Israeli German K98k Mauser 7.62x51mm NATO High Turret Sniper Rifle C&R
SOLD FOR: $1,781.99
WOA#: WY231113SM002
Make: WWII Era Germany, Israeli arsenal rework
Model: K98k
Serial Number: 6667
Year of Manufacture: WWII Era, Post-war Israeli arsenal rework
Caliber: 7.62x51mm NATO
Action Type: Bolt action, internal 5 round magazine
Markings: The left side of the receiver is marked “6667”, “G.B.” and “Mod.98”. At the top of the receiver the very top of the “7.62” mark is visible under the scope mount. The right side of the receiver is marked with waffenamts, with only the bottom sections visible because of the scope mount. The right side of the barrel shank is marked “7.62”. The top of the bolt handle is marked “6667”. The toe of the buttstock is marked “7.62”. The top of the scope is marked “Jena Zielvier”. There are various small Israeli and German proof marks scattered throughout.
Barrel Length: 24”
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a hooded blade post dovetailed into a small barrel-mounted base. The rear sight is a v-notch sliding escalator assembly marked 1-20. There is a Jena Zielvier 4x scope set in a Zf. 39 high turret mount. The lenses are clear, though the bottom post in the sight is on a different plane from the two upper posts and appears to be much closer to the eye.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The wood stock has a semi-pistol grip, scallop for the bolt handle, nose cap with bayonet lug, hole for the included cleaning rod, barrel band with sling bar, through bolt, bolt disassembly disk, sling well, sling pass through, and a metal buttplate. The buttplate has impact marks, wear along the edges. There are compression marks, scuffs, and scratches throughout the wood. There are two repair pins through the wrist and stock. There is a wood plug repair at the rear of the through bolt. There is a large stock repair at the toe of the buttstock. The stock is heavily oiled. The LOP measures 13” from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The stock rates in about Good overall condition as arsenal refinished.
Type of Finish: Blue and parkerized
Finish Originality: Original to arsenal refurbishment
Bore Condition: The bore is semi-bright and the rifling is sharp. There is light erosion in the bore.
In this writer’s opinion, this bore rates 8 out of 10.
Many military and C&R eligible weapons have bores that will show erosion. This is not only due to age but to the fact that corrosive primers were commonly used in ammunition worldwide. For example, the U.S. used corrosive ammunition throughout WWII. The U.S. military did not begin to phase out corrosive-primed ammunition until the 1950s.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 70% of its metal finish as refinished. There are scuffs and scratches throughout the metal surfaces. The action and bolt show operational wear. The through bolt and bolt disassembly disk have a large degree of surface rust. There is wear along the bottom of the magazine floor plate. There is rust at the bottom of the scope mounts, on the receiver. The screw heads show moderate use. The markings are mostly well-defined, though some are covered by the scope mounts. The markings along the sides of the scope turret have been worn away intentionally. Overall, this rifle rates in about Good condition as arsenal refurbished.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We did not fire this rifle. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This rifle comes with a scope and scope mounts.
Our Assessment: The K98k was the standard issue service rifle for the German military from its introduction in 1935 to the conclusion of the Second World War in 1945. Based on the previous Gewehr 98 and taking lessons learned from the Kar 98a, the K98k was chambered in the stout 7.92x57mm cartridge. The K98k would go on to have a long service life not only with Germany, but with many other countries in the form of military aid and via post-war refurbishment programs, such as with Norway and Israel.
This is an example of an Israeli K98k mounted with a Zf. 39 high turret scope mount and Jena Zielvier 4x scope. Prior to and just after it became a state, Israel imported a large number of surplus Mauser rifles from Europe. Most of these were chambered in 8mm Mauser, as was this rifle originally. Once Israel adopted the FAL as its primary service rifle in the late 1950s, most of the remaining Mauser rifles in their inventory were converted to 7.62x51mm NATO to ease logistics. This rifle was one of those that were rechambered, which is easily discernible given the large “7.62”s that are marked on the barrel, receiver, and stock. The marking on the receiver is mostly covered by the scope mount. The stock has wear but there are not any major areas of damage, with a few visible repairs. The bore is semi-bright and has a lot of rifling left, which should make for a good shooter. There is a question as to whether this is an original scope set up or if it was added later on. The scope and mount appear to be correct to this style of rifle, but there are Israeli markings underneath the mount. It would be difficult to discern if perhaps the Israelis added the scope on to the rifle after converting it, or if the scope and mount had already been there before and were simply removed and then soldered back on once the markings and conversion were completed. Also of note, the markings that should be along the side of the scope turret have been intentionally removed, which raises more questions. Either way, this is an interesting rifle that would fit in well into any Mauser or Israeli collection. Please see our photos.
-99
