The first mistake you are making in my opinion is assuming the "Karabiner 98k" marking is original to the box. The majority of these I have found do not have the marking on them, and it's added by the end user. I had to put it on mine. Second, the construction is nothing like any German crate I have seen. The hinges and latches are riveted on, something I have not seen even on the last of the wood crates I have observed. Granted, I don't believe that the crates made at factories were considered reusable, but rather meant to be kept by the buyer.
Anyway, there are other things that make me think they are all actually postwar, and not worth the huge sums of money people ask. Below, a clearly postwar assembled crate for Yugo M48 rifles. Notice the construction methods, including the inside rack for the paperwork that shipped with all of the rifles. Also, a Yugo SKS crate, note construction (riveted latches and hinges). This is all basic Google searching.
Even so, these crates are a neat addition to any gun room, I have mine prominently displayed full of junker guns.
Think about how much money it takes to fill a crate too - 10 K98k rifles, even at the cheap range of $500 --------- $5000.00 just to put 10 rifles in it!!!!
In fact, why not expand your crate search to SKS and M48 crates, you may find one and be able to just modify it a little (M48 is exact).
That’s fine. Like I said it is really no big deal. I like the crate. I wish there was a photo of an original 98K rifle crate with all those markings you guys are guessing they have. It would be great. I don’t know why you wanted all these photos of mine then. I did this as a favor to you, because you ask me to post photos. I took these photos yesterday after having the crate since 2016.
See our t-shirts from the SOS this year were post war also because Mike wouldn’t let me put a waffenamp inspection stamp on them. No war eagles, no SS runes or skull, nothing. Thanks a lot Steves!
See our t-shirts from the SOS this year were post war also because Mike wouldn’t let me put a waffenamp inspection stamp on them. No war eagles, no SS runes or skull, nothing. Thanks a lot Steves!