Norwegian Mauser 98 in .30-06

[olyinaz]

Can someone tell me what the going rate for these things is? All numbers matching, a lot of blue left but still a '40 byf Mauser and it shows a good deal of wear. HAER marked (Army). No proofs ground off (all dirty birds present). Bore is excellent, muzzle looks near perfect.

Would $1000 be way too high? Seems like I recall them going for more like $600-800 depending on condition. It's for a gift and they're not hanging on trees so I don't mind paying top dollar but I don't want to get really abused.

Thanks,
Oly

[Tamara]

Standard Catalog of Military Firearms, 5th Ed. claims FAIR: $250, GOOD: $400, V.G.: $550, EXC: $700.

Of course, modify that by how often you run across one... I don't know that I'd go a grand, but I'd definitely be willing to pay towards the high end of the above scale for most any decent shooter.

[eastbank]

i have a ex con norwegian 3006 also a army issue and i would not sell mine for 1000.00, what rifles are here is all thats comming and i looked long and hard to find one in any shape and lucked into this one. eastbank.

[Shotgunaholic]

30-06? Not a 8mm? Tell me more.

Attached is the M98 my father brought home. It is a DOT 43. All numbers match. The bayo and scabbard match each other also.

[Tamara]

Originally Posted by Shotgunaholic

30-06? Not a 8mm? Tell me more.

Norway came into possession of a buttload of 98k's when the Jerries went back to Deutschland after WWII. Since the Norwegian army was being reequipped along American lines, with foreign-aid Garands and suchlike, the Mausers were re-barreled to '06 and used for support troops, reservists, and REMFs for a few years, until they had enough new stuff to gear everybody up.

It's one of a few Mauser 98-type weapons in .30-'06; I have a Brazilian Itajuba-manufactured M1908/34 that looks for all the world like a kar.98k, but is chambered in .30-'06.

[eastbank]

shotgunaholic, very nice 98 mauser, keep it or better yet send it to me for safe storage. 98,s are nice. here is one i realy like a AX 41 all matching in ex con. eastbank.

[simonkenton]

Buy it!

I would love to have a Norweigan Mauser in 30-06!

[James K]

FWIW, the Belgian Model 1950 made by FN is chambered for the .30-'06 and the clip guide is made for the M1903 clip. A bunch of those in brand new, unissued condition were imported years ago.

Jim

[Tom2]

I had one of those in excellent condition, once. Two changes, barrel is replaced with a basically identical contour barrel in 30.06 and there is a clearance cut in the receiver to allow for loading. Lots of them in date codes not often seen by people that buy vet bringbacks as many were like 41's etc. I certainly did not pay anything near 1K and now I wish I kept it if it is worth that. It apparently saw little or no use after conversion and the bore was mint. Still despite the caliber change, it had that nasty little steel cup buttplate that seemed to amplify recoil for me. I hate those things and the bruises I got. That was summer shooting with little clothing to soak it up. No gray wool greatcoat to pad me.

[eastbank]

for a all matching 98 german mauser in ex con. i would pay 1000.00 and if it were a sniper with matching scope or a 98/33-40 mountian carbine a whole lot more. the key is condition and all matching number and not fiddled with. as a young man i destroyed many fine surplus rifles not knowing any better and being able to buy them cheap,thinging they would be advailable for ever. hell i though i would live forever. eastbank. ps here is a rare swede model 38 made in 1944 that i lucked into at a public auction on labor day.

[kilimanjaro]

The Germans had about 30,000 troops in Norway in 1945, plus whatever spare weapons were in the supply tail, so considering that some were undoubtedly destroyed by some units at surrender, there are not a lot of these available, probably no more than 30,000. When they came on the market about 15 years ago they did not last long.

[olyinaz]

Thanks guys, I appreciate it.

Best,
Oly

[olyinaz]

And let me add that there are some beautiful Mausers in this thread! That war bring-back one fella posted is simply stunning - DO NOT SELL IT! And if you do, please sell it to me.

But really all of the example is the thread are nice - thanks folks.

Oly

[Shotgunaholic]

Olyinaz & Eastbank,
Thanks for the nice comments and your offers, but it will probably go to my grandson.

[olyinaz]

Yes, that's a grandson kind of prize if ever there were one.

Well, I pulled the trigger on the Norwegian Mauser for my pops. He's 100% Norwegian and was excited to hear about it and yep, he wants to give it to his grandsons (my boys). It wasn't a great deal or a bargain or anything but he's less concerned with that vs. it being simply a nice example. One never knows about these things but the pictures make it look wonderful so we're very hopeful it will be.

