I had no idea this rifle was even more difficult to find than the elusive 98b. Given the apparent interest, I guess I should take some additional photos and post them as a stand alone thread.
My acquiring the rifle was a long term proposition and a positive twist of fate. The Vet who brought it back had loaned it to a small museum in my very small home town, and I had told him that if he ever reclaimed it I would like to buy it. Probably 10 or more years went by, I moved away, and I had pretty much resolved that I would never own it. Out of the blue in 1986 I got a call from my Dad who said the Vet had dropped the rifle off at my parent's home.
I contacted the Vet, asked him what I owed him, and he said nothing; He said he knew I would care for it and that the museum (now in decline and more resembling a junk shop) would not. He had no capture papers and said his CO pretty much let the men bring back anything but explosives. Anyway, that's the back story for those who are interested in such.