Looking for information and value on this Mauser kar98. Appears to have all matching numbers. What unit had it and any help is appreciated! Let me know if you need more information or pictures. Thanks
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Mauser lover
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Oh, cool! Off the top of my head, so don’t quote me. Look up the guns that the post-WW1 German government retained. I’d have to consult the books, but I think that’s why this one has two dates on the receiver.
Mauser fan
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I like Mauser Lover am led to believe that it is a post WWI KAR 98 but don't quote me either.
From what I can tell from what I see in your pictures. The only thing numbers matching is the barrel and receiver. Your rifle was sporterized back in the day which means it was converted from a military rifle to a hunting rifle. Not uncommon for that model. It is missing many parts that would give it any real value. Additionally any real collector value was lost when it was sporterized. You might get from the right buyer 500 to 600 and that is if it is safe to shoot. If not then the value is lost that much more.
Furthermore you would have to take it to a competent gun smith to help you determine that it is in-fact safe to shoot. The markings on the receiver are most inspector proof marks and won't tell us anything about which unit or units it would have been assigned to. I can't tell you if the stock is even original to your particular rifle. The two dates on the receiver leads me to believe that it was an import or an enemy capture.
Wait for some of the other members to chime in before losing hope.
From what I can tell from what I see in your pictures. The only thing numbers matching is the barrel and receiver. Your rifle was sporterized back in the day which means it was converted from a military rifle to a hunting rifle. Not uncommon for that model. It is missing many parts that would give it any real value. Additionally any real collector value was lost when it was sporterized. You might get from the right buyer 500 to 600 and that is if it is safe to shoot. If not then the value is lost that much more.
Furthermore you would have to take it to a competent gun smith to help you determine that it is in-fact safe to shoot. The markings on the receiver are most inspector proof marks and won't tell us anything about which unit or units it would have been assigned to. I can't tell you if the stock is even original to your particular rifle. The two dates on the receiver leads me to believe that it was an import or an enemy capture.
Wait for some of the other members to chime in before losing hope.
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Jim Watson
Member
I understand that the "double date" is due to it being allowed under the Versailles Treaty for the small post-war German army. Luger collectors really follow the type. All the stamps I see are proof marks with no unit identification.
It has been heavily sporterized, looks like a better job than usual of cutting down the military stock and a nice piece of wood..
The sights are American, looks like a Lyman receiver sight and Lyman or other barrel band front sight base.
Resale value is small, it is not original military and it is not a popular way to get a hunting rifle any more.
It has been heavily sporterized, looks like a better job than usual of cutting down the military stock and a nice piece of wood..
The sights are American, looks like a Lyman receiver sight and Lyman or other barrel band front sight base.
Resale value is small, it is not original military and it is not a popular way to get a hunting rifle any more.
NIGHTLORD40K
Member
Erfurt did the "double-dated" Luger conversions as well, so that would make sense.
If I had to speculate, that was a an unissued G98 left at the factory when the war ended and subsequently converted to a Kar (carbine) for service with the Weimar Republic before eventually being sporterized.
Id place the value in the $300 range, if, as said above, the headspace checks out and the bore is decent.
Mauser lover
Member
I don’t see any serial on the receiver, but at least the trigger guard/magazine matches the barrel too.
Don't let the naysayers get you down! Sure, it’s been sporterized and can’t be sold for the same price, but the history is still interesting! Even the sporter side of its history.
You probably will not be able to find any unit information on that rifle, because that rifle as it is right now never was in any particular unit (see the “Ship of Theseus” conundrum). The receiver probably records some history that it went through, but unit stamps would probably be obliterated when modified.
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JT-AR-MG42
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Sort of looks like a sporterized kar98a double date.
The receiver sidewall is clearly marked as a kar, which would make the receiver an 'a' or a 'b'.
The clincher (for calling it a kar98a, to me anyway) is the retaining ring just forward of the receiver for the upper wood fore end.
The kar 98b's used the regular G98 upper wood.
The slabs of wood on the sides are interesting and
were added to give it a commercial Mauser look.
At least that's my best guess,
JT
The receiver sidewall is clearly marked as a kar, which would make the receiver an 'a' or a 'b'.
The clincher (for calling it a kar98a, to me anyway) is the retaining ring just forward of the receiver for the upper wood fore end.
The kar 98b's used the regular G98 upper wood.
The slabs of wood on the sides are interesting and
were added to give it a commercial Mauser look.
At least that's my best guess,
JT
Oh WOW! I never expected these kinds of responses. Thanks everyone so much. I have another question now. The serial numbers on the barrel, receiver, floor plate, bolt and back of bolt all say 841. Is this the serial number? Could it really be that low? Also can I find a mauser stock and put this thing back to original? obviously minus the original stock. Again thanks everyone for their post! If anyone needs pictures of any part of the gun just let me know. Also the gun fires great. I took it deer hunting several years ago and have probably shot about 20 rounds through it.
Roverguy
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Nice sporter. Well done. Value is tough because, as a sporter, it isn’t directly linked to values for unmolested milsurps. It’s a good looking rifle but with iron sights, it’s appeal is more limited as a hunting rifle. My guesstimate is @$400-$450.
Mauser fan
Member
In short it is a low number for a production run. But at the same time it isn't because there were so many produced annually. There is usually a letter before or after the number to designate the month of the year it was made. With your rifle having 2 dates of birth 1918 and 1920 without the letter before or after the number. It could mean that it was alter war model that saw little or no action and was either sold as an import or an enemy capture as I said in my previous post. Many arms firms around the world bought up and sold as many of the old war horses like yours. Golden State arms is one that comes to mind. They would remove most anything even remotely representing a military rifle and sporterize it to sell to the general public. Moreover even professional, hobby and bubba gunsmiths did the same. Roy Weatherby cut his chops on many an old Milsurp. If it were mine I would just keep it the way it is as a family heirloom. But that is just me.
Mauser lover
Member
Only one of those dates on the receiver is a date of birth, and it isn't 1920. The 1920 doesn't even signify the date, it signifies ownership. It's a property mark, not necessarily even applied in 1920. Sort of like a street sign isn't the street itself, it signifies the way to the street or the direction of the street.
Yes, the serial is sort of low. However, that serial is only the significant in its specific series. You will need to look up all the 1918 produced K98A rifles from the Erfurt armory, and go from there to see when this particular one was made. They had approximately a gazillion different series of Mauser pattern rifle production runs all over Europe.
Yes, the serial is sort of low. However, that serial is only the significant in its specific series. You will need to look up all the 1918 produced K98A rifles from the Erfurt armory, and go from there to see when this particular one was made. They had approximately a gazillion different series of Mauser pattern rifle production runs all over Europe.
Kp321
Member
The s/n is 841 m. The rifle was the 841st one in the m block. They would start with 1-9999 then 1-9999 a,etc. each year. The m block was the 12 or 13 th set of 10,000 that year.
Mauser lover
Member
I just realized that's a small-ring. I'm pretty sure that confirms that it was a Kar98a when it was manufactured.
BigBlue 94
Member
My 1916 98 is a Gewher 98 and stamped as such from JP Sauer and Sohn. It is numbers matching too, but with a completely unmarked 30 caliber barrel (30-06) and fancy stock. Its a nice rifle and plenty capable of doing its job. Just feed it a healthy diet and it will provide years of service.
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