Info wanted on K98 parts

[hillertactical]

Hi,

Just got my first k98. Its just a barreled receiver with bolt(see pics) I would like to know what the different markings mean. The receiver is marked duv 41. I think that means it was made in 1941 manufactured by Berlin-Lubecker. Bolt #'s don't match receiver#'s so i am guessing the rifle went thru some sort of rebuild at some point?? The stamp 42R302 seems of a different font than everything else. Antone know if the 42R302 is of any importance or maybye a refurbish/rearsenal stamp. Got ahold of headspace guages and the go is tight but the bolt will close on it. The bolt won't come close to closing on the nogo. Shot a few rounds thru it and it funtions well. I would be interested to learn the history of this weapon. Like what the different markings mean, What units carried this weapon, ect... The parts seems like a neat piece of history and i would like to learn more about them. Any help would be great.

HILLER.......................


A few pics
http://i1029.photobucket.com/albums/...l/K98/k984.jpg
http://i1029.photobucket.com/albums/...l/K98/k981.jpg
http://i1029.photobucket.com/albums/...l/K98/k982.jpg
http://i1029.photobucket.com/albums/...l/K98/k987.jpg
http://i1029.photobucket.com/albums/...l/K98/k988.jpg
http://i1029.photobucket.com/albums/...l/K98/k986.jpg
http://i1029.photobucket.com/albums/.../K98/k9815.jpg
http://i1029.photobucket.com/albums/.../K98/k9814.jpg
http://i1029.photobucket.com/albums/.../K98/k9813.jpg
http://i1029.photobucket.com/albums/.../K98/k9812.jpg
http://i1029.photobucket.com/albums/.../K98/k9811.jpg
http://i1029.photobucket.com/albums/.../K98/k9810.jpg
http://i1029.photobucket.com/albums/...l/K98/k989.jpg
http://i1029.photobucket.com/albums/...l/K98/k985.jpg

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[Patrick Chadwick]

There's a hole in your (photo)bucket, dear hillertactical...

I get the message "this image has been moved or deleted.
However, from what you have written, I deduce the following:

Bolt #'s don't match receiver#'s so i am guessing the rifle went thru some sort of rebuild at some point??

Sorry, it's probably a mixmaster. If a part from another rifle was used to fix up a military rifle, then the original number would be lined out (NOT erased) and the new number would be stamped on. The K98k world abounds with mixmasters, captured rifles used by other forces, and out-and-out fakery. If your rifle shoots well, be glad of that. A lot (most?) are worn out or at least pretty poor for target shooting. Hence the numerours mix-and-match examples.

I would be interested to learn the history of this weapon. Like what the different markings mean, What units carried this weapon, ect...

The K98k was the standard German infantry weapon of the Wehrmacht from 1934-1945. Millions were made and everybody used it.

As for the markings and their interpretation, we need the pics for this, and so I suggest that you upload the photos to the forum, not photobucket.

I also recommend that you acquire a copy of "Backbone of the Wehrmacht" by Richard Law, which will prove very enlightening and probably answer most of your questions.


Patrick

[hillertactical]

This link should go to pics.

K98 pictures by hillertactical - Photobucket


HILLER.........................

[Patrick Chadwick]

Thanks, that worked. What follows is partially guesswork !!!
You have a mixmaster, not an arsenal refurbishment. Note that small parts are marked with the last two letters of the number, e.g. 20 on the foresight blade and the bolt catch.
The 40R302 is a barrel manufacturer's code. Probably indicates Lot 402 from 1940.
The little stamps with the "stick eagle" and the number 214 below are WaA (Waffenamts-Abnahme) stamps. I.e. the military acceptance stamps. "duv" is, as you already know, the code for the Berliner-Lubecker Maschinenfabrik, and 214 is indeed the correct inspector number for 1941 at that establishment.

It's all in "Backbone..." which you are now going to order... aren't you?

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

The difficulty you will face unless you already have one is finding a stock without breaking the bank. Perhaps someone here can help with that.

[hillertactical]

Yes , Original stocks are getting scarce and expensive for alot of ww2 weapons. I have a sporter stock that fits the action but i think i'll try to get rid of the sporter stock and find a military stock set. To me the mauser action just looks wrong in anything but a mil, stock set. Thanx for the info. I have a copy of BOTW on order. Should be fun too read. I might try to find a stock and trigger housing with some 214 markings. Although the stock markings won't matter to much as this rifle will never be more than a mixmaster. which is ok with me. I just wish these 70+ year old parts could talk! What history this piece must have. I think it will be fun to search out this stuff. Plus a good learning lesson. The k98 parts came in a box of stuff an older guy (60ish) gave me when i bought a bunch of shotguns and 22's his wife was making him get rid of. She was afraid to have the guns his father had given him in her house. The father was supposedly in the army air corp at the end of ww2. Believe it or not the mauser action from 1941 was the newest item in the whole bunch. People can be so funny about guns. I suppose it takes all kinds.



HILLER.........................

[Calif-Steve]

I know an older WWII vet who had cancer. He started talking about ending it all. Told his Doctor, who reported him to the State of California. Those clowns rolled in and seized his WWII guns, destroyed them all for his safety. The guy was devastated. Selling off stuff is OK to me.

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

I just wish these 70+ year old parts could talk

They can. Not in specifics, but they can. It sounds like you have ears to hear. That is the fun part of the hobby,using your knowlege of history and letting your imagination do the rest.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/RARE-COMPLET...item4aba2618cd
Here is a nice looking stock that has started at a resonable price.

[hillertactical]

The stock looks good. I'll watch it and see how high it goes. I'll probably have too settle for putting my action in a captured stock to conserve limited funds. No sense putting a mixmaster action into an expensive stock.




HILLER........................

[hillertactical]

Well i found a stock and completed my 1st 98. Stock was one of the rc's with lots of shellac and yuck on it. The stock is a little early for my 1941 by a year or more. The stock does have 214 waffens on the metel parts which go's good with the rest of the rifle. To bad i'll never find the righr stock for it. It cleaned up ok. Once together i noticed what a nice solid feel these rifles have. It feels like you could beat down a door with it. I'm sure people have. This rifle just feels like a little tank that you hold in your hands. I'm starting to understand the intrest people have in mausers. Can't wait till i get some free time to shoot some targets with it. Not a collector piece but i've really enjoyed putting it together and learning about the rifles history and construction in the Botw book i've been reading.
http://i1029.photobucket.com/albums/...98/K98stk2.jpg
http://i1029.photobucket.com/albums/...K98/K98stk.jpg


HILLER................