What do you think of this "Russian Capture" K98?

[Bobby Ricigliano]

I picked this up from a member on another board a few days ago. It was described as a RC K98 with a very good bore. I am delighted with the condition of it and the bore is actually mirror bright once I ran a few swabs through it.

The only EP'd part is the safety lever. Everything else is stamped but totally mismatched. There is no Russian renumbering to the stock, nor any trace of shellack. There is a stamped number on the bottom of the wrist, unusual...
Most notably, no big X or peened markings. Cool!

I don't know what to make of this one other than it should be a good shooter. The BNZ 4 is an interesting crest. There is a faint marking that almost appears to be a single rune, but it is hard to photograph. Not much cold blue, no shellack, almost no EP'd parts. It is discreetly import marked on the underside of the barrel. Mix of late war (or post war?) stock and forged parts where there should be stamped parts. Cleaning rod and capture screws present, sight hood also present.

I am thinking it is total stateside built parts gun, FrankenMauser. Thoughts?

[Bobby Ricigliano]

Looks like a Rune below and right of the factory code:

[SamGoldstein]

What does EP mean?

This rifle has no collector value, is that right?

[shooter1975]

Electro Pencil - EP

Beautifil RC bud!!! Good score!!!

[Bobby Ricigliano]

What does EP mean?

This rifle has no collector value, is that right?

EP = Electropenciling. Russian captured K98's usually have the smaller parts renumbered by EP to match the receiver. The stock is usually also restamped with the serial number on the receiver. The RC also usually has a prominent "X" stamped into the receiver. Stocks are usually shellacked, often sloppily. These attributes are considered "correct" in a Russian capture gun.

Collector value is much less than a bringback, all matching battlefield pickup type K98, but RC's are still collectible and will fetch $500 - $700 or so in good condition.

Here are some examples from my other RC's:

Big "X"



Electropenciling



Renumbered and shellacked stock

[SamGoldstein]

So this was quite an unusual find then. Nice.

[mosinnagantm9130]

Is the buttstock sanded on the left side? Otherwise, I'm not seeing any RC features. Maybe a sporter or barreled action rescue?

I don't think that's a rune either, they're usually centered in between the code and date, unless there's a variant I haven't seen before (which certainly is possible). Probably just a coincidental scratch.

With RCs commonly hitting $500, if you got it for less than that I'd say you did fine. Even if it is a total parts rifle, it is still a complete, non-sporter K98. There is value in that.

[loademup]

The RC also usually has a prominent "X" stamped into the receiver.

Maybe usually, but not always. I have a Russian capture K98. The EP'ed stuff is there, the stock was shellacked, there were no trigger lock screws or cleaning rod when I got it...etc...etc but no "X" on the receiver. So the receiver on your rifle could still be RC. It is a nice looking rifle you have and I hope it is a good shooter for you.

[ltong29]

Very nice BNZ 4 with a semi-kreigsmodell stock.

[Bobby Ricigliano]

Thank you all for the comments. It shows there are no absolutes. Some have the "X", some don't. Shellack? Maybe. Peened birds? Sometimes. EP? Sure, or maybe not.

This is the stuff that keeps collectors up at night....

[Bobby Ricigliano]

Very nice BNZ 4 with a semi-kreigsmodell stock.

Thank you. I like this rifle very much, but the thought has crossed my mind to relocate this stock to my phosphated "last ditch" BNZ 45 that I acquired as a barreled receiver and sourced late war parts from different places. It seems this stock would enhance that rifle and the incorrect donor stock currently on the BNZ 45 could be the replacement for this one.

[highpower]

I have a RC with no X on the receiver and the chickens haven't been punched. While the stock has not been refinished, it does have a Russian renumber stamped on it. The only numbers that match are the barrel, receiver, the RC numbers on the stock and the EP'd bolt and floorplate.

[ojisan]

The runes might be Chinese characters?
I was just reading the other day that post WW2, the Russians gave the Chinese lots of surplus German guns in 7.92x57 to equip the new Comm. Chinese army.
There were so many guns that the Chinese started mass production of this caliber.
With those marks, maybe this was rebuilt and fitted from incomplete guns.

Just guessing.

[ltong29]

Thank you. I like this rifle very much, but the thought has crossed my mind to relocate this stock to my phosphated "last ditch" BNZ 45 that I acquired as a barreled receiver and sourced late war parts from different places. It seems this stock would enhance that rifle and the incorrect donor stock currently on the BNZ 45 could be the replacement for this one.

Steyr and Mauser moved to screws on bands and removed the bayo lug as they went full Kriegsmodell. Only Gustloff retained the bandspring and bayo lug, making this a Gustloff stock.

[emcon5]

Steyr and Mauser moved to screws on bands and removed the bayo lug as they went full Kriegsmodell. Only Gustloff retained the bandspring and bayo lug, making this a Gustloff stock.

Couldn't it also be a postwar stock? I think post war Czech stocks were essentially Kriegsmodell type, Israel as well.