[wjnfirearms]

A long time ago, I bought this for my now late father for his birthday. He absolutely loved this rifle. It was supposed to be an Argentine 8mm Mauser according to the seller. Now, if anyone can give me some insight on this, I'd sure be greatful. If I'm reading this right, is this a model of a K98 rifle, possibly pre WWII? And was it made in Argentina or Germany? I'm beginning to wonder. I just got done doing some restoration work on it as it's one of the very few things I have from my dad and would like to know some more about it's pedigree.

[mountainman13]

It looks to be a very nice German k98 but I'm no expert on mausers.

[flyspooky]

Based on the markings on the top if your receiver, it was built at the Danzig arsenal in Germany in 1918. The markings on the right side of the receiver don't strike me as German. Look a little large, but I can't really tell. The markings on the left side of the receiver look like German waffenampts. Rough guess based on this admittedly quick glance is that this is a World War One German Mauser, probably given away at the end of the war as part of reparations. I'll see if I can zoom in on the photos at home and compare against some references I have.

[wjnfirearms]

Thanks, fly. Unfortunately, I don't have a macro lens for the SLR, or they would be clearer.

[303tom]

Maybe this will help.............

http://althistory.wikia.com/wiki/Danzig_%28Twilight_of_a_New_Era%29

[flyspooky]

OK. Got a better look at the photos on my home computer. As I said, it's definitely a sporterized Kar98 Mauser built at Danzig (now Gdansk in Poland) in 1918. Treaty of Versailles split the city off from Imperial Germany at the end of WWI. The proof marks on the left and right sides of the receiver are Fraktur proof marks, used by Imperial Germany. I don't see any waffenampts or Reich markings, or for that matter Wiemar Republic markings. Safe guess is that the rifle left Germany in the Weimar Republic era, never issued to Weimar Germany forces. Without more photos, I can't tell where. Didn't see any other national military proofs in those photos, so possible it went straight into some civilian hands.

[flyspooky]

Any chance you're near Northern Virginia?

[jpattersonnh]

Your Rifle is a sportered GEW98/K98a. Made in Danzig Germany. Great rifles!! Not very common in original military form. The stamps are Imperial German, not Nazi.

[wjnfirearms]

Wow! Thanks for the info and your time spent. The rifle is completely original right down to the steel butt plate. Obviously, the shop that sold it to me for him knew nothing about the rifle at the time. I got it sometime in the early '80s for him. Can't remember exactly when.

As to location, fly, I'm half way up Western Pennsylvania.

[flyspooky]

No problem at all. It's a hobby of mine and I'm happy to give some insight into something that has sentimental value. They're (WWI mausers) getting harder to find these days...looks like you've got a good one.