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Portugese Contract Kar.98k Serial Study

Hambone

Community Organizer
Staff member
Portugese K98k serials
Note: Need to know whether German (GER; "Ger?" = a rifle thought German used, but not conclusive), Portugese (PORT), RC or not (RC is important), Norwegian (important) matching or not, import marked (by whom) or not. PLEASE, I need full serials (no x's). Also, if it has a matching bayonet, that information is important as well. Any info emailed will be strictly confidential and is erased after it is added to this list. Tks!
GER = German use
PORT = Portugese use
NI = Non Import / Not Import marked
RC = Russian Capture

M937 and M937A
C18438 (Match bay., Ital. coll.)
E19747 (M937, 1937 dated)
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M937B (K98k type)
F 493 (PORT, Sarco import, match, flatbutt plate w/cross)
F 543 (PORT, NI)
F 636 (PORT, NI)
F 962 (GER?, NI, match, service use, Ger. type stock repair, vet bb?)
F 997 (GER, NI, match, Liege Belgian reproofed, rechambered 8x60S)
F 8690(GER, RC, Empire Arms)
F 1356 (?, NI, match, claimed vbb?, used cond.)
F 2154 (PORT, NI)
F 2342 (?, from old eGuns auction, flat buttplate)
F 3344 (?, France, AN dewat stamped, matching)
F 5694 (Ger.?, Czech Rep.)
F 6756 (PORT, import, matching, matching bay.)
F 8124 (PORT, import, match, Hansens)
F 8690 (GER, RC, Empire Arms)
F 9595 (PORT, NI)
F 13614 (GER, RC, Coles)
F 14685 (GER?, matching exc. floorplate, Belgian proofs, German auction)
F 14744 (GER?, NI, matching)
F 15290 (PORT?, uniss., matching, NI, Canada)
F 15521 (PORT?, NI, matching, used, Gunbroker 081306)
F 16699 (PORT, Uniss., matching bay., RI Auction)
F 16980 (PORT?, NI, match, used)
F 17470 (PORT, NI, match, 90%, CLOSE bayo.)
F 18096 (GER, RC, Coles)
F 18211 (GER, RC)
F 18970 (GER, RC, Empire Arms)
F 19457 (? , NI, match, 85%. cross on flat buttplate)
F 19555 (PORT, Austrian coll., match, 85%, w/match bayo.)
G 339 (?, e/H, Ital. collection)
G 535 (GER, RC, Coles)
G 615 (GER, RC, Coles)
G 776 (GER, RC, Coles)
G 1403 (?, NI, matching, flat butt w/+)
G 1550 (GER, RC, Coles)
G 2423 (GER, RC, Empire Arms)
G 2409 (GER, RC, Coles)
G 3281 (GER, RC, Coles)
G 3810 (GER, RC)
G 4044 (GER, RC)
G 4297 (GER, RC, Coles; 01-08-06,"restored", import marks removed)
G 5137 (GER, RC, Coles)
G 5265 (PORT, NI)
G 5355 (GER, RC, ground crest)
G 5404 (GER, RC, Coles)
G 5675 (GER, RC, Coles)
G 5814 (GER, RC, Empire Arms)
G 5860 (GER, RC, TN Guns)
G 5906 (GER, Norw. rebuild, CAI, Port. cross on butt.)
G 5962 (GER, RC, Coles)
G 6418 (GER, Norwegian)
G 6552 (GER, NI, matching, used cond.)
G 7025 (GER, RC, Tn Guns)
G 7197 (PORT?, match, match bayo.)
G 7425 (GER, RC, TG Knox TN)
G 7460 (GER, RC, Empire Arms)
G 7668 (GER, Norwegian)
G 7531 (GER, RC, TG Knox)
G 7740 (GER, RC, Coles)
G 7792 (GER?, NI, German commercial proofs, Port cross on buttplate)
G 7883 (GER, RC, Coles)
G 8108 (GER, RC, Coles)
G 8374 (GER?, NI, matching, heavy use)
G 9694 (GER, RC, Gunbroker sale, CONSECUTIVE W/9695)
G 9695 (GER, RC, Coles)
G 9854 (GER, RC, Coles)
G 10727 (GER, RC, GB auction 111112)
G 10735 (GER, RC, Coles)
G 10760 (PORT, Import. to Ger./Frankonia, match bay.)
