K98 sent home from Normandy in 1944

This is a German K98 Mauser that was picked up from under a dead German soldier by one of the members of the 506th Squadran 404th Fighter Bomber Group in Normandy France near Omaha Beach in 1944.

The interesting (and disturbing!) thing about this rifle is that it, along with a bayonet, leather ammo pouch, and a P38, was buried in the ground prior to shipping back to the US to try to get rid of the stench of decaying human flesh. The leather ammo pouch still smells foul even after all of these years.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...IMG_4917-1.jpg
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The German "revolver" is actually a P38 that the family still uses to slaughter livestock on their farm.

Very interesting, thanks for sharing.

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Originally Posted by Aragorn243

Very interesting, thanks for sharing.

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I wish one of my collection had an actual story like that to go with it.
Wonderful!

I thought you guys might enjoy the read. I found it very interesting.

This is the first and only 'documented' bringback in my collection and my only K98.

---------- Post added at 10:47 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:38 PM ----------

Some more photos.
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...IMG_4904-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...IMG_4902-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...IMG_4898-1.jpg
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https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...IMG_4996-1.jpg
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https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...IMG_5013-1.jpg
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https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...IMG_4896-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...IMG_4894-1.jpg

Nice rifle - too bad there is no legitimate US Army bringback paperwork with it :(

Yeah, that's why I wrote 'documented.'

It would be nice to have both, but if I had to choose between having the military paperwork or having the story from the guy who brought it back, I'd take the story every time. I find it much more interesting.

Sad story but a GORGEOUS rifle...after seeing these pics i now have a hard on a cat couldn't scratch..LMFAO. Although i am confused on one thing... that looks like dried cosmoline packed into the corners of the 4th last pic ( from bottom up ). If it was a bring back am am unaware they put cosmoline on them. Usually Russians or other armories did that when they were stored. I am also NO expert at all.

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Originally Posted by mac2017

looks like cosmoline

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There could easily be grease still in the working parts. Also it could have been greased after the fact any time in 70 years.

Beautiful rifle, sad story.
Poor guy.........