Thanks Keith! What a wonderful rifle, this is the highest maker/year production of the Modell98 rifle until WWII, but they sure are not as commonly found in this condition as the numbers suggest. The best estimate so far is Erfurt made nearly 500k Kar98a in 1917, just an enormous number really, especially considering all they were involved with at the time (P08 & MG08/15).
It is said, in some source material I used for my articles on Danzig, that they achieved 500k during 1917 also, though known serial ranges do not support this, only about 420k are supported by known serial ranges.
I think of all the Kar.98a that were made, the maker/date mix, I like Erfurt/1917 best, while they are most common both in estimates made, and observed, both in original condition and "problem" condition, they still conjure up thoughts of the Sturmbataillons! (One of my favorite pictures attached, I have a couple from this soldier, this is my favorite of him and his comrades)