Mauser 98K Sniper rifle

[CurbKid]

According to Wikipedia there are approximately 132,000 sniper versions of the 98k. Does anyone know how to identify the sniper version from the regular version? There has to be some type of marking or serial number to identify the sniper version.

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[Maple_Leaf_Eh]

Rule #1 - never trust Wikipedia. I have an account and make edits; sometimes they stay the way I left them, sometimes people change them.

Rule #2 - there are few guaranteed statements about Mausers. For instance, there were variants with a small section of rail on the side of the backsight block for a tiny low power telescope. Is this a sniper rifle?

[jdmcomp]

The answer is yes, and no. The original purpose of the ZF-41 was to allow a quick mount scope for sharpshooters, one per platoon. However, due to the shortage of real sniper rifles these were reserved for sniper use until real purpose built snipers could be built in large numbers. The ZF-41 was not a good, or ever passable sniper. It was not much better as a sharpshooter either, but a couple hundred thousand were built and sent into the system. So, a rifle used for sniping is a sniper?

[Patrick Chadwick]

I am too tired and lazy to look through all the books at the moment, but if I remember correctly, there was no such thing as a single standardized Wehrmacht sniper rifle. The problem is illustrated by an announcement from February 1943:
"...grenadiers, riflemen... will be equipped with the K98k-ZF41 as well as with the K98k with commercial telescope sight and corresponding mountings..."
(from "The Backbone of the Wehrmacht", p.201)

The section that I have set in italics means that, lacking documention of the marking or number ranges of "official" sniper rifles, the field is wide open for anyone to acquire a K98k and a ZF41 or civilian scope with mountings of the right vintage, put them together and call the result a sniper rifle.

And I suspect that is exactly what has happened and still is happening. To distinguish an "original" from a piece that has been assembled post-war using real WWII-vintage components is therefore, in many cases, no longer possible.

In other words, do not pay a premium for such a rifle unless you are a forensic expert and/or the rifle is in some way documented.

[jmoore]

In other words, do not pay a premium for such a rifle unless you are a forensic expert and/or the rifle is in some way documented.

Which has been the case with both of mine. (If you can call a Zf41 equipped rifle a "sniper"! Not me...It's a "DMR"- possibly the first ever fielded as such.) The Simpson rework was thoroughly researched, but still is controversial to some. (Mostly to the big wheel that didn't get it on the cheap...and has bad-mouthed it ever since, even though a whole lot more evidence came to light in it's favor.)

[Patrick Chadwick]

Which has been the case with both of mine. (If you can call a Zf41 equipped rifle a "sniper"! Not me...It's a "DMR"- possibly the first ever fielded as such.) The Simpson rework was thoroughly researched, but still is controversial to some.

I'd like to hear more!

[CurbKid]

Since there is no way to prove that it is an authentic sniper rifle. These people that say they have one are full of it.

[jmoore]

Since there is no way to prove that it is an authentic sniper rifle.

There's ways that you can be reasonably sure, but we would need WAY more specifics about the rifle in question. And then it might still take a teardown and a close personal look.

If you want to call a ZF41 variant a "sniper rifle" the numbers above make some sort of sense. In which case, they can be had for not too much, and be "real"...





This one was coated with ancient oil that had turned to varnish. A little corrosion, but not bad, a great bore, but a mismatched bolt. Hardly something faked up!

[Promo]

Post pictures of the rifle in question and knowledgeable people will tell you whether it is original, or not.

[Calif-Steve]

Lots of fakes at every gunshow here. Very difficult to buy unless you have an "expert" with you. Let the buyer beware.