M98 last ditch?

[sdh1911]

I saw what I thoght may have been a M98 last ditch type rifle. It did not have the retention spring between the upper and lower handgaurd rings. There was a steel plate screwed into where the bayonet lug should be on the end of the stock. It was a DOT 44 looked to be late war. The serial numbers did not match nor did the finish, the bolt looked like park, same with the floor plate and trigger guard. The butt plate was leather and there was a steel cap on the passenger side of the lower sling well. I could not find any Nazi markings on the gun, nor import marks. The heal of the pistol grip was capped with a piece of dark wood. Would anybody out there know any links where I can look at some pics or find out excatly what I may be looking for or at, Many Thanks-SDH

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[tiriaq]

I do not know about links, but perhaps the best text reference on firearms of this sort is "Desperate Measures" by Weaver.

[Claven2]

Measures is definitely the book he needs

FWIW, most "last-ditch" 98's had a stock that looked like a roughly inlet blocky piece of 2x4. They were not full wood, having the lines of a hunting rifle with a very crude stock. Rear sight is usually a simple notch dovetailed into the barrel. Generally there will be no waffenampts on the gun unless it was made from a damaged infantry rifle - in which case it will invariably be counterbored - and deeply too.

What you're describing sounds more like a Kriegsmodell stock - a late-war substitute standard rifle configuration that simplified manufacture... though it shouldn't have a grip cap??

Any chance of a pic or two?

[sdh1911]

Hum, yes the grip cap through me also, although very small and just enough of it to bring the grip into the right hand location. It may be a repair from a later date. This one has me stumped. I'm going back to the store after the holidays and should it still be there, I'll have to pick it up. If nothing else, its different, BR-SDH

[sdh1911]

After two days of searching, Claven2 has once again hit it dead on, yes one of the rifles I saw was most definitively and positively a Kriegsmodell. The second rifle I saw but did not give it much thoght at the time was a Yogo Partisan rifle with a nasty looking long barrel, looks very much like something I would have built in the 1980's while under medication for my back. Now the tuff question fellows, are they worth more than the run of the mill 98K's?? Between the two it would cost me around $500.00 U.S. Many thanks Claven2-SDH

[Claven2]

If it's matching non-refurb kriegsmodell, it's worth $500 and more by itself.

I've never seen a Yugo partisan for sale, so I have idea what they sell for. Masically think Yugo M1924 with a Gew98 long barrel on it. Often with Gew98 sights too.

Bogdonovich covers these in his "Serbian and Yugoslav Mausers" book.

[sdh1911]

I be reading it as soon as I sign off. I think thats the book that I got the initial details from. Also I think you are right about the sights, they have that style on them. I'm not overly heavy into Mauser variations, perhaps its a good time to start! Thanks again you have been very helpful-SDH