Kar 98

B

Benny65

Member
I feel like someone making their first post with this one. All the time I have spent on this board teaches you to do your research before you buy, but I must have let the lingering after effects of bourbon bring on poor judgement. I have been wanting a Kar 98 for a while, but they don't show up on the trader often, so I bought this at the LGS when I seen it.
The bolts been cleaned with a heavy hand, but I'm not sure about the rest. For better or worst I bought it. At worst it will be another lesson learned and expensive shooter.
https://imgur.com/a/8Hb2Bwf

Thanks for looking and any feedback
Benny
 
It looks like a textbook 1917 Erfurt. I think you did just fine, the stock looks great and the bolt doesn't look that noticably cleaned. It's a good example of a fairly common year, but hardly ever that nice!
 
Thanks for the nice comments and taking a look at it. It was 1500.00 , but I don't know if that's average or not. I just took a chance and then the feeling I missed something took over when I got home. I don't know Imperial rifles that well, just had a gut feeling that it was too clean for a rifle this old.
 
I appreciate everyone comments. I guess I was lucky this time, but I don't recommend buying without a lot of knowledge or the research first.

I'd like to add a sling to the rifle, would it be the same as a K98k sling or different? What are the odds of finding one from WWI?
 
Benny65 said:
I appreciate everyone comments. I guess I was lucky this time, but I don't recommend buying without a lot of knowledge or the research first.

I'd like to add a sling to the rifle, would it be the same as a K98k sling or different? What are the odds of finding one from WWI?
Click to expand...
A k98k sling would work in a pinch, you'll see them on Weimar/Nazi era 98a, but on this rifle, I'd try for a correct one. WWI era Kar98a slings are fairly scarce. They are most easily identified by the 9 holes on them. There are slight variances on the loop/buckle with regard to whether cavalry or artillery. They show up occasionally but generally are fairly expensive for sling standards ($4-500)
 
Benny65 said:
I appreciate everyone comments. I guess I was lucky this time, but I don't recommend buying without a lot of knowledge or the research first.

I'd like to add a sling to the rifle, would it be the same as a K98k sling or different? What are the odds of finding one from WWI?
Click to expand...
You can find decent reproduction slings
 
No need to beat yourself up at all - that's one solid Kar98a. I love the stock. Type 3 un-sanded walnut, very very nice!! The bolt looks fine, MAYBE someone cleaned some patina as some point and if they did IMO they did a great job, definitely no Ethiopian wire-wheeling LOL! That price is fair, and for what you got, if it were me, I would pretty pleased. Welcome to the Kar98a gang!! And with a muzzle cover to boot, quite the bonus. I've heard them going for $200+. Pretty sure that's a Weimar Era one though?

Why is the rollmark giving me double vision though???
 
I think you did pretty decent. Muzzle covers have been rather rare to come up for sale and I have seen them (and bought one) at around $200. Original slings are just as rare, and I have seen them go for $350-500. Most that I have seen are super fragile, so I would recommend going with a high quality repro one, if you are intending to shoot it or "handle it" often.
 
Thanks everyone who replied. It takes some worry off my mind, as I had some hard lessons about buying German rifles early on.
I don't shoot the collectable guns often and if I do it's usually the bolt guns or US semi's.

Gerst, Krukster any leads on where to find a quality reproduction sling. Reply in IM if it's not something for the open forum.

OnlyMil, The ER and RT look OK, but the FU and 1917 look like something shifted when it was applied. Maybe it's trying to say something about 1917.
20230113_181401.jpg
 
You did pretty good considering that every Imperial rifle is over 100 years old at this point and the extent of messing with on this one is relegated to a stock initial(?) and a cleaned bolt. And that stock is gorgeous, beautiful walnut with clear acceptance stamps that escaped Bubba's infamous sandpaper. A repro sling would probably serve you better than an original sling considering leather generally doesn't age as well as wood and steel. Consider yourself lucky to even see one at an LGS. I apparently live in the land of butchered Arisakas and have a hard time even finding an intact Spanish mauser at my LGS. I have never seen an Imperial German rifle there and I've been going there for over 4 years now.
 
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