K98 Mauser info help

Hello Milsurpers,

I am looking at a German K98 Mauser at a local shop. It is a BYF 41. The stock is laminated, does not appear to be "new", but feels a little rough in the hand. There are some markings on the butt, but I did not record them. There is no serial number on the bolt, it it looks to have a Waffenamt mark on the underside flat. It has the sight cover and cleaning rod. There are alse several Waffenamt marks on the receiver and barrel, which makes me think that this rifle is not a RC rifle.

HOWEVER.....what concerns me most is that the receiver serial number does not match the barrel serial number. Is this a common occurance with K98 rifles...ie - arsenal rebuild or is this a red flag that should scare me away from this rifle? The s/n of the barrel is accompanied by Waffenamt marks. Oh the receiver s/n is 4 digit whereas the barrel s/n is 5 digit, if I remember. Asking price of this rifle is $400. Sorry I do not have any pictures.

Thanks,
Jason

Sounds like a shooter. Price is Ok if bore is excellent. Do you see a 41 or 42 stamp on the barrel?

I did not notice. This actually about the first time I had ever really looked over a K98. I am mostly into 1903 Springfields and M1 Garands. I will look at it again on Monday. I AM looking for a shooter level rifle. I don't think that I would want to buy a rifle that I couldn;t shoot. I do, however, own an extremely nice M1903A1 Springfield National Match rifle which I had verified and documented from the Springfield Research Service. Paid a good chunk for that rifle. I take it out of the safe now and them and admire it. Did fire about 20 rounds through it.

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I looked through the bore and although it appeared very good with deep filing, it was somewhat dark and a little dirty. I would not call it excellent. I think I may pass on this and wait for the next big Phoenix Gun show where I am certain to be able to view several rifles and have a choice. Thanks.

It is definitely a R/C for $400.00 bucks. The condition you describe is par for the course on these. Good shooters and if you are so inclined you could dress the stock up to make it more presentable without fear of detracting from collector value cus there is none. Every surplus guy needs a K98 IMO...:thup:
One word of buying advice= Look down the stock from the rear to check for warping. The Russians left a lot of these outside for years before getting around to arsenaling them. I got lucky, mine bends into my shoulder. Happy hunting...