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Karab 98b

met

Well-known member
Was eating lunch with a colleague at work yesterday and mentioned my interest in military Mausers and he mentioned his father was a decorated WW2 tank driver and he brought a K98k home from the war.

Out of curiosity I had him email some pics tonight. This is what he sent. Obviously not a k98k. He gave me permission to post for your expert comments. Obviously mismatched and the pics are pretty poor. He would also be interested in its approximate value.

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I agree, potential gold mine... bolt hurts a ton though.

As said before, any Kar.98b before the d-block (dated through c-block) are rare in matching condition. Most that are "matching" have seen a rework, or two, or three... d, e, f blocks are rather common in matching condition (as far as a 98b's can be common)


A b-block bolt mismatch would be worth well over a thousand, probably two or more if the stock is really nice and no other parts mismatched. This one looks to have escaped a rework, usually they are marked on the RR if passing through an interwar or early rearmament depot. The RS would say more, almost all, especially this early probably went through a upgrade, but this rifle probably being a 1927 era rifle, might have eluded a later upgrade.

Either way a very desirable rifle if the stock group and TG group are original. Had the bolt been original you could have doubled the price, they are VERY hard to find completely factory matched. Stock is a big deal in this case, the stock is right for a 98b, probably original too, but need pictures to be sure (how clear the acceptance is matters a lot too, as you are well aware...)
 
BTW, if possible try and convert these pictures to jpg, these webp files totally suck... low tech here and although I am sure there is a way to save these jpg or similar, it has escaped my deduction abilities.
 
A very rare rifle Marty. Post more pictures and we can tell you more. I'm curious. Even if this is a bolt mismatch rifle. Maybe the bolt could be kar98b type bolt. Mismatched or not that alone is a valuable part by itself.
 
Its not, - its 98k - probably ERMA/40 or similar (fonts, suffix style), could be another but looks ERMA to me... Simson 98b is more akin to JPS, Suhl polished, sexy fonts, not stiff ones like WWII... besides Simson 98b never made it to k-block.

A very rare rifle Marty. Post more pictures and we can tell you more. I'm curious. Even if this is a bolt mismatch rifle. Maybe the bolt could be kar98b type bolt. Mismatched or not that alone is a valuable part by itself.
 
I may need to visit him one day - he can’t bring the rifle to work - and take some pictures. For a non enthusiast he captured more detail than I thought. I’ll see if he can at least get pics of the right side of the stock.


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Its not, - its 98k - probably ERMA/40 or similar (fonts, suffix style), could be another but looks ERMA to me... Simson 98b is more akin to JPS, Suhl polished, sexy fonts, not stiff ones like WWII... besides Simson 98b never made it to k-block.

Thanks for the info Paul and the clarification. I wish you luck in this Marty this would be a good buy for you if the price is right. But being its his father's rifle I could understand why he may not sell it. But any info, data, or more pictures on this rifle is always helpful too the collecting community. After all there are not many Kar98b floating around.
 
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Thanks for sharing a real beauty. Don't recall seeing one of these. Am sure many of these were pressed into WW-2 service and appropriately marked often. Again a real thrill to see such a beauty
 
I doubt he will want to sell it given it’s connection to his father. I know if I were him I would not. I think they both hunted with it years ago.

Would have loved to have met his father and heard the story behind how he acquired it. He was a Silver Star and Purple Heart recipient I think-North Africa, Italy, and France.

He just sent me some better detailed photos. Looks like it is going to indeed be a straight up bolt mm.

Enjoy-

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Regards
Marty


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Typical of early 98b's it has passed through a ordnance depot, nothing stands out different than factory though, other than the depot added the first two digits to the RS base, typically only last two are used. Possibly they tinkered with the RS or bolt, or did nothing at all... many rifles with HZa stamps show no apparent work, this is true of foreign rifles passing through, maybe just for a check up or reissue. A Kar.98b would be relegated to support troops by WWII, but during the rearmament phase they would be front line service rifles. As late as 1936 you see German soldiers marching into the Rhineland with upgraded G98's.
 

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