Israeli Mauser mystery

Mattj4867 · January 10, 2019, 10:39 PM

Hi all, visited my local pawn shop and they had a Israeli Mauser for $500. I think the whole rifle is German. The barrel has hk stamped into it and the bolt resembles a k98. Anyone know anything about these and if it’s worth it. The stock is cracked and it looks like the sling band is not oringinal. Any help would be appreciated! Thanks

Here are pics
https://imgur.com/a/UgnWU9q

**44 AMP** · January 11, 2019, 02:47 AM

Can't give you much help, other than the fact that Israel used anything they could get their hands on to begin with, including WW II Nazi marked 98s. In 8mm Mauser. Later they either got or made more in 7.62mm NATO.

Don't know details, but pretty sure this was the case.

I won't claim to understand today hi-dollar prices for old junk. Everything is not a collectable, even if the seller thinks it is. $500 for Mauser with a cracked stock? I value $500 more than that...but then, I'm old, and remember Mauser 98s, intact for $40, so $500 for any of them seems too much to me.

jonnyc · January 11, 2019, 07:43 PM

I didn't see anything in those pics that tells me it's an Israeli surplus Mauser.

MC 1911 · January 11, 2019, 08:41 PM

Appears to be a VZ 24. Czech Mauser.

ernie8 · January 11, 2019, 08:49 PM

It is a post war Czech made K-98k . It shows no sign of having anything to do with Israel . The stock is split from being fired with the action screws loose .

mapsjanhere · January 11, 2019, 09:25 PM

Israeli Mausers were usually rebarreled to 7.62 NATO, with a big mark on the receiver. Hard to miss.

Mattj4867 · January 12, 2019, 02:51 PM

Yes but pay special attention to the trigger guard and front sights. Also has the numbers 414 marked in white on the stock. I was also concerned because the receiver ring look like it’s been shaved away in a lathe. It could very well be chambered in 7.62

Jim Watson · January 12, 2019, 03:30 PM

I don't know just what it is but it does not look like $500 to me. Or any price, really.

ernie8 · January 12, 2019, 05:26 PM

What it is , is a post war Czech made K98k . What would " shaving away " the receiver have to do with it being chambered in 308 ? That does not look like lathe work to me , it looks like a bubba tried to remove the barrel with a pipe wrench . The trigger guard is post WWII Czech , found on post war Czech K98k rifles . The barrel was left over from German WWII K98k production and has the German barrel steel code still on it .

Mattj4867 · January 12, 2019, 06:46 PM

Thanks for the clarification. I believe y’all saved me $500

R.FORTE · April 7, 2019, 10:44 AM

I always look in my Small Arms of the World books, great info in there

Ricekila · April 7, 2019, 11:14 AM

All repairable ( restoreable ) -- I'd buy it --

emcon5 · April 8, 2019, 11:54 AM

Israel did contract with CZ for K98 pattern rifles, they had a Czech lion crest on the receiver ring, an IDF emblem (6 pointed star with sword and olive branch) near the serial number, and were normally stamped with 7.62 when rechambered. That is the correct style of bottom metal for IDF contract rifles, but I don't see anything else that fits.

Here is what an IDF contract action looks like.

The toe of the stock would also be marked (burned/branded) 7.62.

On edit: The sling might be Israeli, but can't tell without seeing the markings.

Why do they think it is an IDF rifle?

January 10, 2019, 10:39 PM	#1
Mattj4867 Member Join Date: January 17, 2017 Posts: 85	Israeli Mauser mystery Hi all, visited my local pawn shop and they had a Israeli Mauser for $500. I think the whole rifle is German. The barrel has hk stamped into it and the bolt resembles a k98. Anyone know anything about these and if it’s worth it. The stock is cracked and it looks like the sling band is not oringinal. Any help would be appreciated! Thanks Here are pics https://imgur.com/a/UgnWU9q

January 11, 2019, 02:47 AM	#2
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 28,817	Can't give you much help, other than the fact that Israel used anything they could get their hands on to begin with, including WW II Nazi marked 98s. In 8mm Mauser. Later they either got or made more in 7.62mm NATO. Don't know details, but pretty sure this was the case. I won't claim to understand today hi-dollar prices for old junk. Everything is not a collectable, even if the seller thinks it is. $500 for Mauser with a cracked stock? I value $500 more than that...but then, I'm old, and remember Mauser 98s, intact for $40, so $500 for any of them seems too much to me. __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.

