1. By serial number studies, less than 50,000 G43 rifles were produced at Gustloff before the raid, making BCD the scarcest of the four codes. As with most wartime German small arms, serial numbers start with 1 and run to 9999, then a letter suffix block is begun, i.e. 1a-9999a, then 1b-9999b, 1c-9999c, etc.
2. The rifle has matching serial numbers, except for the bolt (the matching serial numbers are stamped on the receiver, barrel, buttplate, nosecap, barrel band, trigger guard plate, front sight and rear sight). The bolt displays mismatched serial numbers. DESCRIPTION: Very scarce German Mauser M.1871 jaeger rifle! The rifle was manufactured at.
3. .German Mauser Mod. 1910 7.65 Semi Auto PistolSerial.German Mauser Mod. 1910 7.65 Semi Auto PistolSerial #35XX81 is a German Mauser 7.65 semi auto pistol marked on the left side with serial number 'Waffenfabrik.

1. German Mauser Serial Number Search
2. Mauser Serial Number List
3. German Mauser Pistol Serial Numbers

P.O. Box 2068 Ormond Beach, FL 32175 (386) 677-7314
click HERE to email us: kroh@empirearms.com

The Model 1888 Commission Rifle was the German Empire's response to the French adoption of the Lebel 1886. It was designed by the German Army's Rifle Testing Commission, and combined elements of Mauser and Mannlicher rifle design. It fed from a Mannlicher-type 5-round single-column magazine loaded with an en-bloc clip. German Mauser Rifles Serial Numbers Makarov Firearms. Visit MakarovWebsite. Makarov (PM - Pistolet Makarova) - Here you will find the serial number break down by letters and numbers in order to find out when you Makarov firearm was created. This is as simple as matching red to red, blue to blue, or 1 to 1.

Russian captured 98k from WWII
updated 2/9/2015

The following Nazi 98k rifles are RUSSIAN CAPTURES in EXCELLENT external condition with either laminated (or, infrequently) solid-walnut buttstocks as-noted (some having visible Nazi cartouches on the right side of the wood). All minor parts are milled unless mentioned otherwise (solid front bands are milled but do not have the cut-outs at the top and bottom featured on the earlier H-type bands). We literally 'hand picked' every single rifle, and selected them for bore condition and uniformity of appearance.

The above photo is of one of these 98k rifles taken completely at random from our stock.
ALL have mixed parts (as initially dismantled and then rebuilt by the Soviets during the 1950's) that are fitted to the rifle and each part is electro-penciled to match the receiver (the buttstock is always stamped on the left-side to match). If it has a X-like stamp on the receiver (a Russian-capture mark representing two crossed rifles) there will be a Y in the X? column, if not there will be a N in the X? column.

Some rifles had their muzzles counterbored to increase accuracy, if so there will be a Y in the counterbored muzzle? column, We also added some columns to determine if the groove for a front-sight hood was present and the length of the cleaning rod.NONE currently have cleaning-rods or front sight-hoods (we offer high-quality reproductions of cleaning-rods at the bottom of this page), and the trigger-guards that used the small non-essential 'guard-screws' will be missing those 'guard-screws' (Gun Parts Corp sells reproductions of the guard-screws cheap). While there are reproduction 98k slings offered elsewhere, we do not sell or recommend them. We used to offer repro sight-hoods but no longer have any for sale and do not know where to obtain more.

ALL have a 99% or better refinish (which is hot-dip blued) on the metal though there may be some evidence of slight external speckling caused by a reaction of the metal from exposure to blood (these were, after all, used by the losing side during wartime). Though the wood is very sound and serviceable it will likely show old bumps and dings from actual wartime usage and may have some nicks and scrapes in the thick shellac-type finish (as is common on all Soviet reworks) from handling and storage. Headspace has been carefully checked for each rifle, and all are excellent in that regard, all bolts are turned-down and blued (as issued). The bores on these 98k's are much better than to be expected for a 60+ year-old battle-rifle with sharp lands and grooves, however none are perfect or 'like new' (they were, after all, actually issued to and used by German soldiers during WWII that only had corrosive ammunition available to use in them).

These rifles were assembled to be (and are) excellent shooters, and many identical examples saw action inVietnamand other politically unstable places like Angola during the 1960's.

