Help Identifying Rifle

djf1gp · February 7, 2015, 10:48 AM

I recently inherited my grandfather's rifle I'd like to get some more info on . I don't know much of anything about it, I'm not worried about value or anything, just what it is.

See pictures below. I have looked all over the gun and can't find anything that will come up in a google search. The number 9042 appears in several spots on the gun. There is a W.B. inspection mark on the bottom of the stock behind the trigger. The only other thing I see it was looks like a phoenix symbol on the bolt, I posted a picture but it is hard to see and very small.

My grandfather was a WWII vet, didn't talk much about where he went or what he did (supposedly escorted spys and other classified missions), but was in the army air corps and spent several years in europe during the war.

I have no idea if this rifle dates back to the war, it doesn't appear to match anything I've been able to find. If anyone could help it would be greatly appreciated. It could just be an older store bought rifle, but would just like to know.

Thanks

**4V50 Gary** · February 7, 2015, 12:06 PM

It's a Mauser. how about a close up view of the bolt shroud?

djf1gp · February 7, 2015, 12:39 PM

**4V50 Gary** · February 7, 2015, 04:10 PM

Looks like some variant of the Mauser 98.

djf1gp · February 7, 2015, 06:26 PM

Thanks for your help I will keep looking to see what else I can find.

**4V50 Gary** · February 7, 2015, 07:01 PM

I take it the crest on top of the receiver has been ground off. Anyway, look for proof marks. Good books include Robert Ball's Military Mausers and Ludwig Olson's Mauser Bolt Action Rifles.

Jim Watson · February 7, 2015, 07:08 PM

It is an 1898 Mauser but I do not see anything that connects it to military or sporting use. It might be military surplus that has had the stock cut down to sporter style or it might be a factory sporter with military type sights.

djf1gp · February 7, 2015, 07:18 PM

I told my dad some of what you guys have said about it and he said Pop was in Germany after they surrendered. It may have been a gift or something who knows. Can't imagine he would have bought a German rifle after returning home, he wasn't a collector or anything. Probably a cool story that went a long with it, but guess we'll never know, still glad to know a little more about it.

Scorch · February 7, 2015, 09:34 PM

That is a Mauser 98 rifle. It looks as if it was modified for hunting in a more European fashion, so it was likely done in Europe before your grandfather got the rifle.

After Germany surrendered, civilians were required to surrender their firearms. These were generally piled up and carted off by the US military. Many people would sell their guns to US servicemen, other firearms would be taken by US servicemen from the piles of firearms turned in. And many of the firearms turned in were later sold on the surplus market as well. Also, these were cheap hunting rifles for many years, selling for $25 to $50 at hardware and surplus stores, and used as trading goods and bartering. If your grandfather is no longer living, you will never know how he came to own the rifle.

trigger643 · February 7, 2015, 10:52 PM

It is a small ring mauser 98.

Much of it once was a Kar.98a of WW1 vintage. The bolt is from a Kar.98a of WWI vintage, as is the rear sight.

The original stock dates from 1915/16 before the use of grasping groves and has been whittled into a sporter. The end caps and muzzle bits are gone. It also has been rebarreled and the receiver scrubbed.

See:

http://www.ycgg.org/pdfpages/ww1/kar98a.pdf

djf1gp · February 8, 2015, 09:25 AM

thanks all

James K · February 8, 2015, 03:27 PM

It is a Kar. 98a, but probably not a WWII souvenir. Many of those guns were sold to Turkey after WWII, and later sold by the Turks to American importers. A bit lighter than the standard K.98k, they were a favorite for conversion to sporting rifles, both in bulk by importers and by individual customers.

The receiver ring markings, which could help with its history, appear to have been removed.

Jim

**44 AMP** · February 18, 2015, 01:14 AM

It does appear to have matching numbers, which is nice, but in this case, worth nothing, because of all the other changes to the rifle. Not collectable. Not really marketable these days, either.

Sentimental value? possibly priceless.

I sure I've seen that rifle (and those feet) somewhere else...

James K · February 18, 2015, 08:29 PM

"Many of those guns were sold to Turkey after WWII ..."

Sorry, I added an "I"; that should be WWI. The Germans had planned to make the short "Kar 98a" their standard rifle but problems with it caused them to reconsider and later adopt the K.98k. So they sold off most of the Kar. 98a's to Turkey. Sold again as surplus by the Turks, many were imported into the U.S. where they became known as the "small ring Turk 98."

Jim

Dufus · February 24, 2015, 02:21 PM

Appearance and numbers indicate it is a Czech 98k.

I have one very similar.