January 11, 2019, 07:43 PM	#3
jonnyc Senior Member Join Date: July 20, 2009 Location: PA Posts: 1,731	I didn't see anything in those pics that tells me it's an Israeli surplus Mauser. __________________ 2024 PA Cartridge Collector Show; Aug. 16-17, 2024!!! Buy...Sell...Trade All Types of Ammunition & Ordnance PM or email me for 2024 show details.

January 11, 2019, 09:25 PM	#6
mapsjanhere Senior Member Join Date: August 6, 2009 Location: Albuquerque Posts: 2,832	Israeli Mausers were usually rebarreled to 7.62 NATO, with a big mark on the receiver. Hard to miss. __________________ I used to love being able to hit hard at 1000 yards. As I get older I find hitting a mini ram at 200 yards with the 22 oddly more satisfying.

April 7, 2019, 11:14 AM	#12
Ricekila Senior Member Join Date: May 25, 2017 Location: Lawnguyland, NY Posts: 169	All repairable ( restoreable ) -- I'd buy it -- __________________ NRA Instructor / RSO & NRA Life Member / S.A.F.E. Armorer / 03-FFL / Moist Nugget gun nut / Ammosexual / COR of a Venturing Crew / And a right wing Republican Jew with guns Μολών Λaβέ

January 11, 2019, 08:41 PM	#4
MC 1911 Senior Member Join Date: February 19, 2011 Location: Virginia Posts: 372	Appears to be a VZ 24. Czech Mauser.

January 11, 2019, 08:49 PM	#5
ernie8 Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 2018 Posts: 217	It is a post war Czech made K-98k . It shows no sign of having anything to do with Israel . The stock is split from being fired with the action screws loose .

January 12, 2019, 02:51 PM	#7
Mattj4867 Member Join Date: January 17, 2017 Posts: 85	Yes but pay special attention to the trigger guard and front sights. Also has the numbers 414 marked in white on the stock. I was also concerned because the receiver ring look like it’s been shaved away in a lathe. It could very well be chambered in 7.62

January 12, 2019, 03:30 PM	#8
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,535	I don't know just what it is but it does not look like $500 to me. Or any price, really.

January 12, 2019, 05:26 PM	#9
ernie8 Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 2018 Posts: 217	What it is , is a post war Czech made K98k . What would " shaving away " the receiver have to do with it being chambered in 308 ? That does not look like lathe work to me , it looks like a bubba tried to remove the barrel with a pipe wrench . The trigger guard is post WWII Czech , found on post war Czech K98k rifles . The barrel was left over from German WWII K98k production and has the German barrel steel code still on it .

January 12, 2019, 06:46 PM	#10
Mattj4867 Member Join Date: January 17, 2017 Posts: 85	Thanks for the clarification. I believe y’all saved me $500

April 7, 2019, 10:44 AM	#11
R.FORTE Junior Member Join Date: March 20, 2019 Location: WA Posts: 14	I always look in my Small Arms of the World books, great info in there

April 8, 2019, 11:54 AM	#13
emcon5 Senior Member Join Date: July 10, 1999 Location: High Desert NV Posts: 2,850	Israel did contract with CZ for K98 pattern rifles, they had a Czech lion crest on the receiver ring, an IDF emblem (6 pointed star with sword and olive branch) near the serial number, and were normally stamped with 7.62 when rechambered. That is the correct style of bottom metal for IDF contract rifles, but I don't see anything else that fits. Here is what an IDF contract action looks like. The toe of the stock would also be marked (burned/branded) 7.62. On edit: The sling might be Israeli, but can't tell without seeing the markings. Why do they think it is an IDF rifle?