Any idea what this rifle is?
- Thread starter BigTex308
- Start date
tahunua001
New member
your pics are too poor quality for me, the bolt body doesn't look consistent with a mod 98 but then again, I can't tell for sure without more detail. the only Kar98 I've seen actually had "mod98" stamped into the reciever on the left side but I am no expert on mauser markings.
Huffmanite
New member
As mentioned, your pics don't help much.
Well, I'd say its some model 98 mauser action, that's been sporterized, new barrel, bolt turned and etc.
Maybe hidden under the front scope mount on top of the receiver may be a date and a manufacture code. If FN, maybe you may see FN emblem/crest and no date. If German made, might be a number or letter code with a year date stamp. But then you might find a crest too for some other nation, revealing what it might be.
Well, I'd say its some model 98 mauser action, that's been sporterized, new barrel, bolt turned and etc.
Maybe hidden under the front scope mount on top of the receiver may be a date and a manufacture code. If FN, maybe you may see FN emblem/crest and no date. If German made, might be a number or letter code with a year date stamp. But then you might find a crest too for some other nation, revealing what it might be.
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IMO you have a rebarreled, sporterized military Model 1898 Mauser, as witness the military bottom metal with lockscrews securing the guardscrews - with the bolt handle altered for scope mounting as well as the D/T for the scope mounts (and it also looks like the clip-loading hump on the receiver bridge's been ground down/off).
Most military Mausers were rollstamped atop the receiver ring, so if the front scope mount base is removed, the crest might still be viewable, unless it was ground off, of course.
Today, such work very hard/long to bring $250-$300, and often sit on an LGS' used rack for a few birthdays before selling.
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IMO you have a rebarreled, sporterized military Model 1898 Mauser, as witness the military bottom metal with lockscrews securing the guardscrews - with the bolt handle altered for scope mounting as well as the D/T for the scope mounts (and it also looks like the clip-loading hump on the receiver bridge's been ground down/off).
Most military Mausers were rollstamped atop the receiver ring, so if the front scope mount base is removed, the crest might still be viewable, unless it was ground off, of course.
Today, such work very hard/long to bring $250-$300, and often sit on an LGS' used rack for a few birthdays before selling.
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steveNChunter
New member
Yea that is definitely a KAR98K German Mauser that has been sporterized and rebarreled. The floor plate, lock screws, and also the shot that shows the back part of the bolt are a dead giveaway. As others have said, there should be some numbers and letters stamped under the front scope mount that will tell you where and what year it was made.
The Timney trigger is a common modification to help with the long, heavy trigger on military Mausers and also to relocate the safety. Your's also has a bent bolt as others have said. And of course it's been drilled and tapped for scope mounts.
True, it's not worth a lot of money, but sporterized Mausers make good rugged, dependable hunting rifles. I recently bought a sporterized Mauser that still has the original 8x57 stepped military barrel on it. The bore is like new and it shoots MOA with Hornady ammo. I plan on hunting whitetail with it some this fall.
The Timney trigger is a common modification to help with the long, heavy trigger on military Mausers and also to relocate the safety. Your's also has a bent bolt as others have said. And of course it's been drilled and tapped for scope mounts.
True, it's not worth a lot of money, but sporterized Mausers make good rugged, dependable hunting rifles. I recently bought a sporterized Mauser that still has the original 8x57 stepped military barrel on it. The bore is like new and it shoots MOA with Hornady ammo. I plan on hunting whitetail with it some this fall.
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tahunua001
New member
correct me if I'm wrong steven but didn't czech mausers also use lock screws on the floor plate and trigger guard?
I also fail to see how the blurry pic of the back of the bolt makes it a dead giveaway that it is a model 98? model 96 also have the same appearance wile cocked, as do VZ24s, M48s and just about every mauser in existence from the 1890s up. so really what makes everyoone so certain that it is in fact a M98?
it could be any one of 3 dozen different models, the 98 being only one.
saying that it is a M98 clone may be more accurate but based on the info I could never say with such certainty that it is, in fact a M98.
I also fail to see how the blurry pic of the back of the bolt makes it a dead giveaway that it is a model 98? model 96 also have the same appearance wile cocked, as do VZ24s, M48s and just about every mauser in existence from the 1890s up. so really what makes everyoone so certain that it is in fact a M98?
it could be any one of 3 dozen different models, the 98 being only one.
saying that it is a M98 clone may be more accurate but based on the info I could never say with such certainty that it is, in fact a M98.
steveNChunter
New member
I guess I should retract the word "definitely" from my last post. Without looking closer at the rifle with clearer pictures, it's hard to be certain exactly what it is, other than its a sporterized military Mauser. I think it's a German 98, but that is what I have more experience with as I've owned a couple and shot several, but never owned any other Mauser variants. Pulling that front scope mount off and taking a picture of the markings would really help figure this out.
Mike Irwin
Staff
"Nobody in their right mind would chamber a 96 in .308..."
