Mauser K98 help needed

[RickInTampa]

I am interested in purchasing an authentic German WWII era Mauser K98 rifle. I'm wondering if there are any collectors out there who could give me some help with this. I understand there are many "knock-offs" out there and various models sold as authentic K98's that are actually M48's, etc.

I want a REAL Mauser K98 rifle. Made in Nazi Germany and with Nazi markings/stampings.

I'm a WWII history buff, but not smart on German weapons when it comes to making this type of purchase. Any help you folks could offer would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

Rick

[Brickboy240]

Do a Google search...theres alot of 98K info on the web. You can see many photos of the rifles and know what to look for. The Germans used many secret factory codes during wartime as well as the armories of nations they occupied. Most of these markings are easliy researched on the web. I have a 98K that was made in occupied the Czech CZ factory in 1943.

The Yugoslavian M-48s are easy to spot and there ARE significant differences if you know Mausers. First for you will be the fact that they do not have Waffenamt acceptance stamps. They're decent rifles, but don't believe Mitchells Mausers website about the Germans having a hand in their manufacture - they were ALL made long after Hitler surrendered!

There are a number of Russian capture 98Ks out there that still have all the Nazi markings and are a good example of the WWII German battel rifle. They're good shooters and still around at not too dear prices. You can pay around 250-300 for one...sometimes a little less. They're a safe bet if you're wanting a good solid shooter and someday, they'll be more desired as collectors pieces.

A really nice German marked, all matching serial numbered, K98k can run between 450-600 dollars...maybe more depending on factory make and markings. Best to read up and learn a little before money changes hands.

If you find a nice one and have questions...many here know about Mausers and can help. I know a fair amount about Mausers, but not tons about all the German varaitions. The K98k is a very good shooter and worth owning.

Good luck...half the fun is the search.

- Brickboy240

[einheit 13]

Stay away from Mitchell's guns, you will waste money......check here for more info and resource info....

http://forums.gunboards.com/forum_topics.asp?FID=6

and here for 98K specific...
http://forums.gunboards.com/forum_topics.asp?FID=4

[clench]

There is nothing wrong with Mitchells Mausers. I have never read anything in any of their literature saying the M-48 was made by Germans. It says the rifles were made on German tooling after they left Serbia and left all of their equipment behind. If you do a search of the M-48 you will find much of the same information.

http://www.surplusrifle.com/yugom48/index.asp

[RickInTampa]

Originally Posted by clench

There is nothing wrong with Mitchells Mausers. I have never read anything in any of their literature saying the M-48 was made by Germans. It says the rifles were made on German tooling after they left Serbia and left all of their equipment behind. If you do a search of the M-48 you will find much of the same information.

http://www.surplusrifle.com/yugom48/index.asp

A friend of mine who just purchased a K98 gave me the same advice as the gentlemen here. Stay away from Mitchell's! According to my friend, Mitchell's passes off M48's as K98's to people who don't know better. (Like me!) They also mismatch parts and basically sell you junk at a premium price.Disclaimer: This is what I've HEARD. I have no firsthand knowledge of any of this.

[clench]

http://mauser.org
I do have first hand knowlede. I bought an M-48 two years ago and it was flawless with matching serial # as described. Also, as I said, Mitchells doesn't claim the M-48 was ever made by the Germans. Do research on all the different variants of the K98K as well as the different GRADES of K98K that they sell.

[RickInTampa]

Originally Posted by einheit 13

Stay away from Mitchell's guns, you will waste money......check here for more info and resource info....

http://forums.gunboards.com/forum_topics.asp?FID=6

and here for 98K specific...
http://forums.gunboards.com/forum_topics.asp?FID=4

Thanks for the info. Maybe you can help me clear up one seemingly confusing issue.

When I read and talk about the Mauser K98 rifle, I read and hear information about the K98 and M-48 as if they are one in the same.

Are they? Or aren't they?

To my knowledge, the "standard issue" infantry rifle of the German Wehrmacht during WWII was the Mauser K98. The M48 is a variation of the K98. But it's NOT the standard issue rifle your standard Nazi soldier carried during the war.

Am I right? Or am I smoking crack?

[RickInTampa]

Originally Posted by Brickboy240

Do a Google search...theres alot of 98K info on the web. You can see many photos of the rifles and know what to look for. The Germans used many secret factory codes during wartime as well as the armories of nations they occupied. Most of these markings are easliy researched on the web. I have a 98K that was made in occupied the Czech CZ factory in 1943.

The Yugoslavian M-48s are easy to spot and there ARE significant differences if you know Mausers. First for you will be the fact that they do not have Waffenamt acceptance stamps. They're decent rifles, but don't believe Mitchells Mausers website about the Germans having a hand in their manufacture - they were ALL made long after Hitler surrendered!

There are a number of Russian capture 98Ks out there that still have all the Nazi markings and are a good example of the WWII German battel rifle. They're good shooters and still around at not too dear prices. You can pay around 250-300 for one...sometimes a little less. They're a safe bet if you're wanting a good solid shooter and someday, they'll be more desired as collectors pieces.

A really nice German marked, all matching serial numbered, K98k can run between 450-600 dollars...maybe more depending on factory make and markings. Best to read up and learn a little before money changes hands.

If you find a nice one and have questions...many here know about Mausers and can help. I know a fair amount about Mausers, but not tons about all the German varaitions. The K98k is a very good shooter and worth owning.

Good luck...half the fun is the search.

- Brickboy240

So it's the K98K that I'm looking for then eh? That's the standard issue rifle the Nazi soldier carried during the war, yes?

I've heard a lot of talk about the importance of ensuring the serial numbers match. But I haven't seen any info about how many numbers there are, where they are, what I should be looking for, etc. Can you help clear that up maybe?

Thanks again!!

[clench]

Originally Posted by RickInTampa

Thanks for the info. Maybe you can help me clear up one seemingly confusing issue.

When I read and talk about the Mauser K98 rifle, I read and hear information about the K98 and M-48 as if they are one in the same.

Are they? Or aren't they?

To my knowledge, the "standard issue" infantry rifle of the German Wehrmacht during WWII was the Mauser K98. The M48 is a variation of the K98. But it's NOT the standard issue rifle your standard Nazi soldier carried during the war.

Am I right? Or am I smoking crack?

The M-48 was not carried by German troops. It is a model of the K98K. The M-48 was built on the German machines and from the German blueprints after they were driven fron Serbia in 1943. The Serbs made their own refinements and called their rifle the M-48.

[clench]

Originally Posted by RickInTampa

So it's the K98K that I'm looking for then eh? That's the standard issue rifle the Nazi soldier carried during the war, yes?

I've heard a lot of talk about the importance of ensuring the serial numbers match. But I haven't seen any info about how many numbers there are, where they are, what I should be looking for, etc. Can you help clear that up maybe?

Thanks again!!

Yes, the K98K was the standard battle rifle for nazi soldieris. I can't give you any info on what # there were but there is a lot of info if you do a web search for K98K. If #'s match it means the rifle hasn;t been bastardized from other rifles and/or battlefield pick-ups. Also, Make sure the #'s on all of the bolt pieces that can come off the bolt, barrel, and receiver match. The stock on my M-48 even has matching #'s. BTW, I'm very happy with Mitchell's Mausers, the rifle and the service I received.