Yugo M48 Markings

[Flying10uk]

I think that some of the confusion may creep into the Yugo post war M48 being WW2 because Yugoslavia also refurbished WW2 K98s, post WW2, and not everyone knows/is aware of the difference between the 2. Didn't some M48s use up some left over WW2 parts which adds to the confusion even further? Post war Yugo made military kit often seems, to me, to be well made but massively under valued by people in general.

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[micharl]

I think that some of the confusion may creep into the Yugo post war M48 being WW2 because Yugoslavia also refurbished WW2 K98s, post WW2, and not everyone knows/is aware of the difference between the 2

I believe you're exactly right. I saw one of those refurbed K98s posted just recently by a reputable dealer. The ring had been scrubbed and the torches/wheat Yugo crest applied, similarly to the VZ-24s that were refurbed into M24/52? /52C? Something like that.

One of these days I hope to stumble into a copy of the Bogdanovic book.

Mike

[Flying10uk]

People have had trouble with stocks as well with regards to the length. Was the M48 stock slightly shorter than the K98 stock?

Bogdanovic book.

I do have a copy of the book which I think you refer to but unfortunately I don't wish to part with it. Is the book hard to get hold of now?

[micharl]

... Is the book hard to get hold of now?

Used copies are advertised in the $100 - $600 range. New copy from used book dealer, $2600... plus $3.99 shipping.

[Screwball]

Used copies are advertised in the $100 - $600 range. New copy from used book dealer, $2600... plus $3.99 shipping.

I got mine prior to my rifle arriving (was in storage, and the seller was finding a house). Was about two years back, and it cost me $19.95, plus shipping.

Found it at a small book seller's website, and had a few in stock. Should have bought another as an investment. Instead, mentioned it on whatever forum I was talking about it on, and a few people got it at a realistic price. I would say around $100 is still worth it, as the info in there is great (not just Mausers, but other Serbian rifles).

[Flying10uk]

Here are some pictures of a Yugo refurbished K98 with all the typical markings etc. Although it is U.K. deactivated I believe that the dealer that I purchased it from, back in 2001?, obtained a batch direct from military storage in Yugoslavia. Obviously the dealer did the necessary work to it for it to comply with the U.K. deac laws/regs in force at the time but other than that nothing else much has happened to it since leaving storage in Yugoslavia. All that I have done to it was to clean it and remove the last few remnants of cosmoline and to fit a fore-sight hood plus cleaning rod. The bayonet, I purchased early this year and perhaps unusually doesn't have a serial number on the bayonet it's self but does so on the scabbard.

Does anyone know the significance of the "X" scribed into the pistol grip near the trigger guard, please? Are the large numbers on the side of the butt stock a Yugo or German marking?

Thanks for any additional information.

[amadeus76]

I think that some of the confusion may creep into the Yugo post war M48 being WW2 because Yugoslavia also refurbished WW2 K98s, post WW2, and not everyone knows/is aware of the difference between the 2. Didn't some M48s use up some left over WW2 parts which adds to the confusion even further? Post war Yugo made military kit often seems, to me, to be well made but massively under valued by people in general.

When it explicitly says 'M48A' on the receiver, there's no room for confusion...

[Aragorn243]

When it explicitly says 'M48A' on the receiver, there's no room for confusion...

Well, it's nice to believe that but with Mitchell's Mausers around advertising the things as such and plenty of people willing to give them their arm and left leg for one against all rational thought, it's going to be around.

Seriously, when someone picks up a magazine at the grocery store and they see that nice shiny ad and it tells them they can own a piece of real history, they believe it, they don't know.

[Jim]

When it explicitly says 'M48A' on the receiver, there's no room for confusion...

Actually, there's a LOT of room for confusion, just not with German Model 98s.
The Yugoslavs made M48A rifles, which added a stamped magazine floorplate as the only difference, from 1952-56, from then on, they made model M48B rifles, which added a number more of stamped parts.
The thing is, the Yugoslavs have retained the M48A rifles as the best of the breed. Therefore, virtually ALL M48A rifles in North America are in fact, M48B. Confused yet? The tell is in the trigger guard. The M48, & M48A will have milled trigger guards. The M48B has a trigger guard/magazine well made up of an assembly of stamped parts welded together. There is a rib running around both sides of the trigger guard.
In the second photo, the M48 & M48A milled guard is above right. The last image right shows detail of the ribbed guard.
I hope that helps.
One more note. The cutaway drawing in Branko's book shows an M48B but identifies it as a model A. That caption is an error.
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