Fully Matching Mauser Kar 98 az by Erfurt 1918……………..(f 731) SOLD
Created on June 6th 2018
An Excellent Fully Matching Kar 98 az with excellent bore
They honestly do not come along like this one too often. This rifle is fully matching, has an excellent bore and a fine blonde stock – absolutely correct for the collector and ready to shoot. Developed and built by the German Mauser plants from 1904 on wards this example is by Erfurt and was built towards the end of World War One. Chambered in 7.92mm (8mm Mauser) it has the standard 5-shot internal magazine of its cousin the Gew 98, with the same Mauser action and flag safety bolt. One of the main differences being the turned down bolt handle with chequered inside flat for improved grip. There are, after those basic facts, other differences which make this weapon stand apart from its predecessors. War was changing rapidly and the old concept of the long infantry rifle with its still longer bayonet was starting to look like its days were numbered. Improved ammunition and smokeless powders were making the necessity for a long barrel less important. Also Germany was looking at rival arms producers and may have been influenced by the arrival of the Short Magazine Lee-Enfield in Britain and the Springfield 1903 in the USA. Mechanised movement of troops in confined spaces and ease of operation in the trenches meant that the long rifles were becoming cumbersome to use. Hence, the arrival of the Kar (Shortened, Karbiner for Carbine) 98 Model az.
This fine example measures 43.1/4″ in overall length. The round barrel is 23.1/2″ long and comes with the normal accessory of a muzzle protector. The trigger pull is a standard 13″ to centre. The one piece stock is of European Beech with a one piece handguard over the barrel. This is dished under the bolt handle. The stock has a contoured steel butt-plate, and is fitted with a strip-down disk for field work on the bolt. Just ahead of that is the slot cut into the stock which takes the sling. This stock displays strong Bavarian Army cartouches which appear from the strip-down disk down to the butt-plate in a vertical fashion. There are others on the underside of the stock including the matching serial number “9847”. This means the whole rifle has stayed together since its production in 1918.
The receiver is marked with the Imperial crown over “ERFURT / 1918” The calibre marking of “7.9” is on the receiver ring. Note this carbine has the “small ring receiver” as it should. The side wall of the action is , therefore straight-walled, unlike its larger counterpart and marked in wonderful Gothic script “Kar 98.” The action is blued, which is starting to thin and the bolt is in the white. On the RHS of the receiver ring are three clear Imperial acceptance marks including, once again, a crown over a “B” for Bavaria. A good degree of nitre-blue remains on the bolt removal spring catch and the numerals “47” on the top face.
The bolt handle stub also bears clear Imperial German markings and the matching serial number including the italic “o” at the end which is repeated on the receiver LHS. Standard Mauser bolt but with bent-down bolt arm and reduced bolt head. Flag safety and cocks on closing. All components stamped with the last two digits of the serial number – even the top edge of the extractor spring. The trigger guard and magazine floor plate are number as are the main fixing screws – locking screws present (no seriously blubbered slots) The trigger guard differs once again from the Gew in that it has no facility for the rear sling swivel. The mid barrel band has the side mounting for the strap and matches. As does the hinged nose-cap. The stacking hook is correctly numbered as is the barleycorn front sight. The front sight is guarded from being knocked by steel ears. Below the muzzle is the bayonet mount. Flat tangent-type sight graduated from 300 to 2000 meters also correctly numbered.
Action is fine bore is excellent – can’t fault it! An excellent opportunity to obtain a pivotal Imperial German rifle that thoroughly influenced the development of the famous K98 that marched its way across Europe and Russia and most of the world some 18 years later. British nitro-proofed and ready to shoot. Bearing in mind the difficulty in obtaining matching K98s now this becomes a very attractive prospect in the rifle collecting and shooting world.
Stock No’ f 731
£ 1195. SOLD
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