[MD66948]

I was asked to post all of the pictures I had of a Russian Captured 98K that was brought back by SGT. Earle W. Welker Jr. from Vietnam.

The bore on this rifle is Great!

I am posting all of the pictures I took. Some will be duplicate shots, same angle. Sorry if I didn't turn the pictures to present them better. I took this rifle completely apart, cleaned it and covered it with blue label 3 in 1 oil.

I can only post 20 pictures so I will do this in several posts.

 

[MD66948]

2nd set of pictures.

 

[MD66948]

3rd set of pictures

 

[WaM14gunner]

Beautiful!

 

[mowzerluvr]

Nice. Late 1941 barreled receiver. Good condition for a VN bringback, some corrosion on it but not near as bad as most. Wrong type bolt in it but the VC that used it probably didn't care.

 

[Rich D]

Thanks for sharing

 

[unkola]

That's nice. Looks to be in very good condition with very legible markings. Wrong bolt but since this is a Russian 98k, it was probably installed by the Russians. Regardless, it still a good piece. Thanks for the look. -Lloyd BEERCHUG1

 

[wiz1997]

The eagle holding a swatika indicates it was made in Germany.

The curved bolt was replaced with the straight bolt during a rebuild after WWII.

Captured by Russia during WWII, rebuilt then sold/loaned to North Vietnam.

A "mix master" much like our own M1 Carbines.

Lot of miles on that old war horse.

 

[wiz1997]

Duplicate post

 

[Guest]

The "X" on the receiver ringer about the 4 digit serial is the russian rebuild stamp

 

[GardenValley]

The eagle holding a swatika indicates it was made in Germany.

The curved bolt was replaced with the straight bolt during a rebuild after WWII.

Captured by Russia during WWII, rebuilt then sold/loaned to North Vietnam.

A "mix master" much like our own M1 Carbines.

Lot of miles on that old war horse.

The Mauser code would be more definitive of it's origin than would be the waffenamt, but you are correct in stating it was made in Germany.

I would not be surprised to learn the rifle was captured without a bolt and the current bolt was installed at some later time. The markings on the bolt appear to possibly identify it as Spanish manufacture rather than German. The Russians had many 98k bolts so there would have been no reason for them to have installed a straight handle bolt. Additionally, the Russians electropenciled the rifle serial number on the bolt after headspacing and I see no s/n marked on this bolt. What appears as the letter "X" (actually crossed sabers) on the side of the receiver ring indicates the rifle is a Russian capture rifle.

 

[mowzerluvr]

The Mauser code would be more definitive of it's origin than would be the waffenamt, but you are correct in stating it was made in Germany.

I would not be surprised to learn the rifle was captured without a bolt and the current bolt was installed at some later time. The markings on the bolt appear to possibly identify it as Spanish manufacture rather than German. The Russians had many 98k bolts so there would have been no reason for them to have installed a straight handle bolt. Additionally, the Russians electropenciled the rifle serial number on the bolt after headspacing and I see no s/n marked on this bolt. What appears as the letter "X" (actually crossed sabers) on the side of the receiver ring indicates the rifle is a Russian capture rifle.

More like a Czech, WW2 VZ24 bolt with that proof on the knob. I have seen hundreds of RC rifles in my time and a good many had the VZ 24 or Polish Radom Wz 29 straight bolts attached by the Russians during rebuild. Have bought several in my time in fact. Some times when you bought a RC K98 (in the early 90's when nobody knew different) you would have a WZ29 or VZ24 receiver. Even a 98/40, G24t or G29o receiver. Not often seen but happened.

 

[GardenValley]

More like a Czech, WW2 VZ24 bolt with that proof on the knob. I have seen hundreds of RC rifles in my time and a good many had the VZ 24 or Polish Radom Wz 29 straight bolts attached by the Russians during rebuild. Have bought several in my time in fact. Some times when you bought a RC K98 (in the early 90's when nobody knew different) you would have a WZ29 or VZ24 receiver. Even a 98/40, G24t or G29o receiver. Not often seen but happened.

I agree. Not common, but it did happen. However, I view it as noteworthy that the bolt does not appear to have an electropencil s/n on it. I suppose the Rissians could have missed marking one, but if so, the missing s/n would also be unusual.

 

[mowzerluvr]

That and no force match Sn. on the left side of the stock. Might indicate they either didn't assemble them before shipping to VN or just didn't bother to headspace or check fit/function before sending them off to Uncle Ho.

 

[NATOBTHP]

I have two 98Ks a CE=JP Sauer and a DOT=Bruenn CZ.
Got really lucky both have mirror bores and no metal pitting. Both seem pretty correct.

 

[jaholder]

If that rifle could talk...

It'd speak 4 languages, lol!

 

[andyh1956]

I see a number on the bolt handle in the 2nd set of piks, #4 & 15, 14673A looks like. I bought a good many Ks back in the 90s, and several came with straight bolts, with different BS explanations from different distributors. Burns Bros for one did not disclose this fact & I bought several for customers that wouldn't have them when delivered because of the bolt issue.
Also, if it was Russian, shouldn't those Nazi Eagles be peened out?

 

[GardenValley]

The Germans marked the serial number on the bolt handle root. The Russians force matched the serial number and marked it with an electropencil on the bolt body. Oftentimes the waffenamt is peened but a lot of times it is not.

 

[Guest]

One of the reasons why the rifles & bolts hardly match is because I remember reading and seeing WW2 pics of captured rifles. When they were taken away from a mass of captured or surrendering German soldiers it was customary to remove the bolts and throw them in one large pile to deactivate them, and the rifles thrown in another large pile with both under guard. With the Russians they re-arsenal them with no regards to serial #'s, shellacked the stocks and most of the cleaning rods went to the smelter...

 

[3Gunnah]

Nice rifle! I have a DOT rifle all matching.....except no stock!