K98-Gew 98 Comparison

[Mike Webb]

Got a question for the Mauser guys out there. I've seen a few IDF 98's lately with GEW98 actions. I always thought the GEW was a large ring action and wouldn't fit in a K98k stock. The Israeli's seem to have rebarrelled quite a few in 7.62 Nato. Are the stocks different or will they interchange? I realize the original Gew 98 had a much longer barrel and different sights but was wondering about the action dimensions.

 

[MauserMike]

K98k is large ring.

 

[Nabs]

Both the Gewehr 98 and Kar98k have large ring actions. The Kar98k is a later derivative of the Gew 98 so their receivers would be nearly identical in dimensions.

 

[Claven2]

G98 and K98 are virtually identical actions but for the markings.

 

[gaff]

g98 and k98 are the same action .there may be small differences between manufacturers . the yugo m48 is a different size.

 

[Nabs]

Watch out for the Turkish 1903s as well, their receivers are slightly longer than the average Gewehr 98.

 

[CanadianAR]

Same. Ive had a rebarreled 1916 G98 receiver in a WW2 dated stock. Fit perfect.

 

[tiriaq]

The Israeli Mausers purchased in Czechslovakia were assembled using any and all M98 receivers available at the time.

 

[smellie]

The SMALL-RING receiver was used on the First World War version of a Short Rifle, the so-called Kar98aZ.

Likely this is where the confusion comes in.

All the classic War Two Kar98k really was, was a Short Rifle version of a Gewehr 98. Barrel was 23 inches vs 29.13, stocking altered accordingly. The development took place in the 1920s and the FN 1924 and Czechoslovakian VZ-24 really showed the way. Either of those became the Standartmodell which, with a tiny handguard change and a handguard ring added, became standardised as the Kar98k in 1935.

During the War, Czech factories producing the VZ-24 actually were able to convert to producing the Kar98k.... one step at a time.
.

 

[Mike Webb]

Thanks for the input. I didn't know the 98AZ was a small ring. I'm guessing the G33/40 was a small ring as well?

 

[Claven2]

Watch out for the Turkish 1903s as well, their receivers are slightly longer than the average Gewehr 98.

Not exactly. M1903 Mauser actions are intermediate lengths - same bolt hole spacing as a Yugo M48 and same bolt length too, but the front of the receiver is elongated to provide a lip to hold the handguard on. Additionally, the front receiver ring extends back 1/4" farther back making the loading and ejection port shorter and making the action look longer, but it's actually shorter - a visual illusion

Interestingly, the M1903's were all made at oberndorf originally, but virtually all were reworked at Ankara or Kirikale in the 1930's.

 

[Claven2]

Thanks for the input. I didn't know the 98AZ was a small ring. I'm guessing the G33/40 was a small ring as well?

Yes. The 33/40 was a small-ring 98 intermediate-length action with lightening cuts below the woodline to shave off a few ounces. Rare in the extreme today as they were purposefully sought-out in the 1960's by higher-end gunsmiths to make some very fine stalking rifles.