Yugo M48 Markings

[Aragorn243]

I've heard that a lot of re-enactors were using them as German K98's because they can no longer get K98's. Mitchells doesn't help matters when they hint at the same thing. doesn't justify running up the cost. I rarely get surprised at what some guys are trying to get out of their mis-labled things. I got in a mild argument with a guy who had an early Swiss Rifle he was trying to pass off as a K31. I didn't make any headway so I left him alone.

[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.

[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

[Aragorn243]

They did refurbish K98's after the war but the M48 is a completely different rifle that looks similar. Uses an intermediate length action so while some minor parts might be interchangeable between the two, none of the major ones are.

[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.

[Aragorn243]

I don't know that the stock is shorter but they are not interchangeable with the K98. They can be used with the M24 or 24/47.

[Flying10uk]

I only paid around £25 for my book about 2 years ago; it's lucky that I bought it when I did.

[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.