Mysterious Mauser Carbine with"OT" serial number

I am looking at a Mauser carbine of some sort, very light and short (41" overall). Curved bolt handle. Light colored unfinished wood. It has the same serial number in 3 places. The five digit serial number is preceded by "OT". There are no other visible markings. Someone told me that it could be Yugoslavian (M44?)that was sold to Israel in early 50's and before shipping all markings were removed to prevent anyone from knowing who sold to Israelis. I even heard the OT stood for "Old Testament." I dont own a Mauser and owner is asking $150 for this one. Should I buy?

Have you checked through the MKL?

Yugoslavia Milsurp Knowledge Library

Regards,
Badger

Thanks Badger, I have now. No indentifying marks is consistent with an early 50's Yugoslav M48, but I measured the overall length and it was only 41" so not as long as the M48 according to MKL.

Badger, did other countries (than Yugo) sell Mausers with no identifying marks? If it is a M48, is it worth anything?

I really want K98 WWII German Mauser to go with my Mosin Nagant 91/30. I also have a M44 MN Enemy at the Gates and all that. Where is the best place to find a clean K98---not for investment, but to shoot and hunt occasionally.

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Originally Posted by Cameron08

Badger, did other countries (than Yugo) sell Mausers with no identifying marks? If it is a M48, is it worth anything?

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M48 is a fairly common Mauser and not exceptionally valuable ...

I'd love to see pics of this rifle, which I think would help us help you better ... :thup:

Regards,
Badger

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Originally Posted by Cameron08

I really want K98 WWII German Mauser to go with my Mosin Nagant 91/30. Where is the best place to find a clean K98---not for investment, but to shoot and hunt occasionally.

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Where do you live - US or Canada??? If in the US I have several K98k shooters to sell. E-MAIL me.
Sarge

There are K98 Russian captures out there that in general are pretty clean and in good shape for shooting. Prices in the low hundreds are much less than a matching serial number bring back by a long shot.

First giveaway will be nicely blued metal and a large serial number stamped into the butt stock. Will usually have an X stamped on the receiver. Some will have German markings, some will have them stamped out.

I picked up one with a near new bore for just over $200 a few months ago.

Thanks. Other than Mosin Nagants, no such Mausers are to be found around here. Where did you find yours? On line or locally?

It was a local purchase at a small gun shop. I've been pretty lucky at those this summer. No 5 Jungle carbine, 98K, Chilean Mauser, 1917 Eddystone, all for quite a bit off the going rates. Spent the rest of the summer getting the minor parts, slings and bayonets for them. Still don't have one for the jungle carbine. Considering one of the repros for that. I can't afford $250 for a bayonet.

I have seen the 98K's off and on in various gun shops. None of the others quite fit what I was after, a lot had the Nazi eagles peened out. Some just didn't look that great. They are out there, you just have to be in the right place at the right time.

Cameron08, there were a batch of 98 long rifles mae in the 1920s that were completely unmarked as to date and/or factory.

These were forthe German Army (Reichswehr) and were unmarked because their manufacture contravened the Versailles Treaty.

Only marking on the rifles was "Kar.98b" on the left-hand receiver rail.

They were, of course, made by Mauser at Oberndorf: only plant remaining in Germany with the capability at that time.
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From what you have descibed it sounds like a Spanish model 1916. They are the only mauser that I know of that has a serial number starting with OT, followed by 4 to 6 digits (OT123456).

Spain rebuilt many of their earlier rifles around WWI and up to WWII to a short rifle version, reusing what they had instead of buying new rifles.

If it is a Mod.1916 it would have started out life as a Model 1893 rifle or maybe a 1895 carbine.
The rifles were stripped down and many had the crests removed as well as the makers address and model number on the left side of the receiver, while some had new crests applied, like the Guardia Civil model.
Most, but not all, also had gas relief holes drilled in the side of the chamber as well as having the left receiver rail cut out as a thumb relief to make it easier to load the rifle with a stripper clip.

One way to tell if it is a Mod.1916 or not is by the bolt face. Does it have a 98 style bolt or something earlier?
Since the Spanish Mod. 1916 started out as a Mod. 1893 it will have a flat bottom bolt. The 93 is the only Mauser that used this bolt.
Just look at the bolt face. If the bottom is flat, it is a 93.... If it is rounded, it's not a 93.

For more info on the Spanish models 1893 and 1916 go to Spanmauhome it is one of the best sites for info and identification of these models.

Hope this helps,
Walter