February 7, 2015, 10:48 AM	#1
djf1gp Junior Member Join Date: February 6, 2015 Posts: 5	Help Identifying Rifle I recently inherited my grandfather's rifle I'd like to get some more info on . I don't know much of anything about it, I'm not worried about value or anything, just what it is. See pictures below. I have looked all over the gun and can't find anything that will come up in a google search. The number 9042 appears in several spots on the gun. There is a W.B. inspection mark on the bottom of the stock behind the trigger. The only other thing I see it was looks like a phoenix symbol on the bolt, I posted a picture but it is hard to see and very small. My grandfather was a WWII vet, didn't talk much about where he went or what he did (supposedly escorted spys and other classified missions), but was in the army air corps and spent several years in europe during the war. I have no idea if this rifle dates back to the war, it doesn't appear to match anything I've been able to find. If anyone could help it would be greatly appreciated. It could just be an older store bought rifle, but would just like to know. Thanks

February 7, 2015, 12:06 PM	#2
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 21,841	It's a Mauser. how about a close up view of the bolt shroud? __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*

February 7, 2015, 04:10 PM	#4
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 21,841	Looks like some variant of the Mauser 98. __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*

February 7, 2015, 07:01 PM	#6
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 21,841	I take it the crest on top of the receiver has been ground off. Anyway, look for proof marks. Good books include Robert Ball's Military Mausers and Ludwig Olson's Mauser Bolt Action Rifles. __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*

February 7, 2015, 09:34 PM	#9
Scorch Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2006 Location: Washington state Posts: 15,248	That is a Mauser 98 rifle. It looks as if it was modified for hunting in a more European fashion, so it was likely done in Europe before your grandfather got the rifle. After Germany surrendered, civilians were required to surrender their firearms. These were generally piled up and carted off by the US military. Many people would sell their guns to US servicemen, other firearms would be taken by US servicemen from the piles of firearms turned in. And many of the firearms turned in were later sold on the surplus market as well. Also, these were cheap hunting rifles for many years, selling for $25 to $50 at hardware and surplus stores, and used as trading goods and bartering. If your grandfather is no longer living, you will never know how he came to own the rifle. __________________ Never try to educate someone who resists knowledge at all costs. But what do I know? Summit Arms Services

February 7, 2015, 12:39 PM	#3
djf1gp Junior Member Join Date: February 6, 2015 Posts: 5

February 7, 2015, 06:26 PM	#5
djf1gp Junior Member Join Date: February 6, 2015 Posts: 5	Thanks for your help I will keep looking to see what else I can find.

February 7, 2015, 07:08 PM	#7
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,543	It is an 1898 Mauser but I do not see anything that connects it to military or sporting use. It might be military surplus that has had the stock cut down to sporter style or it might be a factory sporter with military type sights.

February 7, 2015, 07:18 PM	#8
djf1gp Junior Member Join Date: February 6, 2015 Posts: 5	I told my dad some of what you guys have said about it and he said Pop was in Germany after they surrendered. It may have been a gift or something who knows. Can't imagine he would have bought a German rifle after returning home, he wasn't a collector or anything. Probably a cool story that went a long with it, but guess we'll never know, still glad to know a little more about it.

February 7, 2015, 10:52 PM	#10
trigger643 Senior Member Join Date: April 22, 2011 Posts: 322	It is a small ring mauser 98. Much of it once was a Kar.98a of WW1 vintage. The bolt is from a Kar.98a of WWI vintage, as is the rear sight. The original stock dates from 1915/16 before the use of grasping groves and has been whittled into a sporter. The end caps and muzzle bits are gone. It also has been rebarreled and the receiver scrubbed. See: http://www.ycgg.org/pdfpages/ww1/kar98a.pdf

February 8, 2015, 09:25 AM	#11
djf1gp Junior Member Join Date: February 6, 2015 Posts: 5	thanks all

February 8, 2015, 03:27 PM	#12
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	It is a Kar. 98a, but probably not a WWII souvenir. Many of those guns were sold to Turkey after WWII, and later sold by the Turks to American importers. A bit lighter than the standard K.98k, they were a favorite for conversion to sporting rifles, both in bulk by importers and by individual customers. The receiver ring markings, which could help with its history, appear to have been removed. Jim

February 18, 2015, 01:14 AM	#13
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 28,846	It does appear to have matching numbers, which is nice, but in this case, worth nothing, because of all the other changes to the rifle. Not collectable. Not really marketable these days, either. Sentimental value? possibly priceless. I sure I've seen that rifle (and those feet) somewhere else... __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.

February 18, 2015, 08:29 PM	#14
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	"Many of those guns were sold to Turkey after WWII ..." Sorry, I added an "I"; that should be WWI. The Germans had planned to make the short "Kar 98a" their standard rifle but problems with it caused them to reconsider and later adopt the K.98k. So they sold off most of the Kar. 98a's to Turkey. Sold again as surplus by the Turks, many were imported into the U.S. where they became known as the "small ring Turk 98." Jim

February 24, 2015, 02:21 PM	#15
Dufus Senior Member Join Date: December 10, 2014 Posts: 1,965	Czech 98k Appearance and numbers indicate it is a Czech 98k. I have one very similar.