1934 Banner Mauser

[krebin]

I am looking at a very nice 1934 Banner Mauser. It is in very nice shape but does not have matching numbers. The bolt release and the rear sight has different numbers, the bolt has very obviously been renumbered and the butt plate is numbered but not matching.

The action is extremely smooth, the receiver and barrel pretty much like new and the stock is in very good shape (walnut). All in all a beautiful piece

The stock has a mark right behind the trigger guard - RZ. Does anyone know what that means?

Any estimate for how much I should be willing to pay for it?

Thanks
Kris

Information

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[Patrick Chadwick]

If the mark is an RZ inside a circle, then look very closely at that circle. If the bottom of the circle has an indent, then it is probably a very flat M with the side strokes looped round above to form the circle.

In which case:
RZM = Reichszeugmeisterei, München, The central procurement office for weapons, uniforms etc of the NSDAP in Munich, which was not a "Reichs-" i.e. governmental office, in spite of its appropriation of the designation.

As you can deduce from the above, in such a cases a photo is always advisable!

[jmoore]

Any estimate for how much I should be willing to pay for it?

Probably more than is sensible. But much less than a matching example in the same condition which would be generally in the "stupid" price range.

[Badger]

Here's the MKL entry for an "all correct" example of the same year ...

1934 Banner Mauser (Mfg by Mauser Werke AG, Oberndorf a/N)

Regards,
Doug

[krebin]

Thanks for the replies, I'll get some pic's and post them over the weekend.

Doug, thats an extremely nice piece

[krebin]

Well I guess I got a little carried away when I went down to take some pic's, so now I'm the happy owner of my very first K98

The pic's are not of the best quality but this is what I have for now. Can't wait to go shooting it

The bolt looks like it may have had the original number before they started grinding it down - does that make any sense???

So, what do I have here - well beside a beautiful old gun

[Calif-Steve]

Very nice. Sure looks like it has been carefully re-finished. Not the appearance of an arsenal job, either. I would like to see Patrick's comments. Could someone enlighten me, should the bolt handle be straight or bent?

[Patrick Chadwick]

Could someone enlighten me, should the bolt handle be straight or bent?

It is correct. The bent-down bolt handle goes with the recess in the stock.
And how about a photo of the RZ mark?

[Badger]

As a content contributor to their work, I just received my numbered Vol 1 to go with the previous Vol 3. This is an excellent book, albeit expensive, and highly recommended for serious K98k collectors. Vol 1 has extensive coverage of the "Banner" mausers in it.

Karabiner 98k Volume 1: A collectors guide to the development and production of the German K98k service rifle up to 1938



When used in conjunction with BBoW, it gives the K98k collector some terrific research capability.

Regards,
Doug

[krebin]

Here we go - a better pic of the RZ mark.

Does anyone know the reason for the renumbered bolt?
Attachment 39667