Thanks again guys,
Oly

[UltimaThule]

The Germans had about 30,000 troops in Norway in 1945, plus whatever spare weapons were in the supply tail, so considering that some were undoubtedly destroyed by some units at surrender, there are not a lot of these available, probably no more than 30,000. When they came on the market about 15 years ago they did not last long.

30,000??? They would have been outnumbered nearly two to one by the resistance...

The Germans had 400,000 troops in Norway in early 1945, but some of those were sent back to defend Germany in the last weeks of the war. If memory serves, 385,000 German troops surrendered in Norway in May, plus nearly 100,000 non military Germans such as secretaries, bureaucrats, SS, Gestapo etc.

I doubt many weapons were destroyed, the surrender was well organized. So several hundred thousand of these rifles ended up in Norwegain hands, and that's where most of them still are. Heck, I have a half dozen here in the room with me as I type this. A huge buttload were rebuilt with heavy match barrels and target aperture sights and sold through the Norwegian National Rifle Association for competition use.

The rifles that hit the market 15-ish years ago came from the last batch collecting dust in military stores, 20-25,000 rifles. I'm guessing most of those are still in the country too, which is why they are "rare" outside of Norway. I think the price here is still less than $200.

[eastbank]

i heard that the norwegian government destoryed quite a few of them. and what was here was it. eastbank.

[UltimaThule]

eastbank, not one single rifle destroyed as far as I know. Whoever told you that was wrong.

That said, you're not going to see any more of those particular rifles in the US unless they are imported one, or a few, at the time. The government is all sold out. They just happened to sell almost all of them domestically, a few thousand at the time, spread out over decades. Hey, there are more than four million people in this country - a few hundred thousand rifles will only go so far...

[olyinaz]

Hey, there are more than four million people in this country - a few hundred thousand rifles will only go so far...

Hey, there are more than four million people in Phoenix! Thank God I live down in Tucson where we have a few hundred thousand rifles.

Tak for the info!

Ole

[eastbank]

ultimathule, i read about the green party destroying the 98,s on line ,i think the poster was from norway. i,m glad it was not true so some one can still enjoy these rifles. i looked for one here and finely found one at a gun show, i was walking past a display when i saw the ground reciever(if the display rack would have been turned around i would not have noticed it) i picked it up right away and kept in my hands untill i got the owner and bought it. eastbank.

[kilimanjaro]

I stand corrected on 30,000 vs. 300,000 Wehrmacht troops in Norway in 1945, I'll type slower next time....still, these are not common rifles and when available, should be snapped up by the discerning collector. They were about $250 in 1990'ish, now nearly triple in nice condition.

The Russian Capture '98s, with all the mismatched parts, refinishing, etc., are the same bargain today.

[dogolden]

My mother is from Oslo so pretty much I have been searching for Norwegian Mausers for many years. I have only seen 3 of them in person and I owned 2 of them. I sold my 'spare' Norwegian k98 last weekend at a gunshow. I'm guessing a decent Norwegian k98 should go for $500-$1000 depending on condition!

[olyinaz]

Thanks again for the info guys.

My dad is 100% Norwegian from South Dakota/Minnesota and he wanted it no matter the price so we bought it. Paid too much perhaps but as another said in the thread how often do you see them? To heck with it, life is short, my dad is old, and he wanted it - done deal.

Just scored a Norwegian Krag 6.5mm with Nazi occupation waffenamts and eagles as well. Paid far too much for it as well I'm sure but read above again if necessary.

My Dad, my boys and I will all be out shooting them soon and THAT is what it's all about.

Best,
Oly

[phantom06]

Greetings all:
Thanks to those who posted info on the Norwegian 98K's. I've had mine for close to 25 years and was never aware of much beyond the fact they were re-issued by Norway. Between this site and a few others, I've been able to figure out quite a bit about my particular gun.

Mine is a 1937 S/42 (Mauser produced). As discussed, the original Wehrmacht number is marked out (mine by way of dashes through the original sn). The HAER stamp and new number sitting right above the original number. My rifle appears to have retained almost all the original parts, including the rear sight -- which another site stated were often not kept with their original rifles. The stock doesn't appear to have been messed with at all

I've not had much opportunity to shoot mine in a very long time (probably about 20 years) and I don't think I fired more than a box through it since I've had it. As I recall, it kicks pretty good!

Anyway, sorry to drag this thread up but wanted to say thanks to those who posted info. I'm not getting any younger and time is coming when it will be time to sell her off. It's nice to know these fine rifles have a loyal following.

[olyinaz]

Yes, they do!

Mine kicks like a mule with .30-06 ammo as well but it also shoots really well with the nearly new Norwegian barrel.

They seem to pop up on Gunbroker fairly regularly but not always in great shape. There's one on there now that's very mismatched and also import stamped and, as such, I'm not interested in it but the price has been coming down.

Let us know when it's time to sell it!

Best,
Oly