No one in their right mind would chamber a Mk III or IV Webley in .45 ACP, either, but I can't even begin to tell you how many of those I've seen over the years...
No one in their right mind would chamber a Mk III or IV Webley in .45 ACP, either, but I can't even begin to tell you how many of those I've seen over the years...
Hawg you must not remember, or maybe didn't know, but Kimber reworked many thousands of 96s into 308s and 22-250s a few years ago.
It's been found that the strength of the Swede 96s were in many cases stronger than the Remington 700.
You hear the magazine writers decry the lack of the flange on the bolt sleeve of the 96 (called bolt shroud sometimes) and the lack of a 3rd "safety lug" like the m-98 has.
But it's a stupid argument.
Please show me these features on a Rem 700.
Or a Howa
Or a Ruger 77
Or a SAKO
Or a Winchester 70
All these actions are strong and safe and none of them have a 3rd safety lug.
None have a gas flange on their bolt shrouds.
All are made of good steel, and all are safe.
It's been found that the strength of the Swede 96s were in many cases stronger than the Remington 700.
You hear the magazine writers decry the lack of the flange on the bolt sleeve of the 96 (called bolt shroud sometimes) and the lack of a 3rd "safety lug" like the m-98 has.
But it's a stupid argument.
Please show me these features on a Rem 700.
Or a Howa
Or a Ruger 77
Or a SAKO
Or a Winchester 70
All these actions are strong and safe and none of them have a 3rd safety lug.
None have a gas flange on their bolt shrouds.
All are made of good steel, and all are safe.
Well, I might as well throw my WAG is. I'm pretty sure it's a 98 Mauser or to keep people happy a clone thereof. It appear (hard to tell for sure) to have an FN type safety and the bolt handle may have been forged to some degree but I'm thinking it had a good deal of metal ground off to clear the scope. I was almost thinking it might have been a Kodiak milsurp conversion but they used AFAIK strictly maple stocks. Dunno what all calibers thet cam in but mine were in .243 and .358 Win. A friend had one in .300 Norma Mag.
The 243 and .300 were wonderfly accurate but the .358 was a loser.
There were a bunch of 98 Mausers that were converted to 7.62 NATO by several countries. (For simplicity sake I will lump M98 Mausers and their clones as one type. ) I have a 1912 Steyr Chilean Mauser that was originally a 7x57 that was converted to 7.62 NATO and they welded a block at the back of the magazine and shortened the follower. Could be this is one of those type and the barrel turned down enough to remove markings and then stamped .308. I think what I would do is remove the scope and scope bases and see if there is a creat or some other markings. If it's letters and a number like BYF and say 42, it's definitely WW2 German. IIRC, that would be Oberndorf 1942 but to be homest I can't say I remeber for sure. I just hope whatever markings are there have not been ground off.
Paul B.
The 243 and .300 were wonderfly accurate but the .358 was a loser.
There were a bunch of 98 Mausers that were converted to 7.62 NATO by several countries. (For simplicity sake I will lump M98 Mausers and their clones as one type. ) I have a 1912 Steyr Chilean Mauser that was originally a 7x57 that was converted to 7.62 NATO and they welded a block at the back of the magazine and shortened the follower. Could be this is one of those type and the barrel turned down enough to remove markings and then stamped .308. I think what I would do is remove the scope and scope bases and see if there is a creat or some other markings. If it's letters and a number like BYF and say 42, it's definitely WW2 German. IIRC, that would be Oberndorf 1942 but to be homest I can't say I remeber for sure. I just hope whatever markings are there have not been ground off.
Paul B.
Major Dave (retired)
New member
Check these two things -
1. Cock on opening, or cock on closing?
Mauser 98's cock on opening, several earlier Mausers cock on closing.
2. When cocked, the bolt shroud on the 98 protrudes only about 1/4 inch, whereas the earlier Mausers protrude about 3/4 inch. This gives the 98 a faster lock time than the earlier models, thus improving accuracy.
These two characteristics don't tell the whole story, but they can point you in the right direction.
1. Cock on opening, or cock on closing?
Mauser 98's cock on opening, several earlier Mausers cock on closing.
2. When cocked, the bolt shroud on the 98 protrudes only about 1/4 inch, whereas the earlier Mausers protrude about 3/4 inch. This gives the 98 a faster lock time than the earlier models, thus improving accuracy.
These two characteristics don't tell the whole story, but they can point you in the right direction.
tahunua001
New member
but there can be only 1
Magnum Wheel Man
New member
of course there are conversion kits to change a cock on close to cock on open... my 93 in 7 ( X 57 ) Mauser was so converted by me, when I re-barreled my 60's - 70's sporterized rifle back to 7 ( X 57 ) Mauser ( the original cut down barrel was too far gone, to get good groups )
... so cock on open or close is not a good determination between the 2 models particularly on sporterized rifles
... so cock on open or close is not a good determination between the 2 models particularly on sporterized rifles