ORIGINAL MARKINGS INTACT!

All original Nazi markings, being either Weimar-style eagles with folded wings(standard on all German military arms mfg. before 1938) or the more familiar Nazi-style eagles with outspread wings atop a Swastika(on most rifles mfg. after 1938) have (unless noted otherwise)NOT been pinged-out or otherwise obliterated, and are usually very bold and clear!.

NOTE: The Russians captured literally MILLIONS of 98k's, and 'reworked' EVERY SINGLE ONE! Not a *SINGLE* example exists for sale in Russia or the former Soviet States that did NOT undergo this 'refurb' treatment, and literally no 'original configuration all-matching' Nazi 98k Mauser rifles exist behind what once was 'the iron curtain' (except for the few exhibited in museums) so aside from G.I. bring-backs these are all that will ever be available with intact German markings.

THIS is how they were packaged for storage and transportation. . .

Here is how one of our customers was able to easily
refinish an actual RC 98k he purchased from this page:

They clean-up pretty darned nice, don't they?

EMPIRE ARMS has, since September 2002, sold over ten thousand (10,000) Russian-captured 98k's off of this very page, and have had only THREE (3) returns ever.

The 'gravy train' ended in mid-2007, and ever since it has been slim pickings.

Unlike other dealers we *WANT* to repurchase items that we have previously sold, as there are unfortunately no more of these available overseas (we literally bought them all and all supplies have been entirely depleted, whether any of you want to believe it or not).

The following rifles (if not marked SOLD) are the only ones currently available. . . we will add more as we are able to repurchase them, but make no promises as to future availability.

All qualify as 'Curios & Relics' by ATF for direct delivery to licensed collectors.

Please read and agree to our Terms of SaleHERE*FIRST*,
then order by serial-number from the following table
(we will not 'HOLD' any item without BOTH payment and paperwork in-hand)
Sorry, no individual photos available, no exceptions

DATE	CODE	FACTORY	serial #	eagle type	X?	counterbored muzzle?	grooved for sight-hood?	cleaning rod length?	wood-type	buttplate	Notes	Price
1937	S/27	ERMA	1136d	stick-type eagles	Y	N	N	12.5'	laminated	flat	all milled parts	$425 SOLD
1937	BSW	Berlin-Sühler	3989a	Weimar	N	N	N	12.5' (included)	laminated	flat	all milled parts	$475 SOLD
1940	337	Gustloff	7923b	swastikas	Y	N	Y	10'	laminated	flat	all milled parts	$525 SOLD
1941	bnz	Steyr-Daimler- Puch	7591e	swastikas	Y	N	included	included	solid walnut	cupped	bluing removed from bolt	$425 SOLD
1935	S/42G	Mauser	6359r	Weimar	Y	N	N	12.5'	aminated w/ Army cartouche	cupped	all milled parts	$480 SOLD
1937	S/147	Sauer & Son	4346a	Weimar	Y	N	N	12.5'	laminated	cupped	solid front band, dark bore	$375 SOLD
1942	bnz	Steyr-Daimler- Puch	229e	swastikas	Y	N	Y	12.5'	laminated w/ Army cartouche	cupped	stamped mag-fplt rough bore	$375 SOLD
1941	bnz	Steyr-Daimler- Puch	5858j	swastikas	Y	N	Y	10'	laminated	flat	all milled parts, rough bore	$425 SOLD
1938	S/243	Mauser Borsigwald	3142a	Weimar, 3 eagle/swastikas on right side	Y	N	N	12.5'	laminated	flat	all milled parts, nice bore	$475 SOLD

All markings unconditionally guaranteed to be genuine
REPRO 10' or 12.5' 98k cleaning-rods, excellent quality (installed on any rifle you buy from us) . . . $12 each

click HERE to go back to our 'rifles' page

EMPIRE ARMS . . PO Box 2068 . . Ormond Beach, FL 32175
Phone (386) 677-7314 . . . . FAX (386) 677-7324

For comments or suggestions:

1939 Code 42 K98k (Karabiner 98) Rifle - Serial # 8089(i)
(Mfg by Mauser Werke AG, Oberndorf a/N)
For Sale - 1939 Code 42 K98k (Luftwaffe Issue) Rifle
(Click PIC to Enlarge)
(Click PIC to Enlarge)

