Very late K 98 ?

[NOTABIKER]

I was visiting a friend in Parker AZ and his neighbor new i was into C&R and wanted some info on a old German rifle his uncle brought home as a Battle field pic up. At first glance [ limited K 98 knowledge ] i thought it was a sporter K 98. but what it is is a 1945 poorly made K 98 with many deleted parts.
The receiver on top has BNZ45 and on the side it has a intact eagle and ser # 7059.
The stock is very poorly made and un finished. Never had a but plate. No magazine floor plate , just solid wood. the trigger guard is a simple bent metal strip with wood screws on front and rear. It has no hand guard and the forend of the stock is shortened. the front sling swivel is a bent metal rod formed into a sling swivel and inserted into a hole in the stock and bent over like a cotter pin. the rear of the stock just has a slit big enough for a sling to go threw it. The front sight is small and no provision for a sight protector. the rear sight is a simple fixed sight with no elevation adj. The last six or eight inches of the barrel is turned down to save metal i guess. I had no way to take pictures. I told him i would try to get him more info on it. I did not want him to think i was trying to score a gun from him. He is very wealthy so he would not be interested in selling it. Nobody in his famely wants it after he is gone. A guy on gunboards said it is a very desirable late war K 98.

[GunKraut]

This one?



or this?

[NOTABIKER]

found pics on the internet, it is a 100% unmolested VK98. I guess they are very rare and sell for a lot of money. I hope my friend can get it from his neighbor. they have been close friends for a long time .

[dustoff31]

It sounds like you are describing the VK98. The Volk's K98. It was a last ditch crudely made rifle made from whatever bits and pieces could be rounded up at the time.

They tend to be bnz 45 receivers, with all manner of other parts used. Some even used turned down maching gun barrels turned down to fit a k98 receiver.

Here are a couple of pics and some info.

http://www.icollector.com/Late-WWII-German-VK98-Bolt-Action-Rifle_i9752769

http://www.rockislandauction.com/viewitem/aid/52/lid/3590

[Bobby Ricigliano]

I have a BNZ45 that is a mishmash of late war stamped parts. Other than the crude phosphate finish it shoots and cycles like butter.

[joefrank64k]

I would love a VK98...neat find. Hopefully it goes to a good home.

[Enfield47]

Quite an interesting rifle. I don't recall seeing one before but it is an interesting piece of history.

[NOTABIKER]

This one?



or this?

It is the same as the bottom example THANKS

[watt79]

Ian from forgotten weapons did a good video on one a while back.

[epwegmann]

For that being a last-ditch rifle, it doesn't look all that bad comparatively.

[Rogerbutthead]

Ever since that book - Desperate Measures by Darrin Weaver - came out, more people have been looking for these weapons. http://www.amazon.com/Desperate-Meas.../dp/0889353727 There have been a lot of weapons called fakes if they vary from the pics accepted as standard representations of these rifles. Supposedly it is not hard to fake these stocks.

Good Luck.

[pitfighter]

Ever since that book - Desperate Measures by Darrin Weaver - came out, more people have been looking for these weapons. http://www.amazon.com/Desperate-Meas.../dp/0889353727 There have been a lot of weapons called fakes if they vary from the pics accepted as standard representations of these rifles. Supposedly it is not hard to fake these stocks.

Good Luck.

It is a very well written and interesting book - the first chapter really sets the tone - quite a powerful read, very unlike most such reference books, books on the minutae of firearms - I enjoyed it and was certainly left more interested in last ditch weapons than their earlier incarnations.
I have heard there are lots of fakes appearing, too -

[NOTABIKER]

this rifle was brought home after WW 2 by the person that got it in combat. I was told he brought home 5 rifles. This is the only one that was kept in the famely after his death. I am as sure as i can be that this is a authentic VK98 .
It has been owned by two famely members since 1945 and neither one is into guns.It would be very hard to do all the things necessary to fake this rifle. The one in the picture is much nicer looking than the one i saw.

[pitfighter]

I have no doubt you are correct - there are no pictures of the rifle in question and I know no one involved, so it would be foolish to make any kind of statement one way or another. There is really nothing more to add to your comments, interesting as they are.

My comment (and the one prior to mine) were contributing to the discussion on what has now become a popular collecting area - late-war or emergency, last ditch rifles - and the so, as in all popular collecting areas, there is a small proliferation of well produced fakes surfacing.

[beerman]

Thanks for the Post Notabiker...I had heard of these, but never saw one...guess I coulda looked them up.