G 12126 (GER, RC, Coles)
G 12132 (GER, NI, Norwegian conv. to .30 H/ER 14681)
G 12396 (GER, NI, "vet bringback")
G 12658 (GER, RC, Coles)
G 12792 (PORT?, NI, match, exc/uniss. cond.)
G 13340 (GER?, NI, match, vet bb, no stock crest, GB 022614)
G 13371 (GER? NI, match)
G 13382 (GER?, NI, match but stock, from Ger.)
G 13594 (PORT, NIM, unissued)
G 13796 (GER?, NI, Deactivated, UK)
G 13985 (GER, DDR proofs, Iraqi proofs, 1950s DDR Suhl proof)
G 14186 (PORT?, NI, match, uniss. condition, Canada)
G 14394 (GER?, barrelled action, phosphated, Belgian auction)
G 14473 (PORT, NI, match, uniss., match bayo.)
G 15018 (PORT, NI)
G 15166 (GER, RC, Coles)
G 15194 (GER, RC, Tn Guns)
G 15459 (GER, NI, match, 0.2 mk'd rebarrel)
G 15919 (GER, RC, Coles)
G 16561 (GER, RC, Coles)
G 16938 (GER?, NI, no further information)
G 17268 (GER, RC, Coles)
G 17392 (GER?, NI, mm)
G 18213 (PORT, uniss., match)
G 18795 (GER? E/H, schrapnel dmg. stock, NI, match)
G 19129 (GER, RC, Coles)
G 19249 (GER?, NI, match, demilled)
G 19197 (PORT, NI, German proofed in 1980, Port. cross on buttplate)
G 19383 (PORT, NI, matching, mint condition, cross on bp)
G 19783 (PORT, uniss., NI, match)
H 173 (GER, RC, Coles)
H 687 (GER, RC, Coles)
H 907 (PORT?, NI, match, Canada)
H 1401 (GER?, NI, match, well used)
H 1707 (PORT, NI, match, Canada, bayonet H 19063)
H 1773 (GER?, NI, match, no Port. crest on stock, used, reportedly from Mozambique)
H 2477 (GER?, 85%,)
H 2563 (PORT, NI, match, uniss. cond.)
H 2872 (PORT, NI, match, uniss., match bay.)
H 3410 (GER?, NI, match, 90%+, AA 112106)
H 3695 (PORT, matching, uniss.)
H 5083 (PORT, NI, Anchor over M stock)
H 5243 (PORT, NI, match bayo.,mm scabbard)
H 5488 (PORT, NI, match)
H 5786 (PORT, NI,uniss., match bayo.)
H 5935 (PORT, Hansen import, uniss., match)
H 7093 (PORT?, uniss., match, bought in Australia in 1980s)
H 7395 (PORT, Canada, match)
H 7427 (PORT, match bay., no e/H,Ital. collection)
H 7604 (PORT, NI)
H 7728 (PORT, Import, Hansens?, match w/bayo G 16341)
H 7919 (PORT, NI, uniss., match, match bayo)
H 8541 (PORT, NI, uniss., match, match bayo)
H 9239 (PORT, NI, uniss., match, Port Navy prop. stock)
H 9886 (PORT, Hansen import, match)
H 11332 (PORT, match, exc., match bayo., mm scabbard)
H 11816 (PORT, NI, match, cup butt with +)
H 12181 (PORT, NI, matching)
H 12770 (PORT, Hansens 1995 import, match)
H 12857 (PORT?, "HGO SPIGN" import marked?, match, 95%+, GB 081207)
H 13179 (PORT, NI, uniss.)
H 13366 (PORT, NI, match, Canada)
H 13524 (?, match, German post. inspect. N and "81"), GB auct. 513104933 10-15-15)
H 13625 (?)
H 13889 (PORT?, matching, Canada)
H 13939 (PORT, matching, Canada, match bay. 1979 from Lever Arms, Vancouver BC)
H 15001 (PORT, NI, uniss., match)
H 15079 (PORT, match, exc., match bayo., Australia)
H 15169 (PORT, NI, match, AA 03-19-06)
H 16027 (PORT, Hansen Import, matching, exc.)
H 17265 (PORT?, NI?, match, 80%, AA # 7378997 042306)\
H 18721 (PORT, NI, match, uniss., match bayo.)
H 18550 (PORT, NI, match, uniss., match bayo.)
H 18571 (PORT, NI, match, mint, Australian 70s import)
H 19063 (bayonet only)
H 19785 (PORT, NI, match, uniss., match bayo.)

