I really like the Russian capture k98s. I personally like to shoot my guns and I don't feel bad shooting theese captured rifles. I also find them extremely interesting knowing that they were captured by the Russians and probably saw use. Condition varies greatly with the rc k98's as does most surplus. I looked at about ten in the last couple weeks and it seems that the quality has gone down a little while the price has gone way up. As for purchasing one, like all surplus guns make sure that the bore is in good shape and the stock is free from cracks. I have been tempted to order one from lever arms for 625 as that is a really good price, but it's a gamble without seeing what you will get. Good luck on your search.
School me on RC K98's
- Thread starter St Pauli
- Start date
To jump into this thread, as a new to firearm ownership, (major history buff) im currently trying to acquire one as well. I have come across a few options...my intention is for range shooting and general plinking, not collecting(yet) I have seen Norwegian army k98 that seems to be in good condition for around 1100. Based on my outlined use would i be better off getting an RC or getting that one, or even settling for the Mauser k98's at Canadian tire. Just don't know much about them and seems like there is so many different variant and choices.
RC K98's can be hit or miss in terms of what you get for quality. Some really nice ones can be had, most are mixmasters. Norwegian K98's are going to be leaps and bounds higher in terms of quality. Given a choice between the two, I'd go for the Nord K98, still an interesting history piece, while a mixmaster K98 (although guaranteed to have seen action) can be on both ends of the spectrum in terms of quality.
If you want a Mauser action for plinking...go Yugoslav >
Also I don't really like the Shellac the Russians coated the K98's in after capture.
I personally went to the store, they are rack grade RC 98k and they don't let you remove the action from the stock, which is reasonable, I guess.
Mine had a long crack inside the stock between the receiver screws. invisible, unless you disassemble the rifle. Receiver was rusting under the wood (steel wool fixed that).
So if you like lotteries, by all means.
RC K98's can be hit or miss in terms of what you get for quality. Some really nice ones can be had, most are mixmasters. Norwegian K98's are going to be leaps and bounds higher in terms of quality. Given a choice between the two, I'd go for the Nord K98, still an interesting history piece, while a mixmaster K98 (although guaranteed to have seen action) can be on both ends of the spectrum in terms of quality.
If you want a Mauser action for plinking...go Yugoslav >
Also I don't really like the Shellac the Russians coated the K98's in after capture.
Awesome thank you for the response! I really appreciate the info!
One more question as my research doesn't seem to bring it up... My friend is Bulgarian and I thought it would be super cool to find a Bulgarian k98. The only thing is I don't know if they produced them and had Bulgarian markings or was it just what the German army supplied?
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It's to my knowledge that Bulgaria continued to use their Steyr M95's for the most part, with some supplies received from Germany. Bulgaria was neutral until 1941 and didn't declare war on the USSR at all.
Bulgaria didn't produce any K98's but it would be potentially be possible to find Bulgarian crested K98's. Considering the Russians "invaded" the country and probably captured most of them, finding a complete one may be hard. Best thing to do would be to check around Canadian militaria websites and American militaria auction websites. I think I have seen them before,so it's not impossible!
There are some books on Balkan area Mausers out there that may help you on your search.
Thanks again man! you're like my K98 Guru. Definitely gives me a lot to think about!
I sorted through a bunch of them until I found one that I liked. Would have preferred the cupped buttplate, but you work with what you've got. Rounded up the f/s hood and action screws on fleabay, and a repro cleaning rod. Turns out it takes the short rod, so shortened it on the lathe and turned the thread on the end. Accuracy with the sS bullet is not good and with the S bullet it's not much better. But with cast bullets it's just fine.
If you are looking for a shooter, be careful.
Many have been stripped down then reassembled from the piles of parts.
Chances are the stock, action and floor plate will not be a decent fit to each other causing bedding problem and trigger problems.
