Why won't my Mauser K98 cleaning rod insert and thread in?

cantom

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My recent Mauser has a problem...aside from the common fact that it doesn't have a cleaning rod, the couple of repro rods I have will not thread in. Actually, the rod was out about 1/2" from where it should be for the threads to engage. Something isn't right...so...

Found a description on the net for how to remove the cleaning rod nut from the stock. On a rifle that has a 12.5" rod, the nut can be seen from inside the stock channel. There is a little track in the stock that allows a pointed tool, preferably with a bit of an angle on it for prying, to insert into the top hole of the nut. (the nuts have 2 holes, one threaded, one not threaded which is used for prying the nut out of the hole)

The one thing to watch out for is if an old cleaning rod is broken off in the hole...if it is, then you are probably buggered (unless it broke off flush with the edge of the nut)...don't be prying on that because it's not coming out.

But if it's crud buildup, this is a very fixable problem. I did feel the nut start to move up right away so at least knew there wasn't a piece of rod threaded into it.

A little bit at a time, and I put a screwdriver blade down to use as a fulcrum point to conserve the wood. A very snug fit, a bit at a time and out it came.
To see...the hole completely blocked up with dirt/crud. And quite a big pile of dirt in the channel, enough to totally prevent a rod from being there.

I used a tool to scoop the dirt out of the hole, plus pushed the rod in and out to push the dirt out of the channel into the hole. Blew it out and presto...clean for the first time since WWII probably.

It occurs to me that that may be part of why the RC's don't have rods...the Russians may not have wanted to bother cleaning all of these things out so they just s***canned the rods. This is a blind hole and there is no way for dirt to escape. Every time the rod is inserted any dirt on it or in the track is being compressed back into the bottom of the hole and the threads.

I have read that many of the repro rods have wrong threads and will only insert a thread or two before jamming. I have a rod I just bought from Landser in the US. With the nut cleaned and in hand, I threaded that rod into it and found that the rod threads were perfectly done. It threaded right in to the bottom with light fingertip pressure, no forcing at all.

I'm thinking this is a very common issue. How many think their repro rods have inaccurate threads but actually it's just that the nut is clogged?

The repro rods are cheap, $8.99 plus shipping. Anyone with an RC or rodless rifle should think about this...they do look better with a rod. (there is a school of thought that RC rifles should be left as is, as that is how the Russians left them- up to you to decide)

ht tp://www.landser.com/Mauser_cleaning_rod.aspx

I could not find one good pic of a cleaning rod nut on the internet. Also could find no mention of this issue anywhere.

It's important to use a well fitting tool to do the prying and be careful of the wood. That's why I put screwdrivers down to pry against.



This is just some of the dirt that I poured out of there.
Yep, it's genuine WWII dirt and it's now down my drain.


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Some good info for sure. The cleaning rod nuts can be very hard to remove without damaging so good job on getting yours out.

I know you mentioned this already but just to emphasize, there are repro rods out there with the wrong threads so be careful.
 
I believe the Israeli Mausers have been restocked and do not have the cleaning rod hole. Mine is a 1945 DOT gun and does not even have a hole, someone told me that with the issue of the "rosery bead" pull through there was no need for the rod. Experts, please set me straight on this as I have long wondered about the hole/cleaning rod/pull through thing.
 
I believe the Israeli Mausers have been restocked and do not have the cleaning rod hole. Mine is a 1945 DOT gun and does not even have a hole, someone told me that with the issue of the "rosery bead" pull through there was no need for the rod. Experts, please set me straight on this as I have long wondered about the hole/cleaning rod/pull through thing.

That is correct, they were restocked. I just thought it odd not to carry on the rod. Then again, I always thought it odd that it took two rods put together to clean a rifle...
 
I've seen a GI handbook for soldiers that sad the reason for the two piece Mauser cleaning rod was because the Germans regarded rifle cleaning as a 'group activity'. It's one feature the Americans did not see worth copying for the Springfield.

That is correct, they were restocked. I just thought it odd not to carry on the rod. Then again, I always thought it odd that it took two rods put together to clean a rifle...
 
It took 2 rods screwed together on the WWI rifles.

Germany learned their lesson in WWI.

In WW2, it took THREE German soldiers to conquer the world!
 
Israel pull through cleaning kits were in a plastic box

Maybe when issed by the IDF to their troops but mine was sold to me at the Rod and Gun club in Lahr and came with bayonet, sling, converted Mauser to 7.62 and a wartime metal cleaning kit box with the pull through, small tool, and neat little oiler.
 
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