K98 question...

[Dr.Mauser]

Is there ANY possible way (besides going through the German Army's records in Berlin) that I can find what unit or division a K98 was used in by serial number? Anything helps. I have one that I want to know more about if its AT all possible.

[Spiggy]

a lot of that info is lost, sealed, or destroyed...

Consider that current Germany has a memory gap between 1921 and 1945 and the original Mauser Waffenfabrik doesn't exist anymore, you'll be hard pressed to find that information.

best of luck though.

[mauser98k]

unfortunately, there is really no way to find out. incessant bombing, fires and post war years have rid us of any and all paperwork like that. it's virtually impossible to get info on Allied equipment so there's really no hope for the Axis stuff.

[mosinnagantm9130]

Anything helps. I have one that I want to know more about if its AT all possible.

Post it up! We like pics!

[Dr.Mauser]

well that makes me sad, does any one know whether certain serial codes or different factories sent their rifles to certain fronts? My other question is, what is the most "Carbine" sized version of the K98 or a close relative, I love the carbine rifles the M91/59 the M1, just curious.

[NaughtyMonkey]

I've wondered a smililiar thing and you just reminded me, Don't want to be thread jacking but its the same type of question. Can we tell by serial number of Garand or Carbines if they went to europe or the pacific? The most I could come up with the serial numbers is date of manufacture.

[Palimino Stripe]

Sounds like you would make the perfect candidate for buying a Swiss K31. Most of 'em still have the original owners name & regiment they were issued to under the buttplate... just incase you didn't know...

Face facts dude- you could make a few wild guesses- but aside from that you will never truly know. ESPECIALLY considering K98's weren't issued to any particular person/squad/regiment/battalion/etc based on serial number...

-Palimino

[bigthaiboy]

I've wondered a smililiar thing and you just reminded me, Don't want to be thread jacking but its the same type of question. Can we tell by serial number of Garand or Carbines if they went to europe or the pacific? The most I could come up with the serial numbers is date of manufacture.

IF you could find out whether your M1 was delivered to the Army or the Marine Corp, then you could get a better indicater if it went to Europe (Army) or the Pacific (USMC).

well that makes me sad, does any one know whether certain serial codes or different factories sent their rifles to certain fronts? My other question is, what is the most "Carbine" sized version of the K98 or a close relative, I love the carbine rifles the M91/59 the M1, just curious.

With K98, my guess is, the rifles were shipped from factories to large army ordnance distribution centers and then assigned and shipped out the various army units. The receiving units would then receive rifles by the cases, each from various manufacturers. Only rifles assigned to the SS were stamped with the SS runes, but again, it is impossible to pin point where that K98 served, because the Waffen SS fought on practically every major front.

[mosinnagantm9130]

well that makes me sad, does any one know whether certain serial codes or different factories sent their rifles to certain fronts? My other question is, what is the most "Carbine" sized version of the K98 or a close relative, I love the carbine rifles the M91/59 the M1, just curious.

That would be the G33/40. They are expensive when you can find them.

IIRC, Luftwaffe k98's have an L on the stock, and Kriegsmarine k98's have a K on the stock.

[Dr.Mauser]

Every single K98 issued to the Waffen SS had SS runes on it?....wouldnt there me more SS marked K98s then, considering that there were over 900,000 men and 36 different divisions youd think there would be more on the market.

[mosinnagantm9130]

Every single K98 issued to the Waffen SS had SS runes on it?....wouldnt there me more SS marked K98s then, considering that there were over 900,000 men and 36 different divisions youd think there would be more on the market.

No. Most are not marked. IIRC, the actual single rune and sszza4 marked rifles are all BNZ 43's and 44's. The deaths head (reworked) rifles can be any code.

Fakes are everywhere. I would be willing to bet that there are more fake SS rifles today than there are legit examples.

[mauser98k]

No. Most are not marked. IIRC, the actual single rune and sszza4 marked rifles are all BNZ 43's and 44's. The deaths head (reworked) rifles can be any code.

Fakes are everywhere. I would be willing to bet that there are more fake SS rifles today than there are legit examples.

you are correct on both statements.

also, it is widely recognized that the large font "bnz" coded 1943 and 1944 rifles without a letter suffix on the serial number are SS contract rifles. that would be the first 10,000 or so produced by Steyr in each year

[hnoppenberger]

i dont know if the nazis used anything like this but at least large ring shortys exist.

[Rogerbutthead]

The K98 or 98K is the carbine version of the Gew98.

In terms of the G43 or K43 rifle, there is no difference between them.

I do not believe the Germans used a shortened version of the 98K during WWII.

[Spiggy]

There's a similar one called the 33/40, which was like 6 inches shorter than the typical 98k