1939 K98 Mauser help

[bulldog_mack13]

I recently got a Russian capture K98 and Id like to post up some pictures and let you guys who know them pick it over and tell me about it and if I got a good deal. I know its far from perfect but I wanted a WW2 German carried rifle and not a fake.

Also is there a safe way to get a electric pen off a bolt? And whats the best way to clean the stock without having to do anything crazy to it? I like the color it just seems really dirty.

Thanks ahead for anyones imput. , Jay

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[xwarp]

can't tell you if you got a good deal unless you list the price you paid. assuming this is a big 5 rifle, eh...not what i'd call a bad price, but not great, but honestly, i love these k98's and would not hesitate to spend another 425 on one again as i paid that much for a nice 1939 BSW r/c.

as far as the shellac, denatured alcohol will strip that, but not remove the staining. this will also remove the russian black paint too.

as far as removing the penciling, you could do it with some 1200 micron paper, but personally, i'd leave it and get some blue to hide it a little.

is that an "L" stamp just under that bolt take down lug on the stock? can you get some better pics of the stock stamps and also of the receiver stamps? the dirty bird with the wiemar birds is pretty cool

i think you did good, especially with the luftwaffe stock.

[bulldog_mack13]

I got it from a friend of mine thats a Military Vehicle collector like I am.

I will sure get some better pictures. I have 350 in it right now. Im glad I got a real K98. Thanks and will post more pictures tomorrow.

[Calif-Steve]

Stripping the wood is rather easy. Just do it. Do not try to buff the numbers on it. A good collector will spot it and it will hurt the gun's value, besides it is a RC gun. You did well.

[bulldog_mack13]

What do you mean by buff the numbers? Thank you, Jay

[xwarp]

i think he means not to try to remove the numbers essentially. the electropenciled numbers are there from the russians obviously. doesn't hurt anything to leave them there, but to remove by sanding or polishing may affect what you can sell it for later.

350, not bad. i would have bought that one for that.

[bulldog_mack13]

10-4. I dont want to hurt the historical value at all. I dont have enough into this one to worry about the money yet.

I really wish the import marks on the barrel werent there. Thats what bugs me the most. Thanks for the tips guys. I value your opinions.

[Patrick Chadwick]

Do not try to buff the numbers on it. A good collector will spot it and it will hurt the gun's value, besides it is a RC gun.

The rifle acquired the electropencilling because it is an RC rifle assembled from a stock of components from different rifles. IMHO, to remove the electropencilled (re-)numbering would be a falsification, and is not excused by the weaselling "restoring it to it's original configuration" excuse. The original configuration of those parts was on several different rifles. Please read my recent contribution on this topic.

I confess to gradually developing a conservative/collectors viewpoint on such matters. So many people have writtern "Buy the rifle, not the story". Likewise, I say: value the rifle for what it is, and don't try to fake the (hi)story by removing such markings.



P.S: Jurisdictions vary. In Mauserland, for instance, since all cartridge firearms are registered, and identified by the number on the receiver and/or barrel, to deliberately deface, remove or alter such numbers without authorisation and registration of the change is a criminal act!

[bulldog_mack13]

I agree. its also illegal to take the serial number from a gun in our great country. The electric pencil marks on the bolt by the Russians would be far from removing the stamped registered serial number from the receaver. Im going to re blue it just on the electric pencil numbers to make it look a little better. I like that idea. Any collector would be able to see that they are still there.

Im not looking to destroy the history of a rifle. I know some heros around the world do it to make a fake. Thats why this isnt a Mitchells Mauser gun.

Heres some pictures. I just started cleaning up the stock a little and found this. I know theres more to un cover but I cant work on the rifle until this evening.

[Badger]

Browse the MKL for examples of stock and metal markings .... Germany ...

A couple of examples ...

1939 Code 42 K98k (Karabiner 98) Rifle (Mfg by Mauser Werke AG, Oberndorf a/N)

Nazi Eagle & WaA63 Inspection Marks stamped into right side of butt, surmounted with Luftwaffe "L" ownership marking plus Eagle.
(Click PIC to Enlarge)


1939 Code 147 K98k (Karabiner 98) Rifle (Mfg by JP Sauer und Sohn Gewehrfabrik, Suhl)

H = Heer (Army) WaA37 Inspection Marks
(Click PIC to Enlarge)

Regards,
Doug