Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Mausers and Military Rifles Confirm Mauser

Guys,

Excuse me for not knowing this info but I have a question about a Mauser: if the left receiver wall is stamped "Mod. 98" that is a standard, military LR Mauser, yes? Any guess as to quality? Years of manufacture? Oberndorf made or someplace else?

Thanks!

I'm no Mauser expert, but I think there were 5 million GEW '98's made in like 12 plants, and some sources say Mauser licensed manufacture in plants all over the globe up to 12 million. Maybe go to Gunboards or C&R websites and read up on ID'ing your rifle.

Pretty sure that you’ll find another mark that indicates where it was made. Search the web for the codes. Lots on 98 dope out there. Believe most are three letters like “byf” or something of the sort.

https://oldmilitarymarkings.com/codes_rifle.html

Unfortunately it has a scope mount on it and I dont own it yet.

I'm no Mauser expert either but there's an article on military Mausers in a 1994 Gun Digest by Jim Thompson, "The Most Important Rifle Ever Made". Don't know how accurate his info re numbers/estimates are but he said it's estimated between 91 to 125 million Model 98s were produced in over 20 countries which used it as a military rifle and a large number of other nations made unlicensed ripoffs..

1898 was the first year they were made. I don't know how many if any military 98s were made after WWII. From what I've seen of the 98s quality of mfg. depended on where and when it was made.

Any other markings on the receiver?

They get around. I have one that was a Russian capture during WWII. It was made in Berlin in 1938. Century Arms imported it in either the 80s or 90s with a good number of other Mausers that China got from Russia after WWII and sold them in the USA..

No. It had a.scope mount covering the front receiver.ring so I could not see any other markings.

CZ and FN made military Mauser 98s into the 1950s. Columbia is one country that used the FN version.

Spain made the M43 up to the late 1950s.

Yugoslavia also made the M48 in the 1950s (Zastava).

Israel also had 98s built in the 1950s - typically from a mixture of ex-mil components and new barrels. Some actions may have been made after WW2 using the original machinery, but there was also many war completed actions that were never put into service in the war but date stamped as if they had been - war vintage rifles and parts were thought to be of higher quality that anything made after the war, at least that's why they were asking decent prices for them.

If the side rail is marked Mod 98, then it was produced as a K98k. To find the maker and date, remove the front scope base.

LR action, Mike?

Good info, thanks.

You say the scope blocks the receiver ring nomenclature. How about photos of the entire rifle, piece by piece. Put them up here for eval? Free service! Your best shot, as experienced collector opinions at your service.
Make it a homework assignment! Good luck!

Happy & Holy Holidays!
Joh

Yup byf is Mauser Obendorf, but I think it should be on the left side of the reciever above the wood.

Dont have pics since it was in a shop.