Mystery Mauser

D

dahermit

New member
I have a Large Ring M98 8mm Mauser that I need help identifying. There is no crest on receiver ring. The only numbers is the apparent serial number on the right hand side of the receiver ring. It is starts with a "V". Bolt, bottom metal and stock are marked with the same serial number minus the "V". The bolt is blued and turned down, and the bolt knob is flat on the bottom. The only other marks are small circles with a "V" inside stamped in several places on the bottom metal, as are a rhombus or trapezoid with either a "W" inside or an "M". Attached is a picture.
I am interested in country of origin.
 
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Looks like a M48BO a Yugoslav made in the 1950s 8MM 98 Mauser.

The BO means Unmarked (bez oznaka) as the commie crest was put on those M48s that were intended for Yugo army service and those unmarked were built for exports or foreign sale.

Wulfmann
 
Whoops. There is an import stamp on the bottom of the barrel, under the cleaning rod. "YUGO M96".

So, it is a Yugoslavian manufacture.
 
Yep...

All I got is that it's not German. Maybe a former occupantee of Germany, but not German.
 
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I have 3 Mausers, 2 yugo M48s' and a M63 "Tanker" Mauser chambered in .308 caliber. One of my Yugo's is in mint condition, I find it to be a fine mid-range rifle; the other Yugo I'm currently restoring. My M63 on the other hand is hard to put down, being chambered in winchester .308 I don't have the corrosion problem of the 8mm; and on a good day I can shoot 3" groups at 150yrds, a very accurate little carbine indeed.
 
AFAIK the M48's are a 1945 update to the k98 to make it quicker and cheaper to build. More stampings and welding etc. The BO's were of 1950's manufacture and intended as a backup source if the surplus MN's ran out. The AK47 was not being exported yet. The Chinese picked up the slack and the BO's were never used. Non BO marked weapons usually have 1944 or 1945 marked on the barrel, which was made in Germany, and may or may not have seen use. Almost all were captured and stored by the Soviets.
 
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