Post War Czech K98 Mauser “dou / 45″…….(F 968)

Interesting Collectors Grade Czech Post War Mauser with German code

A very interesting K98 Mauser, originating from a particular time slot in the closing days of WW2.  This rifle started production in the Czech Brno Arms factory under Nazi occupation.  By the time it was finally assembled, the war was over and Czechoslovakia had been liberated and was desperately rearming herself, in an effort to offer an effective protection at her borders from future aggressors.  What better rifle to adopt, as it had proved its worth all over Europe, than the chosen arm of the very foe that had defeated them in the early days of the war.  Plus, there was the fact that CZ Brno had been making Mausers for multiple countries around the world from as early as the end of WW1.  The irony of the situation was that the very aggressors that had marched into their country at the beginning of the war, had fine tuned a highly efficient production line in the Czech National Arms facility to their advantage.  Nothing had to be moved or re-established, it was already in situ and ready to restart production, with what in those days had proven to be an almost unstoppable rifle – the K98.  It wasn’t the kit that failed Germany, or the weaponry (in this case) it was leadership and the evil bent the Nazis put on everything.  The K98 was the natural choice.  The argument might have been; let’s use the rifle that defeated the occupier,  but the logistics of establishing an effective arms industry based on an Allied rifle would have been impossible and far too expensive for a country so utterly broken as Czechoslovakia.  So they looked at it the other way and went for what must have seemed the obvious at the time.  This rifle is a direct example of that decision.

In all but the marking on the side wall of the receiver, this is a K98 Wehrmacht rifle.  What is missing are the multitude of German inspectors stamps and Wehrmacht eagles normally found on such a weapon.  Everything else is the same, and as mentioned above and most likely, produced under German occupation.  However, this is not a rifle produced by the slave labour of the concentration camp ethos.  The markings on the rifle indicate production at the main Czech arms production plant at Bystrica.  The large winter-type trigger guard was added by the Czechs as a modification within production.

The receiver is marked as any other Kriegsmodel, late production K98, reading from the top; “Mod.98 (moved from the side wall) / dou.45” The “dou” being the German code for Waffen Werke Brunn AG, Bystrica,  There is no calibre marking on the shoulder against the breech of the barrel. To the LHS of the receiver ring is the serial number; “2839 /k”  Alongside the serial number on both the receiver and the barrel is the Czech Double-tailed Lion proof mark.  The usual Mod.98 on the side-wall of the action has been replaced with; “CESKOSLOVAKIA ZBROJOVKA, A S, BRNO”  Letters visible on the barrel are the makers code “L H” and also the “dot” shield from Brun.  But notably, no waffenamts.

Another interesting point about this rifle is the fact that all the numbers showing (by this stage in the war not all components were getting numbered) do match.  The numbers on the bolt-stem are in the correct font and have not been force-matched.  Other components like the flag safety and the bolt release catch are correctly un-numbered.  The sights are un-numbered, as are the barrel bands and the trigger guard.  The front end has the bayonet lug. No cleaning rod; although the hole to allow it to store under the barrel is in the end cap, the stock is not actually bored for such. The bands are pressed steel. The front sight is hooded.

As mentioned earlier, the trigger guard has a large bow to accommodate a gloved trigger finger and is fabricated from pressed steel. The rifle has the earlier cupped steel butt-plate – not drilled.  The Czechs have opted for the strip-down disc in the butt as opposed for the drilled butt-plate.  The stock is the late war laminated type with a mild finish applied. The blueing on the rifle is the usual high standard expected from the Czechs and is intact all over.  There is a slight thinning on the bolt handle and arm, but I would call that first stage wear. The bore shows signs of use and mechanical cleaning.  Some pitting.  The edges of the lands look soft but the rifling is complete from end to end.

UK proof and ready to go.  This is often a missing link in Mauser or Military rifle collections.  A rifle for the real collector and not easy to find in such condition.  Five round internal magazine – stripper clip fed.  Calibre 7.92mm.  43.1/2″ overall length. 23.1/2″ long blued rounded barrel. Trigger pull 13″.  Conventional K98 side mounting sling arrangements. Decent,  matching numbered K’s are getting very hard to find – these are a definite investment.  Matching numbers are becoming the new Unobtainable Dream.

Stock No’ F 968

£ 1450. 

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