Observations:
The K98k was the primary infantry rifle for the German Wehrmacht during World War II. The 'k' is for Kurz, which means 'short' in German. Check for matching serial numbers on left side of receiver, top of bolt flat, barrel, top of safety, top of bolt sleeve, cocking piece, upper band, lower band, butt plate, rear sight leaf, rear sight guide and stock bottom, with last two digits of serial number on virtually all other components, right down to the firing pin and cleaning rod. See virtual tour pics for details of font type and location of serial numbers. Check under wood for matching serial numbers on handguard and stock. Check for availability of correct WWII K98k sling with German Waffenamt WaA markings, which by itself can add approximately $100-$150 value to the rifle.
Collector's Comments and Feedback:

German Mauser Serial Number Search

1. The rifle shown in the picture virtual tour is marked on the Mauser Werke AG, Oberndorf a/N receiver as Code 42 1939. According to 'Backbone of the Wehrmacht (The German K98k Rifle, 1934 - 1945) by Richard D Law', for the year 1939, Oberndorf would have used WaA63 Waffenamt's on most components.
For a 60+ year old milsurp, the condition of this rifle is excellent and its components match all the way down to the firing pin, with even the guard screws and release latch screw being serial numbered to the rifle. Of the 279,078 rifles reportedly manufactured by Oberndorf in 1939, only a random few were made with the traditional early style walnut stock. This rifle is one of that small number, while the majority were made with laminated stocks, the result of trials that had stretched through the 1930s.
Besides Oberndorf's WaA63 stock markings (see pics), it's also marked with an 'L' (Eagle above it), indicating it was manufactured for the Luftwaffe! It's acknowledged in Law's book that it is rare to find K98's with the 'L' Luftwaffe marking, as opposed to the more usual 'H' Heer (Army) stamps........ (Feedback by 'Badger')
2. WARNING: The K98k is one of the most commonly faked collector's rifles in the marketplace. Be very careful when you look to buy one of these on-line, or at gun shows. Get as much information as possible about the rifle and its provenance. Ask LOTS of questions, check the markings (particularly the stamping FONTS) against known 'all correct' righteous samples, like the one displayed here in our virtual tour. However, please note that these fonts will vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, so buying Richard Law's book (see above) would be a good investment, if you're planning on becoming a serious collector of K98k rifles. If not offered, request a 'money back' inspection period from the seller and above all, if it doesn't feel right .... don't buy, but seek some more experienced help. Don't hesitate to ask one of the folks on our MILSURPS.COM Advisory Panel, who perhaps have sound expertise on the K98k.
Here's a bunch of links to examples that should make you pay careful attention, especially when you're buying what may be portrayed as an 'all correct' and 'all matching' K98k rifle. The bottom line, validating provenance is becoming more important every day, particularly if one is buying these firearms as collectibles and expecting them to appreciate in value over time.
Links and content are credited to Brock's , Inc., Decatur, GA. (click here)
FAKE K98k BOLT NUMBERS (click here)
FAKE K98k FLOOR PLATE NUMBERS (click here)
FAKE K98k FRONT BAND NUMBER (click here)
FAKE K98k MIDDLE BAND NUMBERS (click here)
'Caveat Emptor' ...... (Feedback by 'Badger')

