My Mauser K98

[Centuriator]

Good morning all, I finally got around to shooting a video of my K98. Here it is. I also this morning looked more carefully at it and found more proof marks and numbers here and there. I'm a little disappointed that I could not capture the swastikas on video, but after examining it very closely with a magnifying glass, the swastikas are definitely intact, not peened out.

I've *not* disassembled it so can't show you more detail on what the wood may be hiding. Wow, the Germans were nuts for details...numbers and symbols, some extremely tiny, stamped everywhere.

This particular rifle was manufactured in 1940 at an actual Mauser plant, specifically: Mauser-Werke AG, Werk Berlin-Borsigwalde, Eichborndamm, Germany.

The butt plate has the marking bpr 40 WaA497 and at the bottom of the butt plate 5171 b

I'd be particularly interested to know what the butt plate markings mean.

Here's the video:

I welcome any of your thoughts on the "pedigree" of this specimen:

[youtube]http://youtu.be/MyPhZ_tX_Bw[/youtube]

 

[Prometheus]

numbers and symbols, some extremely tiny, stamped everywhere.

All parts were gaged and then stamped before they were assembled. So all parts were interchangeable.
The K98 is one of the best rifle ever made.
Made to allive in the mud.

 

[Panzer22]

Made to last 1000 years...

 

[Clod-NC]

Hi Amsdorf,hi all

Congratulations Amsdorf,I can see you got yourself a pretty piece of weaponry there.My old man brought back just the same from Lybia when he volontiered to join the Forces Françaises Libres in WW II.Mine was built in 1940 too,and like yours has got all the original markings on it,on every single part that constitute the rifle,and they're all the same,6788,with the Eagle on Swastika too.I don't quite agree about the Enfield being superior to the K98,my grand father had one too,brought back from WWI and it has nothing to do in terms of mechanical efficiency and design with the Mauser,I played with both when I was a kid,and could,at the time already, see and comprehend that they were both different beasts...I could trade 2 of those Enfields in good shape against 1 K98,and I don't feel I'm being partial,just plain rational.If you really want to talk to people who know and love these old warhorses(still kicking nonetheless,mine is at least),I recommend you check with Mauser central(forum),if you haven't done it yet;these guys will give you everything, every hint and data you might be interested into.Normally,from what my own experience and search showed,your bolt don't seem to be the original one,this marking it displays cannot be from any of the german plant that produced these weapons;mine is stamped on the shroud,bolt handle,safety flag,extractor,but certainly not on the action main tube,or at least not in this kind of engraving,everything related to numerical reference is stamped,not ground;even the bottom metal screws are stamped.It's definitely a nice piece of "ironmongery",and they shoot,even with only the mechanical sights,pretty easy to disassemble too. Really Amsdorf,I'm glad you acquired this nice one there that looks in pretty good shape.A happy new year to you and to all,and good shooting.