Help identifying 1941 K98

B

Bcoutdoors

Member
Hello everyone,

I am looking to pull on the knowledge of this forum for help with this k98 I am looking at buying.

I see that it is a Portuguese contract rifle. It appears to be fully matching but a question I have is why there is an H stamped under the Waffen Amt stamps in the butstock? From other examples I have seen there is no H stamp there. If there are any other oddities I haven’t noticed please let me know.

Finally if anyone knows a rough value for a rifle like this that would be great. I’m not very familiar with contract rifles.

Thanks for looking!
 
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Here is a close up of the H stamp I am curious about. I am familiar with these on regular German army use rifles as “Heer” designation stamps but didn’t expect to find it on a Portuguese
 
if I remember correctly towards the end of the Port contract there was need for the remaining undelivered rifles & the Heer took them for their own troops
 
Muncher 1953 said:
if I remember correctly towards the end of the Port contract there was need for the remaining undelivered rifles & the Heer took them for their own troops
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Thank you,

Yes so I have heard. However from my research I haven’t been able to identify if that is what the “H” really represents.
 
Muncher 1953 said:
if I remember correctly towards the end of the Port contract there was need for the remaining undelivered rifles & the Heer took them for their own troops
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I was wondering the same thing but I don't know anything about the Portuguese contract rifles. Would the ones snagged by the Heer also of had a Heer acceptance stamp on the receiver?
 
bda said:
I was wondering the same thing but I don't know anything about the Portuguese contract rifles. Would the ones snagged by the Heer also of had a Heer acceptance stamp on the receiver?
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I would assume so, but I didn’t notice that while looking at the Ports in the Picture Reference.
AND you know what assuming does……….hahaha

EDIT: not sure what you mean, the Heer acceptance mark for the complete RIFLE is the “H” on the right butt. If you were to look in Picture Reference, and also search on ‘Portuguese’ and look at those photos, you’ll see that most Port rifles are covered in WaA marks, but I didn’t see any ‘top finals’ on the receivers shown. (they have that big fancy crest) The branch of service acceptance marks H, L or M are on the butt and nowhere else on each rifle. A barreled action is only a part of a rifle, it has no ‘branch of service’ marks, and this is also true of the other parts. (though they may have WaAs on them)
 
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Ok thank you very much everyone for the help. I guess there is no ability to make a conclusion on if it was used by the German military or not. I have read on other posts the only way is
1. It’s a RC
2. Norwegian rework
3. Has legitimate bring back papers

I am curious if anyone can shed some light on the price,

Seller is asking $2,000 for it with a bayonet

I would jump on a 1941 BYF German rifle with bayo for that price but being what it is I’m not sure.

Any thoughts?
 
How certain are we that the stocks were only H-marked once in Army hands? Because I've also got a 1941 Portuguese with an H-marked stock. It's a stock m/m but it came that way as one of the recent imports, and the stock is otherwise correct for a 1941 Oberndorf. Given the general condition and the grime between the stock and rifle I have little doubt that it was put on in Portuguese service.
 
A lot of the Portuguese issued rifles have the stock acceptance according to Vol 2. My F block recently imported from Portugal and sold by Centerfire has it.
 
1941 M937B Feature H mark on stocks
Mine has it.
Here is an example with the H
centerfiresystems.com

German K98 M937B 8mm Mauser w/ Portuguese Crest - 17

Discover the historic K98 German-made Mauser M937B with a Portuguese crest, chambered in 8mm. Renowned for its reliability and accuracy, this rifle showcases precision engineering and carries the historic crest, adding a unique touch to its authenticity and standing as a testament to military...
centerfiresystems.com centerfiresystems.com
All good and correct. They were accepted and used in the Portuguese Army. These days, if you want to buy a correct and matching Kar98 do not bother with anything else other than M937A or M937B. The Mosin Crate will have another drop of M937As soon. Otherwise, you might be dealing with some fake with renumbered bolt.
 
Muncher 1953 said:
I would assume so, but I didn’t notice that while looking at the Ports in the Picture Reference.
AND you know what assuming does……….hahaha

EDIT: not sure what you mean, the Heer acceptance mark for the complete RIFLE is the “H” on the right butt. If you were to look in Picture Reference, and also search on ‘Portuguese’ and look at those photos, you’ll see that most Port rifles are covered in WaA marks, but I didn’t see any ‘top finals’ on the receivers shown. (they have that big fancy crest) The branch of service acceptance marks H, L or M are on the butt and nowhere else on each rifle. A barreled action is only a part of a rifle, it has no ‘branch of service’ marks, and this is also true of the other parts. (though they may have WaAs on them)
Click to expand...
I think that I just found the answer to my question in the Karabiner Book vol. II a page 294. No M937-A contracts had no service acceptance but the M937-B rifles were accepted by the Heer and marked with E/H on the stock and later E/WaA135 and used by the Army. There is one picture in the book with a E/135 on the receiver above the Portuguese stamp on a M937-B rifle.
 
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bda said:
I think that I just found the answer to my question in the Karabiner Book vol. II a page 294. No M937-A contracts had no service acceptance but the M937-B rifles were accepted by the Heer and marked with E/H on the stock and later E/WaA135 and used by the Army. There is one picture in the book with a E/135 on the receiver above the Portuguese stamp on a M937-B rifle.
Click to expand...
Hello,
For M937B contract - the Portuguese just requested a standard set of German proofing markings and happily accepted them into their own army incl "H" mark.
 
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adlep2002 said:
1941 M937B Feature H mark on stocks
Mine has it.
Here is an example with the H
centerfiresystems.com

German K98 M937B 8mm Mauser w/ Portuguese Crest - 17

Discover the historic K98 German-made Mauser M937B with a Portuguese crest, chambered in 8mm. Renowned for its reliability and accuracy, this rifle showcases precision engineering and carries the historic crest, adding a unique touch to its authenticity and standing as a testament to military...
centerfiresystems.com centerfiresystems.com
All good and correct. They were accepted and used in the Portuguese Army. These days, if you want to buy a correct and matching Kar98 do not bother with anything else other than M937A or M937B. The Mosin Crate will have another drop of M937As soon. Otherwise, you might be dealing with some fake with renumbered bolt.
Click to expand...
I wouldn't go that far. You're starting to see Portuguese rifles with humped bolts - lots of them were sold as honest m/m and some are turning up all matching now. It's also not that hard to get a correct and matching k98k if you take the time to learn what you're looking at.
 
Cyrano4747 said:
I wouldn't go that far. You're starting to see Portuguese rifles with humped bolts - lots of them were sold as honest m/m and some are turning up all matching now. It's also not that hard to get a correct and matching k98k if you take the time to learn what you're looking at.
Click to expand...
where? got some examples? overall the potential "burn learning curve" is way lower with Ports IMO. And its not like i don't believe you. I just want to see the Port humps for reference. I am hoarding Ports as an investment opportunity...
 
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