K98k Question

[Aragorn243]

Very common for parts to have one serial scratched out and another stamped, especially Warsaw Pact nations. Pretty common with 91/30's etc. When they went through a rebuild, a lot of times they just put parts in a bin, refinished everything and put them back together as a new rifle. The East Germans apparently were a bit more selective and only rebuilt or replaced things that actually needed it. Thus mostly matching parts and the occasional replacement.

I'm no expert on K98's but from what I can see there are two basic types. The all matching GI bring back and the non-matching captured or re-purposed rifles coming out of Eastern Europe. Values of the latter seem to be more dependent on where and when it was made and the rarity and amount of matching parts but these days $400 is a good starting point for a very basic Russian Capture with mis-matched parts. Based on condition and appearance, yours would probably bring something north of that. There are a few guys that say anyone paying $400 for an RC is nuts but I'd like them to show the rest of us who is still selling them for less than that. A lot of guys out there willing to pay it. I think I paid about $200 for mine but that was 4 or 5 years ago and we can't live in the past forever. It's getting so bad that re-enactors are using Yugo M48's and in turn driving those prices up.

[Sarge]

I don't know what/where you found info on the internet, but from the photos you show the rifle IS NOT an e German! Unless the stock ser nr matches the receiver it doesn't belong on that rifle so any proofs on it probably don't mean anything.
Lets see photos of markings on the top of the rifle from the back of the rear sight to the bolt and the same area on the right side.
Sarge

[I.H.1989]

I don't know what/where you found info on the internet, but from the photos you show the rifle IS NOT an e German! Unless the stock ser nr matches the receiver it doesn't belong on that rifle so any proofs on it probably don't mean anything.
Lets see photos of markings on the top of the rifle from the back of the rear sight to the bolt and the same area on the right side.
Sarge

The serial number on the stock does match that on the receiver. I will see if i can post a couple pics of it tomorrow.

Do you think it is a RC or something else?

[I.H.1989]

Here's a picture of the marking on the top of the rifle. There wasn't really anything on the right side of it except for a proof mark with "135" on it, matching the one on top of the receiver

The stock also has a matching serial number on it on the bottom. I hope this is helpful in ID-ing this rifle. I am very curious as to what country it belonged to after the war.

[Sarge]

Your rifle is Not an RC or e German. Most likely a Jugoslav or Romanian rework.
Sarge

[I.H.1989]

Do you think you can tell me what sort of markings can help tell the difference between the various different k98s that were used post war? I know what RCs look like and their characteristics, but what about the others?

like Yugos, Romanian, Bulgarian, and E. German?

If you know any links to them, please post them so i can do my own research in the future.

[Sarge]

No one but the ruskies and e Germans marked the rifles they rebuilt.
e German markings are usually on the left side of the bbl at the receiver.
I don't have any photos of my e German rifles on the thumb drive I'm using, will have to put some on and get back to this - if no one else chimes in.
Sarge

[I.H.1989]

thanks for hte help guys