Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Shot My 1937 Oberndorf Mauser 98

I said previously that I had the front sight protector, but I just realized that it never had one. The front sight protector I have fits my pre-64 Winchester 70.

Naw, it could be a caplock. My oldest was make circa 1870 in the style of Union sniper rifles, by a fella that made them. .50 caliber bullet gun with scope. Shoots pretty darn good. My most handsome relic is a flinter.

My other rifle is a 7x57 Mauser.

I have one of them, too, and in equally nice condition. It's an FN made Venezuelan Mauser 98 made in the middle 1930s. Never shot that one, either. I have some 7mm Mauser ammo on order from Midway, but it's back ordered. Soon as I get it, I will shoot it. I've had that one for about 30 years, too. I have a really nice Swedish Mauser, in 6.5, also (shot that one quite a bit about twenty-five years ago). I used to have a factory new Persian Mauser, too, but an Iranian talked me out of it. He wanted it as a gift for his father, who served in the Iranian military under the Shah.

Fine rifle there, TRH!

Thanks, love it, the best. A much needed antidote to that biker picture!

Very nice rifle. Congrats! Also interesting are the Karabiner 98k rifles that were confiscated in Norway at the end of the war. They got new 30-calibre barrels for the 30-06, due to the longer cartridge compared to the 8mm Mauser the frontal part of the receiver got a milled notch so that the magazine could accommodate the cartridges by using the loading clip. The front sight was changed to a square instead of the roof profile and the rear sight got a U- instead of a V-notch.
The former "backbone of the Wehrmacht" is still in use the German army at their guard batallion but as a presentation rifle to parade in front of high ranking visitors from other countries. Unfortunately these rifles are not able to be fired anymore and the proof marks dating back to the time of the Nazis are polished.

Nice gun. Please picture or describe the receiver markings and barrel proofs. Also is this a 100% serial number matching gun?

Nice old 98. Let me add that the 8x57 responds well to handloading. Old, corrosive Mil-surp ammo doesn't really do much more than go Bang, usually. I've got a K-98 that was rebuilt & mostly scrubbed in Yugoslavia post WW2. Still in 8x57 with a mint barrel. Put good handloads in it and it's a whole new ball game. A fiber optic front sight sure helps old eyes. Few years ago I put a fiber optic front sight on that helps old eyes. Fits right into the front sight dovetail, no Bubba work involved. It's from Williams Gun Sight Co., Firesight #70940 for Mauser Model 98 Military. Don't know if they still offer them but if they are still available I'd recommend them.

Beautiful rifle, sir.

Yes, it's an all original German Mauser.

Receiver Markings:

Hawkeye;
Top of the morning to you sir, I hope the day's looking to be a good one in your part of the world and that you're well.

Thanks once again for posting the photos of your collection, I appreciate and enjoy it always even if I don't comment.

This time however, I had to for a couple of reasons, the first of which is that's about as fine an example as one could hope to find of a 98 in military dress.

The other is that my "walking around in the mountains" rifle is built on an action like your Mauser. It's only markings were the Mauser roll mark on the front receiver ring, aside from the serial numbers. There are no Waffenampts on it anywhere, unlike most of the other 98 actions I've built stuff on. I actually didn't twig on it until the gunsmith up the valley was installing the second barrel on it mentioned he'd seldom seen them in his over 50 years in the trade.

Somehow I didn't know the history of how the Germans were producing them, but it makes sense that they found a loophole.

When I traded a long passed on buddy for the action it was a bit of a basket case and if memory serves I gave a whopping $35 CDN for the action and bolt only, but admittedly that has to be 25 years ago.

Here's what mine looks like as of today, but as soon as late whitetail season is over it's getting the paint stripped and something a little more brown toned applied.



Thanks again and Happy Thanksgiving to you and the rest of the 'Fire crew south of the medicine line.

Dwayne

If it is, guarded well. Was at my local gun shop yesterday and they had bought a bunch of Mausers 92.95 & 98s but one was a very fine specimen 98K (1938) with no import marks. Are you sitting down? granted this store is ridiculously high as a matter of course but they wanted 4999 for it. Yes four THOUSAND. Can you 98 guys shed some light on collectible Mauser prices these days? They also had an all matching (except the magazine) Luger made in 1916 ( I suspect the grips were refinished but that's another story) for t3K. That seems hign but reasonable but are 98s that expensive now?

Curious - I would have thought the TN Hillbilly use of a bull bag would be opposite of what's pictured.

Which one of us is using it "correctly?" LOL.

Used the other way, I was aimed too low. I could have put something under it, I guess.

Thanks, Jorge. No import marks on it. Matching serial numbers. I don't believe I spent huge bucks on it back 30 years ago, as I don't recall it being a high dollar gun, particularly, but my memory could be faulty on that. The absence of military markings on it could have been the reason I didn't have to spend big on it. Could be that the absence of military marking, today, isn't considered as much of a drawback as it did 30 years ago.

PS This particular model (The "Standardmodell") was exported all over the world between the World Wars, and also ended up, once hostilities began, arming the early SS, from what I've read, even though they were never marked for the SS, or anything Nazi related.

I’m shooting downhill at my home range.

Didnt know that Haute Couture dictated bag etiquette

I’ll be sure and check with Miss Lynn more often

Much nicer than the 1939 vintage Kitchen Counter Custom living at my place.

Just did a little research, and one in similar condition (same exact model) sold at Rock Island Auction Company, back in 2018, for $3,450.00. I guess, if I wanted top dollar for it, I'd contact them. Link

Back in the dark ages I bought 30 Turkish Mausers for $29.95 each- - - - -complete rifles, not barreled actions. The sand in the barrel channels was included at no extra charge. These were made in Orbendorf under contract to the Turkish government, so they're actual German-made rifles, not knockoffs made in some local armory. I made a bunch of sporters out of them, and I've still got a few in original condition. The originals are selling these days for at least 10 times my original cost!