98a Unit Marking/ value

Razaetan

Member
Hello,

I am wondering if someone with more insight than myself would be able to offer opinions on the value of this rifle. I am also very interested to know the unit markings present.

I have been collecting Mausers for about a year, and this is the first WW1 Mauser I have purchased.

I appreciate any info!

Thanks
 
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Ok, finally got my pictures formatted to work:
 

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Before someone else says it, your pictures are a bit tiny. If you have the ability to email larger versions, I'm sure one of us here will post them. From what I can see in the pics, the gun appears to be in nice shape.
 
Larger photos added.
 

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Two things, first is pictures are required for any evaluations, these "larger" ones are neither large nor useful for an evaluation. Not showing things like serial numbers, acceptance and clear shots of the various markings rarely get good responses.

Second this is an interwar unit marking, "D.R." = Deutsche Reichsbahn or German Railway. It was a rather small force, so an uncommon marking, but condition of the rifle determines value, as the stock would have to match the receiver for it to have any influence on value.

In 2006 someone brought this rifle to Gunboards, he said it was matching, but gave very few details besides.
 
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I am not sure how to make the photos larger without being too large to upload. When I get back from the holiday I will repost with some better pictures.

All serialized parts are matching on the rifle. I am curious to know who posted it in 2006. It is likely that he is the "original" owner of 20+ WW2 guns I have ended up with as of late.

It seems his collection ended up in a storage unit that was bought by the guy that ended up selling me this rifle and many others.

I appreciate the information regarding the unit marking, and hopefully better pictures will make it easier to put a value on this rifle.

Thanks
 
The pictures are one third the maximum allowable, though typically when I upload pictures they are larger than 300kb and the forum reduces them automatically. Size is less important than what is photographed, for one "matching" has several meanings, it depends on the context (rifle as a whole, or its sum of parts and markingss). There is factory original matching, there is Imperial reworked matching, there is interwar depot matching and there is humper matching, - plus others besides. Acceptance patterns can be important also, especially interwar and nazi era reworks, how the stock is marked can often tell if and who did the work, sometimes gives a clue to when... barrel markings can often help along these lines too.

Here is the original post, there is more, but drivel mostly (other than CB's outline of "D.R." = Deutsches Reichsbahn or German Railway, with a brief history...)

epidoc
Gunboards Premium Member


USA
119 PostsPosted - 12/26/2006 : 2:00:47 PM


I'm considering buying an all matching Kar98a. It was made at Erfurt in 1915. On the tang of the butt plate it is marked D.R. 471. Can anyone tell me what the D.R. stands for?


J. L. Lyon




I am not sure how to make the photos larger without being too large to upload. When I get back from the holiday I will repost with some better pictures.

All serialized parts are matching on the rifle. I am curious to know who posted it in 2006. It is likely that he is the "original" owner of 20+ WW2 guns I have ended up with as of late.

It seems his collection ended up in a storage unit that was bought by the guy that ended up selling me this rifle and many others.

I appreciate the information regarding the unit marking, and hopefully better pictures will make it easier to put a value on this rifle.

Thanks
 
Very interesting. I will have to contact this individual and hopefully I can get more information about the guy that previously owned this piece.

I appreciate the info, and I am impressed that you have been able to remember this rifle posted all these years ago.

I believe it is not reworked (factory matching), but as I stated, I will take some decent pictures when I am able and let more experience eyes decide.

Thanks again. I have interacted with you on various forums in the past and you have been nothing but helpful and informative.

Regards.
 
A few more pictures of the rifle.
 

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And more pics..
 

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I can take other pics if needed.

Thanks for any input.
 

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It is authentic, but it is an interwar rework, which is no great surprise. Hate to place a value on it as it is a rework, but it is "matching" and it has a desirable unit marking also, so two things working against the other... to the right collector it would be worth stretching for it, for most, maybe not too much.

It looks like it is a thorough rework also, probably bolt is original to the action (but blued), the rest is scrubbed and re-numbered to match, but it is authentic to period imo. Most of the work is very typical of depot work in the interwar period, where they typically scrubbed parts and re-numbered to match, also scrubbing stocks and the old markings faint perhaps but clearly removed and the new numbers and acceptance sharp and often over the old markings. You have a HZa (depot) stamp at the wrist, hard to make out, but they probably did the work. If you can do a good picture of the HZa mark, you might know who reworked it. Not a big value point, but might mean something to someone and does lend credibility to the work.

There are a few of these known (DR's), this might be in the best shape of those known, so that is a plus too. Interwar rifles, reworked or not (most were to one degree or another) are hard to find period "matching", yours has it all, looks all period done and in one piece, with a desirable unit marking.

If you feel adventurous, you might look under the handguard or stock, it might have been re-barreled, which typically doesn't tell us a great deal as I do not think many barrels were made in the interwar period (for the 98a) but it might have a clue, a new FP or something that tells you more. Some interwar 98a have unique barrels, Police marked ones especially. Think about this carefully though, removing handguards and stocks on the 98a, especially for the first time is problematic, it isn't difficult to damage the handguard..
 
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I should clarify one thing, I do not mean to say that these rifles are not desirable, - it is simply a fact that Imperial and nazi era have a larger following and greater demand. Many like "war" era rifles and many more do not collect rework anything, and most interwar have been at least upgraded (modified for sS patrone), the vast majority reworked thoroughly... but the greatest bargains in German small arms collecting is found in the interwar period, - relative handfuls of rifles have survived in any kind of collectible condition compared to Imperial or nazi era rifles. It is a fact that there is almost no "rare" 98k when compared to Imperial or interwar, and interwar are far less commonly found in any kind of "matching" condition... but it is also true the demand isn't there for them either. So prices are ridiculously low considering the rarity interwar rifles represent.

The rifle is rather rare in this condition, but very few collect them, - though police and railway, or any Infantry unit marked do have an advantage over unmarked or mismatchers. It could be a worth double to the right collector, but to many it is just a reworked 98a, or a rifle with some extra markings, so the real problem is finding the right buyer to get a fair price.
 
Concur with Loewe. Unit markings collectors (for lack of a better term) are few on the ground; those with an appreciation of the interwar organisations even fewer. The K98a as a class is IMO one of the more interesting versions of the German M98 series simply because they were in service so long and with so many diverse organisations.
 
Awesome to hear. I picked it up for nearly nothing, and I am really impressed with the overall condition. It is an interesting piece for sure. I do not mind that it has been reworked by a depot, as that is still correct in my opinion. It is a one of a kind in my collection at the moment, and I plan to hang onto it for the time being.

Thanks for the info guys, I am pleased to hear exactly what it is that I've got.
 
Nor should you be concerned with the "rework" issues, they are common to all but a very few interwar rifles, - almost no rifle that served 1919-1933 Germany didn't go through a rework of one form or another. Even 98b's usually went through some work prior to 1945.

Once i saw the 98b you also posted, I thought it appropriate to move this 98a to the interwar period, as its importance and relevance is related to its interwar history. Both are nice rifles, - the early 98b are very tough to find, there are more e-f blocks in original condition than all the rest combined, probably twice over.
 
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