Mauser 98 "SVW MB"?

[THBailey]

Looking at a Mauser 98 based sporter with SVW MB on the ring. Google yielded opinions that this was the last German Oberndorf factory marking as WW2 closed, others said it was used when the French opened post war production. Hoping you gents might shed further light? Thanks so much.

[870classic]

Does this rifle have the "Star" (French) or "Nazi" (German) proof marks?


Just googling the SVW MB code brought up the following information:

https://pre98.com/shop/very-rare-post-war-french-svw-mb-98k-mauser-rifle/

1945 PRODUCTION POST WAR FRENCH 98K RIFLE WITH THE RARE SVW MB CODE. THE RIFLE IS WAFFENAMTED AND STAR PROOFED AS WELL. THESE RIFLES WERE MADE TO THE FRENCH TASTE IN SERVICE RIFLES WITH THE FRENCH STACKING ROD AND SLING ARRANGEMENT WHICH GIVES THESE RIFLES A VERY DISTINCTIVE LOOK FOR A 98K. THESE RIFLES WERE ACTUALLY COMBAT USED IN INDO CHINA BY UNITS INCLUDING THE FRENCH FOREIGN LEGION. THEY WERE ALSO USED BY THE WEST GERMAN BORDER GUARDS AS WELL, SO THEY HAVE A GOOD HISTORY OF COLD WAR SERVICE. THEY HAVE ALWAYS BEEN SOUGHT AFTER BY COLLECTORS AS THEY MAKE THE PERFECT END-CAP TO ANY SERIOUS 98K MAUSER COLLECTION. THIS RIFLE WILL HAVE A GREAT APPEAL TO MANY OF OUR CLIENTS.

https://lsbauctions.com/15265/german-k98-nazi-israeli-french-svwmb-8mm-mauser-bolt-action-rifle-cr/

...The Nazi marked German K98 receiver was made at the Mauser Oberndorf factory in Germany under French occupation. It was made between August of 1945 and May of 1946 when the Oberndorf factory was destroyed and anything of value was transported back to France. The “svwMB” marking on the receiver is the Post WWII factory code for K98 rifles produced at Oberndorf, under French occupation. This is the 3rd variant of the Mauser Oberndorf factory code in 1945. The other 2 wartime variants are “byf 45” and “svw 45”.

[THBailey]

The gun is on an auction site, photo's are not the clearest. The receiver is the center piece on a fairly well executed sporter, the trigger guard is ex-military with locking screw holes, and the magazine plate has a non-match number. The receiver was polished some and the photos not clear, but what I can see looks more like an eagle than a star. Pretty sure it is an early post war Frankenstein gun.

[Rogerbutthead]

If it is a sporter, aren't you just buying it for how good a shooter it is - as collector value on sporters is minimal - ?

[THBailey]

You bet. No collector value to speak of. I had not seen these markings before and was curious. And maybe just a bit cool to have a good looking sporter built on one of the very last Oberndorf Model 98 recievers, even though not a true Oberndorf sporting gun.