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

[Bobby Ricigliano]

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

Could be. I have another K98 that is a post war Czech rework. Scrubbed crest and renumbered. The similarities in the stocks are evident.

[Bobby Ricigliano]

One clue that it may not be though is that the blonde stock above is not inletted for a cleaning rod, while the one in the OP is. I dunno.......

[joefrank64k]

If only they could talk...looks like a nice pickup regardless of provenance, BR!!

[Bobby Ricigliano]

Thanks JF, Shooter1975, LTong, and everyone for the input. The rifle isn't all that special, but I will look for any excuse to spark up a conversation on Mausers!

[emcon5]

Does it have an import mark? RGuns was selling RC barreled actions a while back, mine came with intact markings, and no "X".

[skooterdave]

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

I have a question: off topic but.....
How do you get that white color into the makings? My eyes are not the best ans Id like to high light some markings in my collection.

Thank you!!

Sent from my LGLS775 using Tapatalk

[TRAP55]

I see a lot of discussion about RC's, but rarely see any cold hard facts. What I've gathered, and don't claim to be fact:
RC's always got the X stamp, even if they had nothing else, like pinged Nazi stamps.
RC's without the X stamp were one of three possibilities.
It didn't return to action.
Refurbed after the war.
A Czech refurb mistaken for a RC.
Czech refurbs are a whole nuther discussion. There is no rule of thumb for ID. Stock finish can be oil, shellac, and even varnish. Metal finish can be original, bead blasted & blued, or polished and blued.
The only solid constant rule I've learned with Mausers is, there is always an exception to any rule.

[emcon5]

I see a lot of discussion about RC's, but rarely see any cold hard facts. What I've gathered, and don't claim to be fact:
RC's always got the X stamp, even if they had nothing else, like pinged Nazi stamps.
RC's without the X stamp were one of three possibilities.
It didn't return to action.
Refurbed after the war.
A Czech refurb mistaken for a RC.
Czech refurbs are a whole nuther discussion. There is no rule of thumb for ID. Stock finish can be oil, shellac, and even varnish. Metal finish can be original, bead blasted & blued, or polished and blued.
The only solid constant rule I've learned with Mausers is, there is always an exception to any rule.

Did any RC K98s return to action in WW2? I thought they were all post war refurbs.

I have had three of them and none had the X. Two came in heavily shellacked stocks, had the serial number stamped in the butt as above, had the nasty black paint like stuff on the stock hardware, and had the S/N electropenciled on the bolt. Both had the swastikas neatly peened, but the eagle was otherwise intact. They came from S.O.G. (pretty sure they were even advertised as RC), with a RGUNS import mark on the barrel. One of the stocks had been refurbed at least twice, becasue the left side of the butt was ground down heavily, I assume to remove a serial number and a new one added.

The third was a barreled action from RGuns, markings intact, bolt electropenciled. I do not know for certain this is RC, but Rguns was selling Russian capture stocks at the same time they were selling these, and the finish and EP bolt is consistent with a RC rifle. It has a RGUNS import mark on rear sight base.

I seem to recall the Czechs always defaced the swastikas, is that correct?

[AlienHobo]

I have a question: off topic but.....
How do you get that white color into the makings? My eyes are not the best ans Id like to high light some markings in my collection.

Thank you!!

Sent from my LGLS775 using Tapatalk

Chalk.

[Bobby Ricigliano]

Chalk.

Chalk, white crayon, even white model paint can be used. All can be removed easily with solvent and a nylon brush. Markings that are lightly or shallowly struck won't color in too well though.

[Saigon1965]

BR - For what it's worth - None of my 3 RC that came back from Vietnam are X'ed out -

[TRAP55]

Did any RC K98s return to action in WW2?

Yes, and from what I gathered, they were checked for function, X'ed, and sent right back to the fighting.
Saigon's no X RC's may support the claim about post war rifles, but really who knows?
With all the Russian personnel working in the several arsenals, and from makeshift arsenal repair stations near the front, somebody somewhere has to remember an order on captured enemy small arms, and what was done with them. Hopefully one comes forward with the info before the last of that generation is gone.

[DWarner]

I've heard tell, there are Romanian and Albanian capture K 98s. I grabbed a S/42K years ago that was said to be Romanian captured. No ep, no shellac, and no X.

[Bobby Ricigliano]

I've heard tell, there are Romanian and Albanian capture K 98s. I grabbed a S/42K years ago that was said to be Romanian captured. No ep, no shellac, and no X.

The tell tale indicator of a Romanian rework is jackhammered obliteration of nazi markings. They are often otherwise in nice condition and more likely to have matching parts than an RC.

[Bobby Ricigliano]

Yes, and from what I gathered, they were checked for function, X'ed, and sent right back to the fighting.
Saigon's no X RC's may support the claim about post war rifles, but really who knows?
With all the Russian personnel working in the several arsenals, and from makeshift arsenal repair stations near the front, somebody somewhere has to remember an order on captured enemy small arms, and what was done with them. Hopefully one comes forward with the info before the last of that generation is gone.

This is my general opinion as well. I don't think things always fit in neat and orderly boxes. As much as I love history, I have a bit of contempt for the basement field marshalls who post authoritative conclusive opinions as to exactly what was happening in Russian armories as the Germans advanced, or later the German armories as the Russians approached.