k98 serial number prefix

I was wondering if the prefix j on the serial number of my k98 would shed some light on where it was built. It was an original k98 and captured and reworked in yugoslavia so the manufacture code has been removed. Anything helps!
thanks

Checked my book The Standard Directory of Proof Marks with WWII German ordnance codes by Gerhard Wirnsberger J is listed as unknown :dunno:

Well that's unfortunate. It must not have been made by a major manufacturer then?

Not really think of it this way it could have been a satellite firm making limited numbers rather like the limited years with the Lithgows some years they only made 000's of them and these command a premuim price well worth further research:thup: :thup:

I certainly will research this further. It has really intrigued me ever since I got it and even more as I learn more about it little by little.

If the J is at the beginning of the serial number then it's part of the number. It would indicate that it was in the 110,000 98K made in that year by that company. An example of German serial numbers would start with A01 and every 10,000 they would then change the letter to the next such as B01. The very first string would not have a letter and would be 01. When they went through the whole alphabet then they would start at the beginning bit would use a small a then b then c with the numbers till the year ended. The next year they would start again with the capital A.

they were letter suffixes. the Germans didn't use prefixes.

The J is in front of the serial number

probably done by Yugoslavia.

then wouldn't that be an m48 or an m 24/47? this rifle is a K98 but simply captured and re-arsenaled in Yugoslavia. The original factory markings have been removed and the yugo crest was placed on the receiver....By the way, I know the sling is on incorrectly that was just how I got the rifle. The serial numbers match on everything except for the barrel and the majority of the small parts like the barrel bands, firing pin, and the bolt release lever.

Yugoslavia reworked 98ks like Russia. to a lesser extent, though. the serial number prefix would be their work.

So the yugos stamped the J in front of the serial nubers? The J is only stamped on the serial numbers on the bolt and the receiver. there is no J in front of the serial number on the floor plate or the stock even though they have matching numbers.

pics would help, but if it is a yugo rework, yes. there would be no serial number prefixes on the floor plate or stock anyway (and the Germans didn't put the serial number on the left side of the stock. it was either under the butt or in the barrel channel).

here are some pictures. sorry they got a little stretched or something and rotated. The picture I took of the serial number on the stock didn't upload but it has no J and it is stamped on the left side of the stock behind the bolt takedown hole but the nubers do match.

The font is Yugoslavian....


"Nuts"

yep, yugoslavian numbers

These aren't the actual serial numbers from the factory?

no. they were put there post war by the Yugoslavians. the Germans didn't number bolts that way either. and the Germans put the serial number on the left side of the receiver.

I didn't know that the Yugoslavians put new serial numbers on the guns they reworked.

they did. scrubbed, cleaned and renumbered.

That's unfortunate. Now there's no way to know if it is actually matching. I actually wasn't told that this was a yugo rework when I bought it so I assumed it was all original. It did come with a sling and bayonet though and there were initials engraved in the stock which is really appealing to me.

Hopefully you didn't pay to much.


"Nuts"

I don't think I did but certainly on the high end for a rework