Third Party Press

New to me G98/40

Joezeta

Member
This is the one that was posted on Facebook. So far I think I found everything on line related to these fine rifles. One thing I am still not certain is how to decipher serial number suffix. From what I am guessing is mine a L suffix? Would that put this rifle as to being made December 1944? From what I can see all numbers match.

The story goes is a gentleman came in to the gunshop with this rifle asking for it to be cleaned and checked out as he was going to sell it to a family member. It was brought home by his dad. The gun shop told me they cleaned the bore some and wiped the metal , I can see it still has some freckling here and there. Inside trigger guard they didn’t touch , so guessing the rest of rifle could have looked like that when it was brought in. I was told the wood was untouched, they knew enough to leave it alone he said. Some tape residue/shadowing on right side. The shop told the son if it does not work out bring it back and they will buy it. Sure enough couple weeks go by and the son brings it back and says it did not work out with family member so he sold it to the shop. Likely the shop paid him more then the relative would.

So here it is, Came with a matching to itself 41 bayonet with 41 frog.
 

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Joezeta,
That's an extremely hard to find, all matching, excellent condition 1944 G98/40. You have a high numbered "L" block. 1944 production started in the low "L" block. Somewhere between 3800 and 4600 range. Production stopped in 1944 approximately 3200 "M" block range. Total estimated produced in 1944 is 14400. 1944 is also the only year that laminated stocks were used on G98/40s. I do believe there has recently been found one late 1943 G98/40 with a matching laminate stock though. Your rifle would have been produced fairly early in 1944. Not sure when Hungary was taken by the Reds.
 
Joezeta,
That's an extremely hard to find, all matching, excellent condition 1944 G98/40. You have a high numbered "L" block. 1944 production started in the low "L" block. Somewhere between 3800 and 4600 range. Production stopped in 1944 approximately 3200 "M" block range. Total estimated produced in 1944 is 14400. 1944 is also the only year that laminated stocks were used on G98/40s. I do believe there has recently been found one late 1943 G98/40 with a matching laminate stock though. Your rifle would have been produced fairly early in 1944. Not sure when Hungary was taken by the Reds.

Thanks so much for the info. Still trying to figure this out as I am fairly new to German weapons.

So after mine they produced a “ m “ block ? ould those serial numbers continue after mine sequentially ? Or do they start from zero ?

Confusing for me lol. I thought I read the highest reported serial number for 1944 was 8400?
 
The G98/40 is the only German military production run that runs sequentially through the years of production. An example is the "b" block of production is only found in 1941. It is not repeated in 42, 43, nor 44. So, production started in the No Letter block in 1941 and ran straight through to productions end in the "m" block in mid 1944. I do not know where you came up with the number 8400??
 
The G98/40 is the only German military production run that runs sequentially through the years of production. An example is the "b" block of production is only found in 1941. It is not repeated in 42, 43, nor 44. So, production started in the No Letter block in 1941 and ran straight through to productions end in the "m" block in mid 1944. I do not know where you came up with the number 8400??


I got it from this page, I think however I am just interpreting it wrong not knowing how the letter blocks work
 

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Joezeta,
Not sure where you came up with that information but much of it is incorrect. The biggest an most glaring miss-information he puts out is the lack of a "no letter" block production. Fact of the matter is; there was a "no letter" block production because, until recent, I owned the lowest known serial numbered G98/40. A 1941, #1315. I sold it along with other G98/40's to another forum member here. There is a forum member here that has done a serial number study on G98/40s on another forum site: ww2weaponsforum.com. His name is Vaugh99. Years ago, I use to feed him G98/40 serial number observations. Vaugh has been very inactive on both forums in the last few years. He has some great information on the other forum that includes the waffenamt change on the rifle in 1942.
 
That page you posted is fairly incorrect. I wouldn't use it or any other information from that website. I agree with LTCar2's comments. As he mentioned, they started numbering them with 1 and not 1a. That means there were 9,999 rifles manufactured prior to where the confused author thinks they started. I have never seen any matching, original condition G98/40 with a Hungarian Ny marked safety. To the best of my knowledge, no one has ever reported finding a G98/40 in the N block. The last reported examples were in the mid M block. They were never originally numbered on the bolt ball either. G98/40 rifle number 1a is owned by a collector and was postwar renumbered with a serial number on the ball of the bolt. That rifle becomes worth more if it was the first ever produced and if it is factory matching. That rifle (1a) is neither the first G98/40 nor is it original matching.

Here's a link showing a G98/40 with a three digit no letter block serial number:
http://www.k98kforum.com/showthread.php?14404-G98-40-jhv-41
 
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No expert

Even in the past, early to late 60's . these rifles were . uncommon. A few of the big dealers handled them, but to many a shooter the saving

grace was the caliber, cheap and sold everywhere. IT is good to see more interest developing in these few specimens. An old timer ( me, now 70)

said a load of them came in from TAIWAN, post war goodies to CHINA, brought to Taiwan after China went Red'

That is a keeper, only to be displayed and admired
 
Great rifle and outstanding condition. I have one G98/40 on layaway right now. Going to be picking it up at the next Ohio show next month.
 
OP that 98/40 is a museum piece unissued I'm sure. Almost looks like a fake to good to be true.
Has the impossible to find original round hood. Wish I could find a repro hood for mine.
 
OP that 98/40 is a museum piece unissued I'm sure. Almost looks like a fake to good to be true.
Has the impossible to find original round hood. Wish I could find a repro hood for mine.


Definitely not a fake, And not restored or touched up. The rifle had mild surface rust/powder on the metal that was cleaned the right way..... I still need to take it down and clean any active rust under the wood but hate messing with the screws, but I know it needs to be treated....Inside the trigger guard and front site hood shows what the rest of the metal looked like. The bore also did not look great at all when I first got it, But been working on it a little each day and now it’s back to near new looking. The wood was never touched and I am not doing anything to it. The bayonet / scabbard I removed the active rust and oiled it.
 

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