New member here.

[DonP79]

Hello Everyone.

I just found this forum and look forward to reading over it. I really dont know much about posting to forums, so please be patient with me.

I have a rifle that I inherited from my brother when he died. I know a little about it, but seek professional assistance.

I believe it's a Mauser 98, and it has some interesting markings. I'm not sure how to post pictures.

Let's see if this works...

Shared album - Donald Parker - Google Photos

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.

[SteveMKentucky]

Hello Don. I'm a new member here as well. Interesting rifle!

I'm not the professional you're looking for but your rifle appears to be a parts gun that was sporterized. The original receiver appears to be manufactured by J.P. Sauer and Sons in 1942 (during the war- the stamps on the receiver are a stylized 'CE'). The numbers on the various parts don't match hence my comment about it being a parts gun. It is possible that it's a Russian capture gun but does not appear to have the typical marks. The Russians disassembled the rifles and did not pay attention to parts matching when they put them back together. Does it have any numbers engraved with an electric engraving pen such as on the side of the bolt? In any case it has been sporterized so has little collector value. That said it may still be a great shooter.

[DonP79]

Thank you for the information. I appreciate it. I've never fired it. I'm hoping someone can decipher the markings and tell me more about it.
I dont know what sporterized means. Most of my firearms are less than 20 years old, I know next to nothing about antiques. But, I do not want to sell or trade the Mauser. (Just throwing that out there, I've had offers)

[SteveMKentucky]

The term 'sporterized' is a generic term for changes that many people made to military rifles to make them lighter and handier in the field for hunting. The most common 'sporterization' changes were to cut the military stock back considerably (shortening it), shortening the barrel, adding commercial sights or adding such things as rubber buttplates. In the case of your rifle the stock has been cut back to make it shorter and therefore lighter.

Your rifle would have looked something like this before modification:

[DonP79]

That explains a lot. For the past few years I've searched online for Mauser 98's and keep seeing what is shown in the picture above. I've always wanted to learn about the rifle, but didn't want to take it anywhere to have it looked at.

[Gil Boyd]

Welcome Don,
Hope you find what you need and make some good friends on the site.

[TerryS]

Interestingly the weapon is a generational mishmash also. The stock of the weapon in question is from a gew98, note the differences in the picture of the 98K above. Flat buttplate rather than cupped, and not cut for a side mounted sling. Also marked, at one time, EWB. Einwohnerwehr Bayern. The militia/gang from the 1920 troubles in Bavaria.

[oldfoneguy]

Don you have a bloom of rust on the left side of the chamber above the wood just behind the sight and under the dirty bird. Take care of that, will you.

If it was an all matching rifle it would well be worth the expense of finding an original stock hand guard and metal bits. In the condition it's in that would be up to you. The butt plate is there so that's a start. To me what is most important is how it shoots.

[DonP79]

Welcome Don,
Hope you find what you need and make some good friends on the site.

Me too buddy. I've learned more than I expected already.

---------- Post added at 11:10 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:08 PM ----------

Don you have a bloom of rust on the left side of the chamber above the wood just behind the sight and under the dirty bird. Take care of that, will you.

If it was an all matching rifle it would well be worth the expense of finding an original stock hand guard and metal bits. In the condition it's in that would be up to you. The butt plate is there so that's a start. To me what is most important is how it shoots.

I'm not sure how it shoots. My brother shot it a few times before he died. I remember him telling me that it's got a good bit of recoil.

I'll find out how to remedy the rust. I keep it wrapped up and put away. That's the first time its seen light in years.