Need help identifying origins of Israeli Mauser 98.

[Azza]

I recently picked up this BRNO K98. So what I could gather was that these rifles were manufactured from a mixture of captured German 98s and other reproduced bits and pieces in a Czech factory (BRNO), re-chamebred into 7.62Nato and then sent to Israel.

I was just wondering if someone could clarify some details as previous owner was not really informed. (However he was about 60 and claimed the gun was his fathers.) And the gun store owner who transferred it over was of the belief this was a post WW2 firearm.

After doing some digging i've found a Weimar Eagle stamp in the firing chamber, a clearly punched in marking the resembled the same eagle on the left of the reciever, and what looks like Weimar Republic era marking (the J with a crown) on the magazine plate. This leads me to believe this may have once lived as a WW1 or interwar Gewehr 98 before being butchered. However it hasn't got the Rollercoaster rear sight, so i'm just at a loss.

Any info or insight would be greatly appreciated, I can provide any other images you may need. Cheers.

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[Azza]

Forgot to add the image of the firing chamber. This is what's got me a bit confused.

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[Azza]

Cheers Steve i'll look into that.

And yeah the stock was shortened at some point though it looks pretty professional whoever did, it's finished very nicely. I thought it may have just had a Kkreisgmodel stock thrown on it at point at BRNO.

If this could be a newer model manufactured at FN would that not conflict with the Wiemer Eagle marking inside the reciever?

[GeeRam]

If this could be a newer model manufactured at FN would that not conflict with the Wiemer Eagle marking inside the reciever?

FN still had and were using refurbished captured parts so as said above, any Israeli K98 can be made up form all sorts of parts from all sorts of original sources.

[72 usmc]

You might enjoy this link:
German 98k rifle in Israeli service

German 98k rifle in Israeli service wwiiafterwwii

Also maybe: Israeli K98: How the Jewish State Acquired German Rifles After WWII Tactical Life Gun Magazine: Gun News and Gun Reviews

That is a fine rifle with the Czechoslovak Crest, a desirable find and actually I believe it to be a VZ 98N provided to Israel. That rifle should have Czech markings on the left , lower side rail. It is a specimen that is well worth the effort and expense to put it back into the correct stock. If you want a Israeli K98k that is one of the best to obtain. Problem, it was Sporterized for hunting. That really decreases the value. THAT RIFLE IS Worth a restoration.

Some of mine are shown in this old SRF post (Military Surplus k98ks commonly found at gun shows)13 pages : Military Surplus k98ks commonly found at gun shows - Page 2 - Surplus Rifle Forum - www.surplusrifleforum.org

[Aragorn243]

I don't think that's a K98 at all but a VZ24. The Rampant lion crest is pre-war Czech. It does have a bunch of German parts on it which are interchangeable and these were used by the Germans in WWII.

[Calif-Steve]

Immediately after WWII the Czech Government was in short supply of hard currency. They had piles of German equipment all over their country(German, Czech and FN rifles). A deal was made to ship Kar98's to Israel via Ethiopia (as a cover). The US CIA helped with the deal. Many rifles were shipped as well as MG34's and some MG42's. In the late 1950's Israel re-barreled most (not all) rifles into 7.62mm. Local barrels were used and the result was a very good rifle. There are many articles around and even good books on this topic. Cheers.