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Erfurt 1918 98Az

bill grist

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98Az Erfurt 1918........BILL
 

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98Az Erfurt 1918........BILL


"Great" minds think alike,,, I was just getting ready to post pics, and saw Bill''s sample.
Good for comparison purposes.​

92 yrs old and counting...​
 

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Really exceptional rifle Bob, really sharp and as nice as they come. Surprisingly, considering how many were made (well into the hh block- JohnP's example on the Weimar era forum is the highest known) these straight up Imperial rifles are not as easy to find as you might expect.

You would think with production into the "hh" block these would be common as dirt! Although 1917 Erfurt production was even more enormous (actually the "v v" block) these rifles were probably well represented in the rifles destroyed under IAMCC supervision.

As outlined in the "1920 article" which will be printed in May/10 MRJ, the Germans destroyed under supervision nearly 3 million rifles, and lost over a million during the retreat of 1918 (many were surrendered in the Netherlands and many went home- as detailed in the article the German Army tried to "encourage" soldiers to return their rifles under the demobilization order but with mixed results. Germany was in utter chaos in 1919 and many rifles were never turned in.. the "1920" mark was part of the effort to recover these "lost" rifles.)
 
Here's a couple of mine. Opps got a finn by mistake
 

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I think this is another, dammit got one with the swiss. Wish the pics in my files were bigger so I could tell what they were. FYI it is all matching has a repaired duffle cut. Would the correct designation be kar98 or kar98a isn't the az polish?
 

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Last edited:
98AZ w/Accessories

I just joined the k98 Forum. Thought you might like to see my 98AZ with a couple of unusual accessories.

Sam
 

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The flash hider and cover authentic? The Kar.98a accessories are much tougher to find than Gew.98 and the flash hider is one of the toughest.

As I recall, the flash hiders are usually unmarked (not even a c/fraktur acceptance)? Is yours marked?

I just joined the k98 Forum. Thought you might like to see my 98AZ with a couple of unusual accessories.

Sam
 
So far I don't think anybody's making repro "flash hiders."

So far paul I have not seen a repop flah hider... but years ago Karl K & crew were on the hunt to do such work. I can't say as they ever succeded but they were hitting on collectors like myself for dimensional data. There is a common proof on these - they should not be devoid of markings... if they are beware.
The trench covers were repopped for the 98a...but in hand these are easily debunked. I have a bottom end and would love to have a top end.... but that's just luck I guess these days. Pics of the top cover of the 98a sheet metal cover would help alot for those that have a legit example.
 
Thanks for the insight Bill & CB!

Never owned a flash hider, and last visit to MauserBill's bunker I do not think Bill got around to showing me his example- the only one I know of really?

Seen one for sale awhile back- that VA outfit I believe- but they are pretty tough to find at any price!


So far paul I have not seen a repop flah hider... but years ago Karl K & crew were on the hunt to do such work. I can't say as they ever succeded but they were hitting on collectors like myself for dimensional data. There is a common proof on these - they should not be devoid of markings... if they are beware.
The trench covers were repopped for the 98a...but in hand these are easily debunked. I have a bottom end and would love to have a top end.... but that's just luck I guess these days. Pics of the top cover of the 98a sheet metal cover would help alot for those that have a legit example.
 
Thanks for the insight Bill & CB!

Never owned a flash hider, and last visit to MauserBill's bunker I do not think Bill got around to showing me his example- the only one I know of really?

Seen one for sale awhile back- that VA outfit I believe- but they are pretty tough to find at any price!

Paul ; That was "great war militaria " that had one... about 5-6 years ago and it sold for a whopping $2700 within a week of being posted on their site.
You ever come out my way again we will definately dig it out and even shoot it !. Having acreageand a steel target 'farm' really has made life more pleasant !.
 
Would love to stop by again, - maybe one day when we recover from all this "hope & change"?

Your miniU can show us how to shoot!
 
I hear you ... the hope and change in some ways is good for me as many unionista outfits can't compete with my employer for obvious reasons and they get left in the dust !. Mini-me goes to town with his red laser dot equipped M4orgery with 22 subcal and numerous other 22's. He loves to attach bayonets to the old smokepoles for some odd reason....sort of like dear old dad did I reason.
 
Thread: Erfurt 1918 98Az

Nice looking bits of kit! I have just acquire Danig 1912 ser No. b 9813

Contrary to any impression given I can spell and the post was sent in a rush! It is a 1912 Danzig made Kar98AZ with all matching numbers and original stock that I have acquired. I will try and sort out some photos! It came from the estate of the late Secretary of Spires Rifle & Pistol Club, Witney Oxfordshire. I will check it out at Bisley on the 6th of March.
 
I think this is another, dammit got one with the swiss. Wish the pics in my files were bigger so I could tell what they were. FYI it is all matching has a repaired duffle cut. Would the correct designation be kar98 or kar98a isn't the az polish?


I always wondered about the Kar 98a vs. AZ designation as well. Have seen it both ways in different reference books in regards to the German version. Of course there was the original Kar 98 that was discontinued in the early 1900's as well.
 
The Kar.98a only designation was "Kar.98a", and it a postwar designation to differentiate between the Kar.98b.

Prior to that it was just the Kar.98, as the siderail designation states and period literature reinforces. Kar.98AZ was a trials designation, it like the "G29ö" and Gew.98M are collector constructs with little to no basis in fact. But casual collectors have no incentive in researching facts, they rely on what is most commonly seen, - in what passes for research for the vast majority of accumulators, - an internet search. As Kar.98AZ has been passed off as the designation since the 1970's, John Walters etc.. the fabrication is unlikely to be corrected anytime soon.

It does serve one purpose though. When you see someone that using it, they are either old (reliant upon Walters) or uninformed, often both.

I always wondered about the Kar 98a vs. AZ designation as well. Have seen it both ways in different reference books in regards to the German version. Of course there was the original Kar 98 that was discontinued in the early 1900's as well.
 
Current usage seems to be: Kar 98AZ = 1908-1918 production w no post-1918 modifications and/ or markings.
Kar 98a = as above but with postwar modifications and/or markings.
As noted, a "collector designation" but it is handy because it is specific. Sort of like the old G98, G98a, G98b "collector designations."
 

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