The are all WW2 era German Karabiners (though some are former Gew98's the Nazis had converted to K98k spec - rare though!). Russian Capture K98k's all share similar traits. CAUTION: How do I tell if I have a rebuilt RC (Russian Capture) and not an original unaltered K98k? (click here)įAKE K98k FLOOR PLATE NUMBERS (click here)įAKE K98k MIDDLE BAND NUMBERS (click here) Links and content are credited to Brock's, Inc., Decatur, GA. The bottom line, validating provenance is becoming more important every day, particularly if one is buying these firearms as collectibles and expecting them to appreciate in value over time. Here's a bunch of links to examples that should make you pay careful attention, especially when you're buying what may be portrayed as an "all correct" and "all matching" K98k rifle. Don't hesitate to ask one of the folks on our MILSURPS.COM Advisory Panel, who perhaps have sound expertise on the K98k. don't buy, but seek some more experienced help. If not offered, request a "money back" inspection period from the seller and above all, if it doesn't feel right. However, please note that these fonts will vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, so buying Richard Law's book (see above) would be a good investment, if you're planning on becoming a serious collector of K98k rifles. Ask LOTS of questions, check the markings (particularly the stamping FONTS) against known "all correct" righteous samples, like the one displayed here in our virtual tour. Get as much information as possible about the rifle and its provenance. Be very careful when you look to buy one of these on-line, or at gun shows. WARNING: The K98k is one of the most commonly faked collector's rifles in the marketplace. Nonetheless, lack of better scopes made that the Zf-41 was used by snipers at the early stages of the war against the Soviet Union, though many snipers preferred captured Soviet rifles and customly-equipped German rifles with civilian scopes such as the vintage Gewehr 98.īy the end of the war in 1945 more than 100,000 Zf-41 scopes had been produced, the largest production of German optical sights during the war. Problems were the scope's extreme eye relief, poor functioning in bad light and low magnifying power. Though useful for sharpshooting with normal infantry units, the design was generally rejected by sniper schools and disliked by snipers, because the 1.5x magnifying scope was deemed insufficient for shooting effectively over long distances.
It was initially planned to equip most combat units with the Zf-41 scopes, but only 6% of German weapons production could fit the sight.
Most modern-day armies have adopted some form of optical aiming device on infantryweapons (such as the ACOG scope). The Zf-41 was in fact the first attempt to provide the ordinary infantryman with a rifle capable of being used, if not for pure sniping, then at least for sharpshooting. Starting from 1941 the short 1.5x Zielfernrohr 41 (Zf41) telescopic sight was fitted to some Karabiner 98k rifles for sharpshooting use. Check for availability of correct WWII K98k sling with German Waffenamt WaA markings, which by itself can add approximately $100-$150 value to the rifle.ġ.
GERMAN MAUSER K98 SERIAL NUMBERS SERIAL NUMBERS
Check under wood for matching serial numbers on handguard and stock. See virtual tour pics for details of font type and location of serial numbers.
GERMAN MAUSER K98 SERIAL NUMBERS SERIAL NUMBER
Check for matching serial numbers on left side of receiver, top of bolt flat, barrel, top of safety, top of bolt sleeve, cocking piece, upper band, lower band, butt plate, rear sight leaf, rear sight guide and stock bottom, with last two digits of serial number on virtually all other components, right down to the firing pin and cleaning rod. The "k" is for Kurz, which means "short" in German. The K98k was the primary infantry rifle for the German Wehrmacht during World War II.