At least 12 years of production by some of these factories:
Receiver codes[edit]
Karabiner 98k with code S/42 1937 stamped on the receiver denoting it was made in 1937 by Mauser in Oberndorf am Neckar
Karabiner 98k receivers were stamped with a factory code indicating date and location of manufacture. These codes were originally prefixed with "S/" and suffixed with "K" for 1934 or "G" for 1935. The intervening numeric code indicated location. The two- or four-digit year of manufacture was stamped on the receiver ring instead of a letter suffix after 1935. The numeric codes were:
27 for Erma Werke in Erfurt
42 for Mauser in Oberndorf am Neckar
147 for Sauer & Sohn in Suhl
237 for Berlin-Lübecker Maschinenfabrik in Lübeck
243 for Mauser in Borsigwalde
337 for Gustloff Werke in Weimar
660 for Steyr-Daimler-Puch in Steyr
945 for Waffenwerke Brünn in Brno
The "S/" prefix was dropped and letters were used for location codes beginning in 1937, although some manufacturers retained the numeric codes past that date. The letter codes were:
ar for Mauser in Borsigwalde
ax for Erma Werke
bcd for Gustloff Werke
bnz for Steyr-Daimler-Puch
BSW for Berlin-Suhler Waffen und Fahrzeugwerke
byf for Mauser in Oberndorf am Neckar
ce for Sauer & Sohn
dot for Waffenwerke Brünn in Brno
dou for Waffenwerke Brünn in Bystrica
duv for Berlin-Lübecker Maschinenfabrik
svw45 for Mauser 1945 production in Oberndorf am Neckar
swp45 for Waffenwerke Brünn 1945 production in Brno
Combined production by multiple manufacturers are indicated by two codes separated by a slash.[20]
Tolerances over that time period multiplied by the number of manufacturers multiplied by wear and tear........
If you find a good shooting one, you should buy yourself a lottery ticket.
Many have been stripped down then reassembled from the piles of parts.
Chances are the stock, action and floor plate will not be a decent fit to each other causing bedding problem and trigger problems.
At least 12 years of production by some of these factories:
Receiver codes[edit]
Karabiner 98k with code S/42 1937 stamped on the receiver denoting it was made in 1937 by Mauser in Oberndorf am Neckar
Karabiner 98k receivers were stamped with a factory code indicating date and location of manufacture. These codes were originally prefixed with "S/" and suffixed with "K" for 1934 or "G" for 1935. The intervening numeric code indicated location. The two- or four-digit year of manufacture was stamped on the receiver ring instead of a letter suffix after 1935. The numeric codes were:
27 for Erma Werke in Erfurt
42 for Mauser in Oberndorf am Neckar
147 for Sauer & Sohn in Suhl
237 for Berlin-Lübecker Maschinenfabrik in Lübeck
243 for Mauser in Borsigwalde
337 for Gustloff Werke in Weimar
660 for Steyr-Daimler-Puch in Steyr
945 for Waffenwerke Brünn in Brno
The "S/" prefix was dropped and letters were used for location codes beginning in 1937, although some manufacturers retained the numeric codes past that date. The letter codes were:
ar for Mauser in Borsigwalde
ax for Erma Werke
bcd for Gustloff Werke
bnz for Steyr-Daimler-Puch
BSW for Berlin-Suhler Waffen und Fahrzeugwerke
byf for Mauser in Oberndorf am Neckar
ce for Sauer & Sohn
dot for Waffenwerke Brünn in Brno
dou for Waffenwerke Brünn in Bystrica
duv for Berlin-Lübecker Maschinenfabrik
svw45 for Mauser 1945 production in Oberndorf am Neckar
swp45 for Waffenwerke Brünn 1945 production in Brno
Combined production by multiple manufacturers are indicated by two codes separated by a slash.[20]
Tolerances over that time period multiplied by the number of manufacturers multiplied by wear and tear........
If you find a good shooting one, you should buy yourself a lottery ticket.
Couple years ago I bought a rc k98 at crappy tire. It was the only one left that they had and the sales clerk said it's been there a long time as it isn't a good one
I took a quick look at it and saw that the shellac was really flakey/crappy looking. The bore was very dark and the rifling was not sharp it was more rounded
To my surprise it still had the dirty birds and stamps intact
I said screw it I'll buy it
I stripped the shellac off it and rubbed some blo on the stock. It looks much better and you know what the damn thing shoots great! I was very happy I got it. It even had a cleaning rod and a sight hood
Sometimes even the "bad ones" can be great ones!
I took a quick look at it and saw that the shellac was really flakey/crappy looking. The bore was very dark and the rifling was not sharp it was more rounded
To my surprise it still had the dirty birds and stamps intact
I said screw it I'll buy it
I stripped the shellac off it and rubbed some blo on the stock. It looks much better and you know what the damn thing shoots great! I was very happy I got it. It even had a cleaning rod and a sight hood
Sometimes even the "bad ones" can be great ones!
