Help Identifying Rifle

D

djf1gp

Inactive
I recently inherited my grandfather's rifle I'd like to get some more info on . I don't know much of anything about it, I'm not worried about value or anything, just what it is.

See pictures below. I have looked all over the gun and can't find anything that will come up in a google search. The number 9042 appears in several spots on the gun. There is a W.B. inspection mark on the bottom of the stock behind the trigger. The only other thing I see it was looks like a phoenix symbol on the bolt, I posted a picture but it is hard to see and very small.

My grandfather was a WWII vet, didn't talk much about where he went or what he did (supposedly escorted spys and other classified missions), but was in the army air corps and spent several years in europe during the war.

I have no idea if this rifle dates back to the war, it doesn't appear to match anything I've been able to find. If anyone could help it would be greatly appreciated. It could just be an older store bought rifle, but would just like to know.

Thanks

24dg3te.jpg

29z3i9c.jpg

2cwketi.jpg

2h3c2z5.jpg

whxk5h.jpg
 
I take it the crest on top of the receiver has been ground off. Anyway, look for proof marks. Good books include Robert Ball's Military Mausers and Ludwig Olson's Mauser Bolt Action Rifles.
 
It is an 1898 Mauser but I do not see anything that connects it to military or sporting use. It might be military surplus that has had the stock cut down to sporter style or it might be a factory sporter with military type sights.
 
I told my dad some of what you guys have said about it and he said Pop was in Germany after they surrendered. It may have been a gift or something who knows. Can't imagine he would have bought a German rifle after returning home, he wasn't a collector or anything. Probably a cool story that went a long with it, but guess we'll never know, still glad to know a little more about it.
 
That is a Mauser 98 rifle. It looks as if it was modified for hunting in a more European fashion, so it was likely done in Europe before your grandfather got the rifle.

After Germany surrendered, civilians were required to surrender their firearms. These were generally piled up and carted off by the US military. Many people would sell their guns to US servicemen, other firearms would be taken by US servicemen from the piles of firearms turned in. And many of the firearms turned in were later sold on the surplus market as well. Also, these were cheap hunting rifles for many years, selling for $25 to $50 at hardware and surplus stores, and used as trading goods and bartering. If your grandfather is no longer living, you will never know how he came to own the rifle.
 
It is a small ring mauser 98.

Much of it once was a Kar.98a of WW1 vintage. The bolt is from a Kar.98a of WWI vintage, as is the rear sight.

The original stock dates from 1915/16 before the use of grasping groves and has been whittled into a sporter. The end caps and muzzle bits are gone. It also has been rebarreled and the receiver scrubbed.

See:

http://www.ycgg.org/pdfpages/ww1/kar98a.pdf
 
It is a Kar. 98a, but probably not a WWII souvenir. Many of those guns were sold to Turkey after WWII, and later sold by the Turks to American importers. A bit lighter than the standard K.98k, they were a favorite for conversion to sporting rifles, both in bulk by importers and by individual customers.

The receiver ring markings, which could help with its history, appear to have been removed.

Jim
 
It does appear to have matching numbers, which is nice, but in this case, worth nothing, because of all the other changes to the rifle. Not collectable. Not really marketable these days, either.

Sentimental value? possibly priceless.

I sure I've seen that rifle (and those feet) somewhere else...:rolleyes:
 
"Many of those guns were sold to Turkey after WWII ..."

Sorry, I added an "I"; that should be WWI. The Germans had planned to make the short "Kar 98a" their standard rifle but problems with it caused them to reconsider and later adopt the K.98k. So they sold off most of the Kar. 98a's to Turkey. Sold again as surplus by the Turks, many were imported into the U.S. where they became known as the "small ring Turk 98."

Jim
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top