Gew 98 Authenticity/Value Check

[mark1871]

Hey all, I am looking at buying a local Gew 98, and am wondering about its authenticity and value. It looks to be a rebuilt rifle, receiver markings look mostly correct? Is this a mil issued rifle or civilian model? I noticed it says M.98 not Gew 98 on the receiver?

Parts are NOT matching either.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[PrayingMantis]

It’s correct but worn. The rail says Gew.98. but the marking has faded. It was military made but part of the batch sent to the Ottomans in WWI and used by Turkey postwar. These are pretty common, imported in large numbers in the ‘90s. Recently they’ve gone up in value though. Anything below $750 would be a good price.

 

[mark1871]

Hm alright, the seller wants $700 for it... How do we know which batches were sent to the Ottos? Not trying to question you, just curious if it's based off the serial number range or something? Also, is the receiver blued or just super worn? Cosmetically is there any difference from a German used G98 vs Otto used G98? I'm mainly looking for a wall hanger to go next to an Imperial German flag, so as long as it looks the part from 6 feet away, not toooo concerned.

 

[PatickD]

This mark probably says: “Turkey”, albeit faintly.

 

[mark1871]

Would stock marking mean anything? Also a few photos of the chamber

 

[mark1871]

import marking + ?

 

[Muncher 1953]

import marking + ?

2nd pic is import mark, can’t really make it out tho.
can you show us the top view of the receiver, where it says “Waffenfabrik Mauser Oberndorf, & the year?

 

[mark1871]

2nd pic is import mark, can’t really make it out tho.
can you show us the top view of the receiver, where it says “Waffenfabrik Mauser Oberndorf, & the year?

This is the only angle he has shown

 

[PrayingMantis]

Hm alright, the seller wants $700 for it... How do we know which batches were sent to the Ottos? Not trying to question you, just curious if it's based off the serial number range or something? Also, is the receiver blued or just super worn? Cosmetically is there any difference from a German used G98 vs Otto used G98? I'm mainly looking for a wall hanger to go next to an Imperial German flag, so as long as it looks the part from 6 feet away, not toooo concerned.

Many 1917 WMOs and most 1918 WMOs went to the Ottomans. Exact serial numbers haven’t been identified, but there’s a very distinct look. On this one, the later addition B by the serial on the receiver is a dead give away. It isn’t blued, just toned, bluing would look more uniform. There is no different between these and the ones used by the imperial German army, they were the same pattern from the same facility. Postwar modifications differ though.

 

[mark1871]

Many 1917 WMOs and most 1918 WMOs went to the Ottomans. Exact serial numbers haven’t been identified, but there’s a very distinct look. On this one, the later addition B by the serial on the receiver is a dead give away. It isn’t blued, just toned, bluing would look more uniform. There is no different between these and the ones used by the imperial German army, they were the same pattern from the same facility. Postwar modifications differ though.

Seller claims it’s a 1913 if that helps.

 

[mark1871]

I keep reading that serial numbers should start at 1000 and go up to 9999 with a letter suffix for the G98. Any idea what/why this one has a 675 serial and what that may mean?

 

[pzjgr]

Serial is 675 k, so its a "k" block gun...serials started at "1" and went to 9999, then rolled over to "1 a", etc...so 675 k is actually number 120,675 produced for the year.

 

[AN-94]

Seller claims it’s a 1913 if that helps.

My guess is part of the 8 in 1918 is faint and the seller has mistaken it for a 3.

I keep reading that serial numbers should start at 1000 and go up to 9999 with a letter suffix for the G98. Any idea what/why this one has a 675 serial and what that may mean?

Serial numbers go from 1-9999 with no suffix for the first series and then repeat with a letter suffix in alphabetical order. If they made up through the alphabet, then they would use a double letter suffix (aa, bb, cc, etc.) until the year was over. This would be reset every year. This numbering system was used in up through 1942 by the German military.

 

[mark1871]

My guess is part of the 8 in 1918 is faint and the seller has mistaken it for a 3.

Serial numbers go from 1-9999 with no suffix for the first series and then repeat with a letter suffix in alphabetical order. If they made up through the alphabet, then they would use a double letter suffix (aa, bb, cc, etc.) until the year was over. This would be reset every year. This numbering system was used in up through 1942 by the German military.

Ah ok, makes sense. By 1918 around 120k rifles produced (by all arsenals or just this 1?) range sounds about accurate?

 

[PrayingMantis]

Ah ok, makes sense. By 1918 around 120k rifles produced (by all arsenals or just this 1?) range sounds about accurate?

I don’t follow raw numbers very closely, but the highest 1918 WMO I’ve seen was a cc block, meaning they produced well over 120,000. So yes the one you’re looking at falls nicely in the known range.

 

[mark1871]

Oh I just noticed the 'reset every year' bit. So they were really pumping them out. But there's no way to tell if it's a 1913 or 1918 based off serial alone in that case?

 

[AN-94]

Ah ok, makes sense. By 1918 around 120k rifles produced (by all arsenals or just this 1?) range sounds about accurate?

Just Mauser Oberndorf. Waffenfabrik Mauser Oberndorf made 1,043,375 Model 98 rifles during the war alone with another 355,000 or so before the war per Storz so roughly 1.4 million Gewehr 98s from WMO alone.

 

[mark1871]

Going back a bit, what does the addition of B represent?

Many 1917 WMOs and most 1918 WMOs went to the Ottomans. Exact serial numbers haven’t been identified, but there’s a very distinct look. On this one, the later addition B by the serial on the receiver is a dead give away. It isn’t blued, just toned, bluing would look more uniform. There is no different between these and the ones used by the imperial German army, they were the same pattern from the same facility. Postwar modifications differ though.

 

[AN-94]

Oh I just noticed the 'reset every year' bit. So they were really pumping them out. But there's no way to tell if it's a 1913 or 1918 based off serial alone in that case?

Not off of serial number alone but given that the Ottomans mostly received Gewehr 98s from WMO's 1917-1918 production and those stayed in Turkish inventory long enough to be imported into the US is a pretty solid indication. Additionally, the outbreak of war consumed a large amount of pre war rifles and the German Army needed every small arm it could get, to the point where Gewehr 88s were issued in large quantity makes it unlikely that this one is a 1913.

 

[mark1871]

Ah ok fair, would the import mark be indicative of its source too? RMDGEE something? I'm confused why the import mark looks nearly as worn off as the rest of the markings lul