may be a force matched bolt and other parts, it may be a Czech refurb etc As such I have dropped the price to sell it as a shooter as it is in general great condition and the bore is shiny and sharp.

But now I'm not cionfident at all as to what I actually have.

If any members on here can let me know if this is a refurb, force match, or anything else about it I would appreciate it greatly. Tell it like it is.

Anyhow, here are the pictures of every marking I could find on it and the rifle itself:

 

[jbmauser]

You have the info I gave you already but I'll repeat it here to start things off. I'm not 100% sure if this is a refurb, hump job, or a combination of the two so maybe someone can help you out there with a solid answer. It definitely has features of both East German and Czech refurbs but some other stuff doesn't seem to fit with what I've seen on either of those countries reworks.

There are a lot of renumbered or incorrectly numbered parts on your K98k and in all cases the font is wrong for Steyr. Look closely at the "0" on the receiver and compare it to the other "0's". The Steyr "0" is a lot more round, more like an "o". The other numbers are closer but still off. Below is a list of parts force matched or ground and renumbered, or numbered with the incorrect number pattern:

Bolt flat has been ground and renumbered, incorrect font.
Bolt shroud/sleeve has only two digits, incorrect font. should have all 4 digits.
Safety has only 2 digits, should have all 4.
Front band obviously force matched.
Stock externally serialled. Steyr was not numbering stocks externally in 43. This was universally dropped by all makers by the end of 42.
Buttplate looks numbered? Again, if it is, not correct for 43.
Barrel should not be numbered.
Lower band font looks off to me.
Floor plate and trigger guard are obvious m/m parts.

Now the one big thing that makes me think this is a poor attempt at a hump job, is the firing proof on the receiver. It has obviously been ground or peened off at one time and restruck. The firing proof is totally incorrect for a Steyr proof. The eagle/swastika shape and size are way off. I can't see any country restriking a German proof at refurb. It could also be that someone wanted to make a post war refurb more "original" and added that later.

What about the rear sight parts? Are they numbered?

Hope this helps.

 

[Travis Bickle]

Yes, the butt plate is also stamped.
I appreciate all the information and help.

I see what you mean about the receiver "o" as well.

So basically bottom line is that this could be a German Mauser Kar98K but it's been forced/faked to be all matching and is probably a refurbished rifle made of potentially mixed parts?

Is that a fair assumption?

Man these Mauser give me a headache lol

 

[jbmauser]

That is basically what it boils down to.

You can see the front band has an e/655 waffenamt on it. That band was originally on a Mauser Oberndorf K98k. Steyr never used e/655 marked parts. Some other hints might come from the bottom of the bolt flat. There should be some sort of waffenamt or maker mark on it. Can you see any other markings? Some might be very small and on the underside of parts.

 

[CanadianAR]

Jeremy has said all there is to say.

Almost all parts have been dicked with. By who and how recent? I don't know. But it does look official to me, as in yugo, Czech, or DDR.

It has lost it high end collectible value.

It is still a German k98k but a shooter grade IMHO.

I would value it around an RC. Maybe slightly higher to the right buyer.

 

[Travis Bickle]

Jeremy has said all there is to say.

Almost all parts have been dicked with. By who and how recent? I don't know. But it does look official to me, as in yugo, Czech, or DDR.

It has lost it high end collectible value.

It is still a German k98k but a shooter grade IMHO.

I would value it around an RC. Maybe slightly higher to the right buyer.

Ack.

Thank you all very much. That clears things up very well.

I will drop the price accordingly on the add.

Life lesson learned the hard way (the best way ) if you don't know, ask someone who does before you assume

Thanks guys!