Great information translated from Portugese reference:
"The Mauser M941 contract was sign in July, 15, 1941, for the purchase of 50.000 rifles, to be delivered in 10 batches of 5.000. But serial numbering had some problems. The first 4 batches had consecutive numbers, but after the 23.000 rifle- the german made an emergency requisition that interrupts the serial number sequence. The remaining batches are delivered with serial numbers from F to I, and only H batch would have complete and consecutive numbers."
"Armamento do Exército Português Vol. I- Armamento Ligeiro" – Pages 142 and 143. ISBN 972-8816-43-X.

Note: Luso's Portugese documentary information fits the F block observations above, saving for one rifle. The author of the Portugese text likely did not have access to the physical observations we have here for RC's. My speculation: Blocks F and G are a full 20,000 run, as meant for the contract. H was probably meant to take up the balance of 10,000 rifles to conclude the 50,000 contract run for Portugal. However, the tail end of the H block was expanded to make a full 20,000 run to account for 10,000+ rifles diverted for German use from G and early H. The Germans were fastidious about records, order, and contracts.

On the buttplate crosses (Submitted by Winchester Cowboy):
It appears this cross is widely used in Portugal, sailing ships, flags, monuments, etc.
http://www.symbols.com/encyclopedia/22/2245.html
22:45 · This cross is sometimes called Portuguese cross. It was the sign on the standard of the Grand Master of the Teutonic Crusaders' Order used in the battle of Grünwald, Tannenberg, in 1410, against the Poles, where the Teutonic knights were defeated. It was a common cross form on crusader knights' coats of arms during the Middle Ages. See also the crutch cross, , in Group 28.
http://www.symbols.com/encyclopedia/30/3026.html
30:26 · Five centuries ago, the Order of the Temple Knights (using the Maltese cross, , as their symbol) was forbidden in European countries by the Pope. However, the order remained powerful in Portugal since its Master Knight was Prince Henry of Portugal. The order was renamed Order of Christ, and this sign (withouth the circle) was chosen as their symbol. The Portuguese discoveries were made possible much because of the wealth of the order, and the symbol was used on the sails of the Portuguese ships. Since then the symbol has been used widely in Portugal, e.g. on fighter planes, navy ships and soccer team clothes and flags.
Compare with in Group 22.
 
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H 12361
Matching, incl stock (though band spring numbered 2761)
PORT?
NIM
NOT RC
No bayonet
very pitted in places.
 
G17252 in Canada. No bayo, non import market, not a RC, all matching and wood is dark/dinged and shows potential use.
 
Portugese Mauser

I own two Mausers with the Portugese crest on the receiver. The first was made in 1937. The serial number is D8389. The stock is numbered to the gun on bottom behind the pistol grip as is the butt plate and both barrel bands. It has three Nazi eagles on the right side of the stock, two with waffenamts, and I believe the top one is proof mark, but it is so faint I can't be sure. I cannot see the letter H, L, or M on the stock.

The trigger guard and butt plate are also numbered to the gun. The bolt is a mismatch and the number is 9713 over D on the bolt flat.

The second is a 1941 rifle, serial number G9827. This rifle is all matching throughout including bands, butt plate, triggerguard, floor plate, follower, and rear sight. The stock is walnut, and matched to the rifle. There are two waffenamts on the right side of the butt stock, and the letter H has been stamped above the waffenamts.

There are two import marks on either gun. Neither gun has any evidence of being a Russian capture.
 
Portuguese K98

I have a M937A marked 1937. E10730. "Hege" import marked. Rear sight spot welded. Matching save screws and cleaning rod. No bayo.

Ski
 

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F1661 Model 1941
? Use
Non Import
Matching (except stock)
Clean gun, wear mostly by bayonet/ barrel area.
Stock is an M937 stock with # 1815* on it. I am unsure of the last number.
 
I own G13000. All matching, no bayonet. Canada. No import marks. Don't know about GER or PORT. Definitely not RC.

Portugeseax1.jpg Portugese 98 a x.jpg
 
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My portuegese M937A

C16320

Matching numbers, no bayonet, bought over eGun auction
 

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1937 contract

Typical 1937 Portuguese, likely imported in 60s-70s. Most of these have condition issues under the hood, either through bad storage or issue environment.
Anyway, no direct evidence of German use of this model.
 
Norwegian Portuguese Contract K98

.
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This is my Norwegian service Portuguese contract K98. An original matching rifle
(I believe) except where the Norwegian armorers touched it. One of my faves for sure.
























 

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