Help Please Mod 98 Mauser Question

[TC66]

I was given Mod 98 Mauser for helping clean out a neighbors house after he was moved into a nursing home. I know he was in WWII and I am wondering if he brought this rifle home with him in the war. His family knows nothing about the rifle or where he got it. They did not even know he owned a gun until it was found hidden behind his furnace burried under a ton of dust. The rifle has some info stamped on it and the Nazi symbol with the eagle on top of it. It also has 1938 stamped on it and above that 243 is stamped on it. I have a few questions for anyone who may know about it. What is it worth? Is it a 243? How rare is it? Seems to be in pretty good shape and in perfect functioning order. Serial umbers match on all parts. But they have been covered in the pictures. Any info will be greatly appreciated.

 

[Gewehr98]

Your 98 Mauser was built in 1938...

That's the easy part. The 243 is one of the codes assigned to different munitions plants during WWII. 243 was code for Mauser-Werke AG, Werk Borsigwalde, Berlin-Borsigwalde, Eichborndamm. Here's where one finds the codes:

http://www.radix.net/~bbrown/codes_rifle.html

Seems to be an original Kar98K you have there, and all the Waffenampts are intact. (Eagles with swastikas) Once you get all the cosmoline off and out of it, take a look at the bore condition. Are there any import marks on the metal? Are the guard screws still there, preventing the action screws on the floorplate from turning? How's the condition of the stock? Is there any corrosion of the metal visible under the woodline? All these questions play a part in grading a firearm. From initial appearances, you have a nice example of an early WWII Kar98K. Take good care of it, I know I'm envious just looking at the pictures.

 

[Hkmp5sd]

The "243" means if was manufactured at Mauser-Werke AG, Berlin-Borsigwalde. Not really rare, over 11 million were made. Guestimate on value is $300-$400.

And Gewehr98 beat me.

 

[TC66]

No import marks are on it at all. Stock is in really good shape. What you saw in the pictures is what the entire stock looks like (Good Shape). Only bad part of the stock is the metal but plate was removed. Bore is in very good condition. Cleaned it out today. Rifling looks good. Yes the guard screws are still there. No corrosion at all in the rifle. What would be the best thing to remove the cosmoline?

Thanks to those of you who responded so quickly. It is appreciated.

 

[jefnvk]

I've seen the vet bringbacks going for $500+. A very good find.

 

[Rebar]

Wait - a vet bringback with cosmo on it? That doesn't seem right.

 

[TC66]

I really don't think it is cosmoline. It is more like a hard laquer coating over everything. I had cosmo on my M38 and it was not like this.

 

[jefnvk]

I have a vet bringback Enfield. It was coated in some heavy grease, almost like some sort of automotive grease. Probably wasn't uncommon for soldiers to grease up the gun to keep them from rusting.

EDIT: Might have been in a shipping crate in-country, too, when it was liberated.

 

[cracked butt]

yeah, wouldn't do much good to bring a gun back only to have it rust something terrible on the boat ride home.

 

[MilsurpShooter]

Looks like lacquer to me, resembles the remington 511 I was given, had the same coloration to the barrel. Some #0000 steel wool and Hoppes will strip it right off the barrel with no damage to the bluing

 

[Mk VII]

looks like somebody's slapped a generous coat of varnish all over it. Not pretty, but probably saved it from a worse fate, and it will clean up with some patient informed restoration work.