K98 VN Bringback

[md66948]

My son and I went to an estate action and bought several pieces. One piece is a K98, byf 41 with the Russian "X" above the serial number on the receiver ring with documentation attached to the butt stock. I will post pictures of this VN K98 bring back after I clean it up. Please checkout the attachment from SGT. Earle A. Welker Jr.'s Estate.

Information

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[Calif-Steve]

You will need the RVN Import papers to prove this. That plate doesn't make it a RVN return. Understand many (all?) Kar98's where French capture guns that the VC acquired from the French. You need to post a photo or two.

[md66948]

Additional pictures of barreled action. I will post more when I put it back together.

Dane

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[Calif-Steve]

Sure does not look like a VN rifle to me. I was there and actually had a Kar98k that I gave to a buddy. It was pretty beat up and had fired WWII ammo and never cleaned. The VC didn't bother to clean their weapons. It looks like a gunshow find to me. But the Import paperwork tells all. You will certainly need the Army paperwork to prove its VN status.

[WarPig1976]

Sure does not look like a VN rifle to me. I was there and actually had a Kar98k that I gave to a buddy. It was pretty beat up and had fired WWII ammo and never cleaned. The VC didn't bother to clean their weapons. It looks like a gunshow find to me. But the Import paperwork tells all. You will certainly need the Army paperwork to prove its VN status.

Thinking the same thing here...

[md66948]

Sure does not look like a VN rifle to me. I was there and actually had a Kar98k that I gave to a buddy. It was pretty beat up and had fired WWII ammo and never cleaned. The VC didn't bother to clean their weapons. It looks like a gunshow find to me. But the Import paperwork tells all. You will certainly need the Army paperwork to prove its VN status.

The widow said he brought it home with him.

[WarPig1976]

The widow said he brought it home with him.

As they say "buy the firearm not the story".

If it was me standing at the table an that was the story, here would be the red flags.
1. I'm hearing this from a women. 2. This rifle is a RC Mauser, why would the Russians supply Mauser's when they supply tens of thousands of MN's and 7.62+54r ammo to everybody else. 3. This rifle doesn't appear to have spent one day in SE. Asia which we all know is hot and humid, unless Charles really wanted to keep his rifle nice and completely disassembled and oiled it every other day.

What do I know though,,, I drive a truck for a living...

[WarPig1976]

The bore is excellent for a Russian capture, should make a good shooter.

[Sarge]

Sorry, but must disagree about there being No RC X marked 98ks in RVN!
I have 2, one from the widow - the only gun in the house and was found in the back of a closet after he died, she didn't know it was there, and one from the vet. Have papers on one of them.
The ruskies sent large numbers of 98ks to the Viet Mihn/VC both thru china and by direkt shipment by boat. I have photos of one of those ships that was sunk along the coast and the cargo salvaged.
Sarge

[Calif-Steve]

I do not mean to argue this point as I am no RVN K98 expert. But I had a k98 in RVN and do know a little about the subject. Again, you will need to find that US Army paperwork. Perhaps a photo of the Vet as he gets off the airplane with the rifle in his duffle bag? I recall the K98's were double packed in a floatable box. They came down the coast in small trawlers/fishing boats. Came out of North Viet Nam and China. Do not recall any small Russian trawlers off RVN coast. This was the issue for the Swift Boats. Ask John Kerry. I saw piles of K98's and never thought much about them. All black and beat. I guess it is possible to find a mint K98, but I never saw anything in decent condition. The Vets widow needs to go through his Army paperwork and look real hard. It may well be there. If so, she just sold a true collectors gun.