Serial Number on the barrel is 858 and has proof markings on it.
Originally Posted by Flying10uk
If you can see a serial number on the barrel it will probably be an original German barrel but if, more likely, you are unable to find a serial number on the barrel it will be a Yugo replacement barrel. The "thick" butt plates you mention are I think you will find are actually dished shaped and slip on over the butts giving the appearance of being thick. Personally I quite like these Yugo refurbished K98s and believe that they are massively under valued. I would not recommend trying to re-germanise the rifle by removing the Yugo markings but just enjoy it as it is. I believe that the Yugoslavs had quite a cottage industry refurbishing these rifles in the late 1940s and 1950s and some were exported minus the crest or so I was led to believe.