Can anyone help identify anything about this mauser model 98?

[avroe]

I just picked this up on another board, and i'll admit I bought it cause it looked pretty and I know next to nothing about this rifle, and am trying to find out what exactly it is, and where its been over the years..

The only markings on it are what I assume is a german eagle on the bottom of the receiver, and what appears to be fluer-de-lis on both the bolt near the receiver and the side of the safety latch.

I appreciate any background on this firearm you guys can help me with. The original owner provided the photos, but didn't know for sure any of the background.











Any help anyone can provide is much appreciated.

Information

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[Badger]

Well it looks like a "bitser" to me, assembled from a bunch of different parts ...

I have no idea what the Fleur De Lee marking is doing on a Mauser, but I can't quite make out the marking in detail ....

Until someone else has a better idea, I'd recommend you check the MKL and go through some of the photo montages for comparison, paricularly narrowing it down to checking those with a straight versus bent bolt handle for starters.

Mauser Rifles (click here)

Regards,
Doug

[Al Diehl]

Pretty sure you have a parts gun. The bolt is not relevent as the stock was made for a bent bolt anyway.
It looks like one of the early Israeli, clandestine imports. Maybe from a deal with Czech origins post WWII judging by the stock. (Post war Czech Mausers usually did not have the bolt takedown washers in the stock but, had the small hole in the buttplate near the toe of the stock which was used to take down the bolt)
The rest just looks like leftover parts put together. i wish that I could see the front site better. It appears to have a sight protector like a Czech VZ-24 but, it could just be the photo. At first glance I thought it was a VZ-24 in a "last ditch" or post war stock but, the rear sight is definately a 98k. Also, I would like to see how the bands are being held on. If they have screws holding them on it could give it another vote for "last ditch" but, a lot of Israeli ones had them too.
Either way it is a nice looking rifle and if it shoots good, bonus. The lack of markings may hinder trying to get an accurate value though. Post more pics and we'll see.

Hope this helped some.
Al

[Calif-Steve]

Czech 1946 Mauser? Lots of parts left over from WWII production. Sold to anyone with cash. Receiver looks weather-worn. Israel?-very likely.

[avroe]

I've uploaded some more photos based on your comments so far asking to see different parts for more answers.

Also, can anyone tell me what the letters under the german eagle are/mean? I can't fully make out the lettering, but assume one of you recognize the letters and the eagle stamp.

I appreciate the feedback and help from everything, its very much appreciated.

[Badger]

Also, can anyone tell me what the letters under the german eagle are/mean?

Those are Waffenamt markings and they indicate the German factory of manufacture. For example WaA63 ...

Waffenamt codes

"Das Heereswaffenamt" - (Detailed Listing of German WaA Markings and Codes)

Google is your friend...

Regards,
Doug

[avroe]

Those are Waffenamt markings and they indicate the German factory of manufacture. For example WaA63 ...

Seems 3 is indeed the last digit, although I suppose there is a very small chance the last digit was a 5 (its a little hard to tell, but a 3 seems much more probable when looking at it)

I guess that translates to the following manufacturing options for the receiver:

[avroe]

Also, one last question, does anyone know what the 74 stamped on the top side of the receiver might stand for? Was that simply supposed to match the last 2 digits of its origianl matching serial number?

or is the 74 to mean something else?

[Badger]

Also, one last question, does anyone know what the 74 stamped on the top side of the receiver might stand for? Was that simply supposed to match the last 2 digits of its origianl matching serial number?

or is the 74 to mean something else?

All of those small parts (including guard screws) should match and the'yd be the last two digits of whatever the original serial number of this rifle would have been ...

Check the MKL for a 316 pic photo montage of an all correct and matching Oberndorf, so you can see what this rifle is supposed to look like ...

1939 Code 42 K98k (Karabiner 98) Rifle (Mfg by Mauser Werke AG, Oberndorf a/N)

Regards,
Doug

[avroe]

so would the correct name for this firearm based on the receiver be a "1939 Code 42 K98k (Mfg by Mauser Werke AG, Oberndorf a/N)" with a ton of random parts? or would this be considered a "Model 98" as I was told by the person I purchased it from?

I'm getting a little confused as to how to even call it now. haha.

Based on these stampings, does it make sense this firearm probably passed through israel at some point?