K98 Questions

[AmoAgave]

I have some Mausers but no K98. Today I was out buying a new rifle for my stepdad as a gift (ended up getting a great deal at Big 5) and a shop we checked out had an interesting K98 in that got my attention.

I'm really not up on these though. How do you tell a RC from a bring back from an import?
This rifle had no import markings on it. It did not have shellaced stock. It didn't have any peen marks nor the X stamped on it. It did have what appeared to be a blued (but worn) bolt. Nothing matched, but no electropencil marks either. Stock was rough but not too bad. Action was excellent as was trigger.
It's a 237 code so Luebecker? Date was 1939.
Anyway, could this be a bring back? Shouldn't the Russian rifles have an importer on them (could it be under stock)?

I didn't buy it because I honestly don't know enough about K98's yet. I'm knowledgable on VZ24's and a few others but the K98 world is a complicated one.

Appreciate any input because I'm still interested in it.

[louie]

It sounds like it is not a Russian import. The bringbacks are hard to prove without paperwork. Unless you really know the person who had it, it's usually an earlier import which didn't have an import mark. The imported thousands of these guns in the fifties and sixties, and most were not bringbacks. There are for sure many bringbacks, but after near seventy years many of these are now sporters, and most have seen those bringback papers disappear. Most only needed the papers to get the stuff on the ship, and once back in the states there was really no need for them. Now there are people like my mom who kept gas bills, and telephone bills in boxes for 30 years, but most vets just tossed them out. Since it's not matching good chance it's probably an import w/ no stamp on it. When it was imported is anyone's guess.

[Tere_Hanges]

I found this Czech large ring mauser on GB. What do you think?https://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vi...Item=502180690

[emcon5]

Not all RCs have the X, and someone could have removed the shellac. Did you check the barrel in front of the bayonet lug, some import marks are there and can be hard to see. Giveaways for RCs are the number stamped in the butt of the stock, on the left side, electropenciled bolt, and none of the parts matching.

How much were they asking for it?

[mosinnagantm9130]

I found this Czech large ring mauser on GB. What do you think?https://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vi...Item=502180690

If it was all original, that wouldn't be a bad deal. Bubba got to that one though.

[Tere_Hanges]

Hmm. Its been refinished but i wouldnt go so far a to call it bubba'd. I won the auction. Im looking for a decent shooter which it looks like.

[emcon5]

If it was all original, that wouldn't be a bad deal. Bubba got to that one though.

It almost looks like it has been parkerized over some surface rust.

Did any military use .308 in a VZ24? I was thinking IDF, but the markings are not right. Should be a good shooter though.

[Tere_Hanges]

Yeah looks reparked. Im not afraid of a little pitting and frosting. I have surplus garands with a little surface pitting, but they shoot great.

From my research czech mausers were sold to Israel and Spain after the war. I think it is a pre VZ24.

[mosinnagantm9130]

It almost looks like it has been parkerized over some surface rust.

That was my thought too. Plus the stock looks sanded and refinished.

It's not a collector piece at this point, but .308 being a common round, it's not a bad deal for a shooter mauser.

[louie]

I would put my money on it being for the Israeli Army. They did the same to the K98's that came out of Czechoslovakia.

[Bobby Ricigliano]

Hmm. Its been refinished but i wouldnt go so far a to call it bubba'd. I won the auction. Im looking for a decent shooter which it looks like.

Bubba or no Bubba it has been heavily altered from its' original configuration. It looks like a 98/22 and appears to have been parkerized over pitting. Handguard is also cracked. However, it does have good curb appeal and fits the bill if you specifically wanted one in 7.62.

7.92 ammo would be cheaper and more abundant in surplus ammo. I would check carefully beneath the stock for corrosion and hopefully the bore is good.

[emcon5]

Looking at my Mauser Military rifles of the World book, it sure looks like VZ23. The 98/22 was longer.

I would put my money on it being for the Israeli Army. They did the same to the K98's that came out of Czechoslovakia.

It is possible, but the markings are not consistent with what is on the IDF K98s. The 7.62 is smaller on that rifle, and this Israelis normally marked the top of the receiver ring, rather than the bottom and I would expect a Israeli crest (6 pointers star, but not a Star of David) on the action. Also, the IDF 7.62 Mausers had "7.62" burned it the heel of the stock, and while there are no clear photos of the bottom of the stock, I would expect to see something there.

Plus every IDF mauser I have seen has been in K98k configuration, with a turned down bolt and short hand guard, even if that is not how they started, like my WW1 era Gew98. Here is mine:


Now, it may be an IDF barrel, even if it wasn't put there by Israel. Lots of folks were selling them a few years back very reasonably.

[Tere_Hanges]

Thanks for the info. Looking forward to getting it home and inspecting it closer.

Found this listing of serial number blocks.

http://forums.gunboards.com/showthread.php?289944-VZ23-Serial-Number-Blocks

Says "N" blocks were made in 1924 with vz24 stocks. This one has an N3 next to the serial#. So my best guess is it was a vz24 that was rebarrelled at some point. All I care about is if it shoots well and looks "clean".

[Bobby Ricigliano]

VZ-23 would be a pretty uncommon Mauser. I stand corrected, it is not long enough to be a 98/22. I am curious that it looks like a nail or something rather than a screw at the base of the rear sight. Should just be a tiny flat head screw.

[emcon5]

I am curious about the anchor on the rear sight leaf. Pretty sure it didn't serve with the Czech Navy.

Be really careful taking it apart, the handguard it held on with a spring/clip, that needs to come off after the barreled action is lifted from the stock, and you need to push on the metal clip to remove it, rather than the handguard itself. If you tug on the handguard to remove it, you will probably pull the stubby little screws out of the wood. The handguard will come off and leave the clip on the barrel.