Need help identifying this Mauser

[45aseep]

Looking for some help. I have what I believe to be a k98 mauser. I'm having trouble identifying it's origin, date of manufacture, history, etc. Searched quite a bit on the internet, but I'm confused. The only markings on it are the ones in the photos. There are no cartouches or markings on the receiver other than what the photos show. There are no markings on the top of the receiver, as I have seen in other photos on the web. Can anyone help me?

Information

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[UNPROFOR1994]

It's a 1920's Polish Mauser Model 98AZ carbine used in the Spanish Civil War. When they shipped them to Spain they scrubbed the receivers. The letter A on the stock is typical for rifles used during the SCW.

[Sarge]

Yep, he nailed it.
Sarge

[browningautorifle]

Any chances of complete pics? Just a couple of end to end...?

[45aseep]

Thanks for the info guys. Sure thing on the pictures.
Got a few questions if anyone can help.

Anyway to accurately date it to date of manufacture?
Did the Poles make it, are is it originally german?
Any guesses on its value?
Most importantly, can I shoot regular current commercial 8mm in it?
After originally posting, I looked it over again and found an interesting cartouche on the stock. Anyone recognize it?

Thanks again for the help.

[UNPROFOR1994]

Anyway to accurately date it to date of manufacture?
Did the Poles make it, are is it originally german?

I think it is a Polish KBK Wz. 98 carbine, an almost identical copy of the the WW1 German Kar. 98AZ carbine, made at PFK Warsaw or FB Radom some where between 1925 and 1931. I can't narrow it down any more, maybe one of the other members can.

Any guesses on its value?

Start searching the web, the anwser is out there.

Most importantly, can I shoot regular current commercial 8mm in it?

Yes, but before you do, have gunsmith check the weapon, just to be safe.

[45aseep]

Thanks for the help. Your push lead me to a thread on GunBoards that has some interesting information that I am going to spend some time with. Have really enjoyed learning about this rifle. I will venture that this gun has seen quite a bit of combat action. A little bummed that it is not a German K98, yet this is the only Polish one that I have knowingly come across. Couldn't find an approximate value for it. I know it's probably not worth much.

[mike webb]

In the USA I would guess a value of around $400 if the bore is good.

[sd4f]

Anyway to accurately date it to date of manufacture?
Did the Poles make it, are is it originally german?
Any guesses on its value?
Most importantly, can I shoot regular current commercial 8mm in it?
After originally posting, I looked it over again and found an interesting cartouche on the stock. Anyone recognize it?

The really short history of interwar rifle production in Poland is that after the first world war, Poland was given all the equipment and machinery from the Danzig factory, which was promptly relocated from Danzig/Gdansk and iirc was for a short while In Warsaw, but ultimately ended up in Radom. This infrastructure included a lot of parts, and those parts were used up to complete rifles, and new production went underway as well filling any shortfalls. There are rifles which were completed by the Poles, but still using parts such as receivers made by the Prussians.

I'm not too sure about the really early production, i.e. immediately after WW1, as very soon after WW1, the Poles had to fight a war with the soviets. From what I've read, much of the firearms used were anything they could get their hands on, as a result, after the Polish - Soviet war of 1919-1921, they then embarked on standardising their armament ultimately choosing the mauser platform.

Now some opinions are that the rifles sent for the Spanish Civil War was a lot of these bitsers completed from parts. It's hard to tell, that one looks identical to my one, except for the scrubbed receiver. The main difference between the Danzig K98AZ is the stacking hook, where the Danzig ones had a bent one, while the Polish one has the milled example as seen on your rifle.

Now firing commercial ammo, US stuff is generally underpowered. It should be .323 groove diameter, so full powered stuff should be fine. I have an unscrubbed K98 and have fired it with full power loads, and it has no issues. One oddity with them is that they're a small ring action, standard length with a large ring thread.

[45aseep]

Now firing commercial ammo, US stuff is generally underpowered. It should be .323 groove diameter, so full powered stuff should be fine. I have an unscrubbed K98 and have fired it with full power loads, and it has no issues. One oddity with them is that they're a small ring action, standard length with a large ring thread.

Thanks for the info. What do you mean when you say they're a small ring action, standard length with a large ring thread? Not sure I follow you on that.