My First K98 Mauser

Gentlemen,

Good morning. I have purchased a K98 Mauser rifle and have a question that I have not found a satisfactory answer to on several forums.

My rifle is a dou. 44 seno 8619 aa the serial number appears on the BARREL ONLY, Not the receiver. The left side of the bolt channel is marked with what appears to be a smaller font "Mod 98". The top of the bolt handle is marked "8619 aa" as is the top the rear part of the bolt, the safety lever and the back of the cocking piece. Also, just a "19" on the underside of the rear sight assembly I saw after removing the stock. From the advice given on other forums for what to watch for, I chose this rifle because of the matching bolt. The underside of the rear sight leaf, the stamped/welded upper sling attachment are also marked with the serno.

To the left of the barrel serno is an Eagle/Swastika mark. It is the only on on the rifle. There are only two WAa across the back of the barrel...."480" and the same WAa above the "dou." stamp on top of the receiver. The inside of the barrel is quite bright with distinct lands/grooves. Muzzle bullet test quite good.

Do not see any markings on the laminated stock that came with the rifle, save for a serial number mark inside the barrel channel, which does not match the rifle. Also, under the handguard is a serial number that matches neither the stock nor the rifle.

Pictures are below. My question is: Why is there no serial number on the receiver? I've read that several factories omitted recvr serno in late war. Is there documentation as to this in a reference book, etc?

Not that I am going to remove the barrel, but I can see this possibly being a problem in that regard as I have read one lengthy post on another forum about a K98 receiver without a serial number.

Apologies for the lengthy post and description. I appreciate all replies and comments.

Thanks,

Jason

This is possibly(?) a post-war Mauser. I see no German serial numbers on the left side of the receiver and no German proofs on the right side of the receiver. There is a "Circle Z" stamp on the lower sight side. Do you see it? There are some bright guys on this site and hopefully they will jump in. But I do guess this is a late 1945/46 Mauser, built with left-over parts.

Jason, I researched the same issue awhile back. I have a DOT 44 K98 without a receiver serial. Go to the BATF website and search on the no serial number question. Basically it will tell you that it is not a problem if the gun was made before I believe 1968. There are many (legal) firearms out there without serial numbers, lots of them are latewar K98's and cheap .22's. To remove or alter the serial is another story however and very illegal. Salt Flat

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Originally Posted by Jason60chev

There are only two WAa across the back of the barrel...."480" and the same WAa above the "dou." stamp on top of the receiver.

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I have looked into the WAa marks on my rifle......they are not "480".....but "A80".......and are correct for a dou. 44 rifle.

Also........I just took the bolt apart and found that the firing pin has the same serial number as the rest of the earlier mentioned parts!

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Originally Posted by Jason60chev

My question is: Why is there no serial number on the receiver?

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I have just found the answer to my question.......http://www.ycgg.org/pdfpages/ww2/dou.pdf .....................Gives good info on dou rifles for 1942, 1943, 1944 and 1945.

Have not run across such a beastie before. Thanks for the followup!

It's common on many 1944 and 1945 K98's to have either only the barrel or only the receiver serialized. Some factories, Like Mauser Oberndorf, did both in the later parts of the war. To me, it looks fine from the few pics you posted.

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Originally Posted by Salt Flat

Jason, I researched the same issue awhile back. I have a DOT 44 K98 without a receiver serial.

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Correction: For what it's worth --I have a no serial number BNZ 4, not a DOT 44. Salt Flat

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Originally Posted by Calif-Steve

This is possibly(?) a post-war Mauser. I see no German serial numbers on the left side of the receiver and no German proofs on the right side of the receiver. There is a "Circle Z" stamp on the lower sight side. Do you see it? There are some bright guys on this site and hopefully they will jump in. But I do guess this is a late 1945/46 Mauser, built with left-over parts.

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Steve:

As an aside, the CZ marking was used before, during and after the war on some parts made in Czech factories. dou and dot coded rifles were built in Czechoslovakian factories that, before annexation to the Reich, were operated by BRNO. IIn the case of dou, we're talking about the Brunn Bystrica plant. t's not out of whack to see a cz proof on either make of rifle and would not, by itself, indicate post-war production or refurbishment IMHO.

You are right about the Circle Z being on these rifles. HOWEVER, this rifle has no German proofs. It does have a Circle Z stamping. Perhaps a 1945 rifle might not have proofs, but I doubt the Germans would have let it out the door that way in 1944. Perhaps a 1944 set-aside receiver? Perhaps a factory second receiver? I am guessing that all good quality 1944 production went off to war ASAP. Just not sure about this one. Interesting rifle for sure.

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Originally Posted by Calif-Steve

HOWEVER, this rifle has no German proofs.

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Waffenampts don't count?

This article that I posted a link to earlier, http://www.ycgg.org/pdfpages/ww2/dou.pdf seems to answer that question and has a photo of a dou 44 as well as a description of one, listing all the parts. On my subject rifle, there is an eagle with a swastika just to the left of the serial number on the barrrel. It should be visible in the picture. The blueing has worn on the receiver and the exposed parts of the barrel and do not appear to have ever been refinished. No signs of RC and no import marks. Above "dou." on the receiver is the WAa80 proof. There are two more of the same number on the barrel. I have found several matching numbers on this rifle, inlcuding the firing pin, that I listed in my original post.