Mauser Serial Number List

3. CAUTION: How do I tell if I have a rebuilt RC (Russian Capture) and not an original unaltered K98k?
Russian Capture K98k's all share similar traits. The are all WW2 era German Karabiners (though some are former Gew98's the Nazis had converted to K98k spec - rare though!). Most have matching receiver and barrel.
When the Russians came into these guns they stockpiled them and promptly began doing other more important things like rebuilding their cities, etc. Many RC rifles sat for month or even years exposed to the elements. By the late 1940's, many of these rifles were in an advanced state of deterioration, while some remained like new.
In true Russian style, a colossal public make-work project was undertaken. The ENTIRE inventory of German small arms then in Russian possession (roughly half the total wartime output of Nazi Germany's arms production) was ordered to undergo refurbishment and as many useable arms as possible to be made ready. Why? Russia was paranoid. The Cold War was freezing over and Russia feared invasion from the West. Also, it was a cheap source of arms they could export to allies in North Korea, Cuba, Vietnam, and every other wanna-be commi armpit of the world without depleting their 'front line' weapons stockpiles.
The Russians took all their K98k's, and totally disassembled them except for the barrel. Bores were inspected and those found to be acceptable (ie, some pitting OK - so long as it's still safely shootable, much like with their refurbed Mosins) were set aside. Those that were deemed too far gone were recycled into steel for tractor parts or Order of Lennin medals, or whatever.
The small parts were all hot-dip reblued. Rusty parts were wire brushed or sandblasted first. These were placed indiscriminately in bins. The stocks were also inspected for serviceability. Those deemed acceptable were retained, those unacceptable were burned.
When the rifles were re-assembled no effort was made to match parts. A new (used) bolt was assembled and fitted to the receiver and the whole affair was assembled into a rifle from the binned parts. When done, most parts were electropencilled with the rifle's serial number and a flat was sanded on the left side of the wood stock (think big belt sander and half-drunk worker). The rifle's serial number was stamped there running parallel to the rifle's bore line. (Yugos are stamped perpendicular, for comparison)
Once complete, the whole rifle was generally painted in cheap shellac as a preservative agent - these are often not cosmolened for some reason - crated up and sent to war reserve, especially in the frontier states like Ukraine (which stored them in underground 'nuclear proof' depleted salt mines). Today, cash strapped former Soviet states are all too happy to sell these to us.
It's difficult to say what percentage of captured arms survived the rebuild programs, but I'd imagine maybe half (or less) would be a good guess. Many of these arms sat out in the open for LONG periods of time before being rebuilt, so attrition due to the elements was probably a factor.
It's also wrong to assume that RC's are, in fact, 'captures'. At any given moment, less than 2 million Nazi troops would have served on the Russian front. Not all would have had K98K's. Over 14 Million K98k's were built and most experts agree that somewhere around 7 million likely ended up in Russian hands after the war. Throughout the whole war, it's doubtful a full 7 million K98k's traveled to east Prussia and beyond.
When Nazi Germany surrendered to the Allies, the Whermacht assembled at depots all over Europe and turned in their arms. Additionally, government arms stockpiles and factories were captured and divied up by the victorious armies. At hostilities cessation, every Mauser weapon in the future East Germany (and all points east) would have become what we think of as an 'RC K98k'. Public ownership of guns in the USSR was banned as well. So whether a rifle was taken from a dead private in 1944 Minsk or if the NKVD knocked on a door in Berlin in 1947 and confiscated the arm from a retired volkspolitzei prison guard, it still ended up in the stocks of RC mausers. In fact, it's safe to say the MAJORITY of such guns are likely NOT battlefield captures. ...... (Feedback by 'Claven2')
4. KCN Newsletter (6/18/2002) 'The K98k Mauser Oberndorf' written by Bob Jensen and edited by Peter Kuck

(Click PIC to read and save Adobe PDF File)
(Right Click on PIC and choose 'Save Target As...' to download PDF file)
This PDF file written by Bob Jensen and edited Peter Kuck is an excellent quick reference to the various markings and other things to look for when examining a K98k Mauser manufactured by Oberndorf. ...... (Feedback by 'Badger')
5. Here are two K98k Mauser videos which have been extracted from our on-line 'Screening Room' (click here). The first is contemporary WWII German Color Training Film) on the K98k Mauser Rifle, while the second one is a German K98k Bolt 'Stripping & Assembling' Tutorial (Video courtesy of MILSURPS.COM member 'CmpsdNoMore'). ....... Feedback by 'Badger'.
]To view any video simply click on the PLAY button. Click on video while playing to PAUSE and use other buttons at the bottom of the video window to adjust your personal viewing preferences, such as viewing in FULL SCREEN mode. Make sure you turn on your speakers and set the the volume appropriately.
K98k Mauser Rifle
(WWII German Color Training Film)
'English Soundtrack'
German K98k Bolt 'Stripping & Assembling' Tutorial
(Video courtesy of MILSURPS.COM member 'CmpsdNoMore')

German Mauser Pistol Serial Numbers

or]