New 1938 k98, did I do alright?

[jessehh]

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I spent $300 on this rifle from a friend who had her stashed away in a gun locker for the past 10 years. The stock is stamped 7245 on both parts but the trigger housing and screws are stamped the same as the barrel/receiver. So what say the Mauser experts?

Information

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[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

Shoot it like you stole it because it looks like you did. Not a Mauser expert but looks unmolested to me. $300 = good friend in my estimation.

[NRA]

Looks like it has been refinished???? But with a matching bolt and for 300 you should feel guilty............ because you did steal it!

[WarPig1976]

Well it's not a Russian capture that's for for sure. Awesome score.!!

[Calif-Steve]

Barrel/receiver sure look re-blued to me. Nice find, for sure.

[jessehh]

At lest if it was reblued, whoever did it, did a nice job of it. The wood looks that way because after 10 years she was a touch dry and needed some linseed oil. Don't worry, no sanding was involved.

[mtoms]

Cupped butt plate stock is wrong for 1938 rifle- should be flat. But for $300 good deal if the bore is good.

[jessehh]

I figured something was amiss with the stock. Wouldn't the numbers have matched the receiver? Could it have been mated later on after breaking or getting damaged? The bore is bright and shiny with no sign of pitting. I have yet to put anything down range as I have a M1917 that I need to sort and a No4Mk1* that needs a function test. I'll get to shooting it in good time though.

[Patrick Chadwick]

Don't let the collectors knock it! That looks like a very good rifle with all-matching system components, the stock could have been replaced because of damage, and if anything was reblued (and the markings are so crisp that I am not sure about that) then it was done expertly. If it shoots well, feel entitled to congratulate yourself!

[gtodan]

A little ditty about your rifle:

In 1938 the Mauser Borsigwalde manufacturing code was changed from “S/243” to “243”. This
code change occurred between the “i” and “k” serial number ranges. Receivers coded “S/243” exist
in the “k” range and receivers coded “243” are known to exist in the “i” range. (This anomaly also
exists with Mauser Oberndorf rifles). The overlap in sequence appears to have been caused by the
placement of code “243” receivers (from the milling shop) on top of the older “S/243” receivers in
the parts bins. Only when the code “243” receivers in these bins were exhausted, would the earlier
“S/423” receivers be reached and used. Weimar and Nazi style eagles can still be found on the same
1938 rifle, but Weimar eagles appear only as the 3 firing proofs, used by Waffenamt team “280”.
The known serial number range for “S/243” l938 rifles is from 8153 to 4997k, with an estimated
production run of 120, 000 rifles. ”. Stocks and handguards were made of laminated Beachwood.
The known serial number range for the code “243” rifles made in 1938 is from 594i to 6157r, with
an estimated production run of 70, 000 rifles. Only Army issue rifles are known.

This article was originally published in the KCN in their JUNE 1990 newsletter as:
THE K98k-MAUSER WERKE BORSIGWALDE by Bob Jensen.
Peter Kuck has edited this document on 01/13/2002.