Question about Mauser bolt.

[clarkmilitaria]

Hello,

I now have two German K98 mausers. My old one is a 1943, peened waffenampts, mostly matching parts except the bolt and trigger guard. I recently bought a 1940 one, all matching parts except the bolt, and all the waffenampts intact. My question is about the bolt on the new one. As you see in the photos, where the bolts are next to each other the old mauser's bolt is on the right, the new one is on the left. The most obvious difference is the bolt handle, but I also see that the holes on the bottom are different shapes, on the new bolt they are more elliptical. Also, they are bent in different ways, the new one is more of a round bend whereas the old one one has more of an angle on the bend. Also, when I insert the old bolt into my new gun it stops with about an inch left open in the chamber, that is in a picture. Is my new bolt original? Is the handle different because it has been altered like a sporterization or were some made this way? I have never seen them like this. All the detail shots of the bolt are of my new bolt.

Thanks,
Jim

Information

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[GUTS]

The reason for the differnt shapes in the gas holes is because around the middle of 1944 the holes were changed from oval to round to make production easier. The bolt with round holes is just an earlier style Mauser bolt, they will both work.

[clarkmilitaria]

Does that account for the flat faced style of the bolt handle? Or is that a post war modification? Thanks.

[GUTS]

The M98a Carbine had that flat checkered bolt and the same angle on the bolt handle, it's called a 90 degree turn. The bolt is from earlier models.

[clarkmilitaria]

How early is the m98a bolt, were they used on K98s or is mine a put-together? And is there a reason the other bolt doesn't close all the way?

[clarkmilitaria]

I just did a little more research and I think the bolt is Polish, I see what I think is the Polish eagle marking in the 2nd to last photo in my first post.

[clarkmilitaria]

Is this a Polish made M98a bolt?

[Calif-Steve]

Kar98a bolt is a German WWI bolt. After WWI Poland ended up with piles of Kar98a rifles, and the re-built most of them for their own use. The second bolt is Czech(?). Perhaps post-WWII bolt. Certainly not a pre-war Czech bolt. Neither bolt appears "correct" for Kar98k rifles. Both are just fine and will run for years.

[clarkmilitaria]

So is the K98a WWI bolt worth more or less than a WWII one? I got the new K98 from an auction and if I am going to take a loss I will try to return it. Thanks for the info.

[Calif-Steve]

Not sure what bolts are worth. Most likely the Kar98a bolt is worth a few more bucks. I hope you are headspacing these bolts. They are not "drop-in" by any means.