Mauser K98 authenticity help

[daymare]

I am asking the seller what the serial numbers are on the stock, thanks for all the help so far guys!

[Rustybore]

I would pass, $475 asking is just too much.
I just picked up a 27 code 1940 RC for $350 at the local gun shop.

Here are a few things that are wrong with this Mauser:

1) Barrel S/N and receiver S/N do not match. Barrel 9881 O, receiver 9881 hh.
2) Barrel has been re-stamped over existing numbers.
3) Trigger guard and floor plate are late war, should be milled not stamped.
4) should have a laminated flat butt plate stock
5) original 1940 barrel would not have been machined to accept a sight hood.

This is at the most a $275-300 rifle.

Rb

[blackfalcon]

Do the numbers on the bolt match the receiver?

[daymare]

Do the numbers on the bolt match the receiver?

No, the bolt doesn't match the receiver. Seller is willing to throw a hood in. I think I may pass on this one.

[TRAP55]

Would be correct, or could be correct?

Kinda sorta both.
Oberndorf set the standards for the other manufactures.
Flat plates were used on solid wood stocks, 1940 saw full scale production of cupped plate laminate stocks as the standard.
But.......Oberndorf did make a few laminates with flat plates, in 1937, on the S/42 rifles, and stopped on the early 42 marked rifles. At Oberndorf in 1940, the Waffenamt changed from Wa63 to Wa 655, rifles in the "a" range of serial numbers had both until the 63 marked parts were used up.

On the sight hood slot.......rifles that went back for repairs after 41 had them installed in an effort to standardize the 98K's. A sight hood still won't make that a $475 rifle.

The problem to ID a Czech refurb is the total lack of any consistent ID standards like you find on RC's. You can't tell the difference if American Bubba slapped it together from parts, or Bubba that worked in the Czech arsenal did it. Once in while you might see a Czech arsenal stamp, but even then you still don't know if the part went through there, or the whole rifle.

[rojocorsa]

I thought the final year for hoodless sights was 1939.

[emcon5]

Flat plates were used on solid wood stocks, 1940 saw full scale production of cupped plate laminate stocks as the standard.
But.......Oberndorf did make a few laminates with flat plates, in 1937, on the S/42 rifles, and stopped on the early 42 marked rifles. At Oberndorf in 1940, the Waffenamt changed from Wa63 to Wa 655, rifles in the "a" range of serial numbers had both until the 63 marked parts were used up.

The article linked above says "Flat buttplates were discontinued late in 1940 and cupped buttplates were used to prevent the separation of the Butt stock."

The 2 examples of matching 42/1940 rifles in the k98forum photo reference thread seem to confirm this, as both have flat buttplates, including an "MM" block which would have been made 50,000 rifles later than the one in question.

http://www.k98kforum.com/showthread.php?45-Picture-Reference-Index

I think you have to be a member to see the photos.

I thought the final year for hoodless sights was 1939.

I think that was another mid 1940 change. My 42/1940 "X" block is not grooved for the hood, nor is a "S" block from the k98forum reference thread. However the "MM" series rifle mentioned above is.

[TRAP55]

I have a real good article on Oberndorf Mausers, very well researched. I'll see if I can find it and post it here.

[Flouncer]

All my rifles are Mausers, and I have shot them since 1996. WTH is RC ?

Unprefaced acronyms just suck. Please.

My $0.02 is I would pass on a non match/bolt receiver for $475.

[paul0660]

All my rifles are Mausers, and I have shot them since 1996. WTH is RC ?

Unprefaced acronyms just suck. Please.

My $0.02 is I would pass on a non match/bolt receiver for $475.

Russian Capture. The ones the commies got when Adolf retreated from the Steppes. Reworked, re parked, hopefully headspaced.

[TRAP55]

emcon, long read but tons of info.

http://www.ycgg.org/pdfpages/ww2/mauser-oberndorf.pdf

[emcon5]

That is the same article posted earlier in the thread by rojocorsa, which I quoted above. ""Flat buttplates were discontinued late in 1940"

Based on that article, and the later production, known matching rifle in the K98forum photo thread, it seems to me like that stock is probably not original to that rifle.

[TRAP55]

Production of both in 1940 overlapped. Unless that stock is serial matched to the receiver, it may not be original to the rifle.

[Flouncer]

Russian Capture. The ones the commies got when Adolf retreated from the Steppes. Reworked, re parked, hopefully headspaced.

Are these the ones that Mitchells' Mausers has ground off and renumbered in their little ole house to sell as "matching" ????

edit: so you get my point. Are these the MM that have been RW to SAM ???