I have just bought my first rifle built on a 98 action. A Germania Waffenwerk AG Zella Mahlis, in 9.3x62, sight with two folding leaves, half octagonal barrel and a rib the whole length of the barrel. The mount sits in a dovetail, no drilled holes in the receiver. It is a little bit pitted here and there, but the blueing looks good and the barrel seems good as well. I have seen a lot worse selling for more money.

I will discuss with a skilled gunsmith what can be done. A modern scope must be fitted and I want to replace the safety with a Winchester-style safety, but only if the gun can be restored with the old parts. I also want to put it in a straight stock I guess, but I will of course keep the old one.

Very Nice.

Congratulations

I really like the full length rib on the octagonal barrel. Great rifle.

As to the safety send a email to Jim Kobe to have your shroad fitted with a M-70 style safety. It's a two position safety but it's very good. The three position safetys are not fitting your original shroad....it would change to look like a post war FN.

You've found a jewel of a gun. Congratulations man.

You have a great rifle. Concerning the safety, I actually prefer this saftey on the left side of the bolt shroud. You may want to play with it for a little before changing it out.

I have one with the same barrel markings in 6,5x57 but the reciever in bare, no scope provisions. I have had it 15 years and I can't bring myself to put a scope on it (yet).

Good shooting,
BigBullet

If you do go with the safety change, I like the looks of the change of a '98 type shroud as vapodog described.

Good show man! What a great M98 to start with.

If I may throw in one additional comment, you may have to have your gunsmith adjust the bolt handle to clear the new scope you plan to put on if you're planning to use new lower mounts. In any event, that's a hell of a rifle you've got there!!

Congrats!

Tex

Congratulations on a great choice in the Mauser 98 & 9.3x62. There's always controversy about this but I think fine vintage guns should be kept fairly close to original. If possible, I'd have the guts of the old scope worked over so it's bright and sharp again. Those old mounts are really nice IMO, I'd at least try to retain the mounts, maybe a new 30mm scope. I'd also be inclined to retain the original safety, nothing wrong with it. I concur with having it restocked, or possibly just refurbished, looks like a fairly decent classic shape and some pretty figure under the old finish.

If you must rescope, choose one that will clear that flag safety and KEEP IT. Changing the safety/magnificient scope mounts will blemish your very nice old Mauser.

That is a very cool rifle.

Reimar Johannsen makes a replacement safety with the 3 position model 70 style wing arrangement. You can easily take that off and put the old safety back on.

lawndart

I am going to do you a favor as you have been had and purchased a piece of junk, therefore I feel an oblitgation to serve my fellow AR companion and purchase that piece of junk for the sum of $50.00...After all what are friends for!!

I certainly intend to use the old mounts. I have a feeling that those dovetails are not very usual. Do you think it is original, or an aftermarket job? Do you by the way know any indicators telling if the stock is original or not? The seller was not sure about the excat age but the rifle is pre-war anyway, Germania Waffenwerk went out of business in 1945 (the forbearer of Anschütz I have been told). Well, I guess you already know that, but it is new stuff to me. I am trying to learn about this.

Thanks everyone for the hints about the safety; I would not mind a two-position safety since that is what I am used to anyway. I am aware that the handle might need an adjustment to work with a modern scope. As to the height of the mounts, I think they will be a bit too high for the Kahles Helia 2-9x42 I intend to use. I also have a Kahles Helia 3-10x50, I guess that scope will fit nicely.

It is a really nice and thrilling change from my Sako rifles, and my friends thought I was conservative preferring Sakos from 30 years back...

Ray, you are a very decent chap, thanks for the offer, but there is so much red tape involved in sending a gun to USA so I will have to keep it...

Acutally, the seller asked the equivalent of little over 300$, and I saw no reason to argue... That is what usully is asked for a Husqvarna 640 with the FN action in 9.3x62 and those are very common here in Sweden. A good Mauser usually goes for at least twice that price, and often good bit more if it is a popular calibre.

Regards,
Martin

Marterius,

If I'm not mistaken isn't that an eagle mit Hakenkreuz at the right front edge of the receiver ring? If so, wouldn't that make this a military action. It looks like one to me.

Nice rifle regardless, enjoy it often.

quote:

Originally posted by z1r:
Marterius,

If I'm not mistaken isn't that an eagle mit Hakenkreuz at the right front edge of the receiver ring? If so, wouldn't that make this a military action. It looks like one to me.

Nice rifle regardless, enjoy it often.

Thanks, I did not know if that was a proof-mark or a military mark. Was the manufacturer or the Army that put on those stamps? Perhaps not an easy question to answer... The barrel is marked Germania Waffenwerk anyway. Could it have been built with leftover things after the war - military actions and sporting barrels?

I see I have a lot to learn!

I have to check the excat stamps and numbers once I get the licens and can collect it from the shop. I will keep you updated!

Regards,
Martin

Marterius,

That is what I believe. A military action that was customized post war. I have one similar that was a WWI action converted after that war for the local market. Then, after WWII, it appears to have been customized again, most likely for an american GI, since it was rebarreled to .30-06. Too bad, I wish he would have left it alone.

I'm sure someone a bit more knowledgable than I can add more to this. My thoughts are that if it was really pre war production the stock would be slimmer more like the 7x57 that is for sale in the classifieds.

Let us know how it shoots when you get it home.

Keep us posted, let us know how she shoots.

Thanks z1r! I will keep you all posted.

Regards,
Martin

Marterius,

Congratulations on a beautiful rifle. The military action is nothing to be ashamed of - I have a rifle that a member here made on a DuV 42 action with a custom barrel and stock and it shoots beautifully.

I can assure you that your rifle looks better than mine does and that it is sure to shoot equally well.

Good hunting!

Correct me if I am wrong, but don't those white line spacers mark it as post war? That was what I was told anyway. Very nice catch on that rifle!

.

ALF,

Would you suggest any resource relating to the big bore rifles made by the pre war JG ANschutz company? I remember seeing a superb 375 H&H MAuser that was sold by P Orr and Sons when they dissolved their gun division to Sammandan and Sons one of the gun shops in my former home town of Madras, India. As a university student I could not afford to buy it but I still remember how beautifully made that rifle was.

Another member here has told me that JGA made rifles in other big bore chamberings though the only two JGA rifles that I have seen mentioned on AR have been Martin's rifle as well as a 9.3x62 that another member posted about some time ago.

Just curious about these rifles - thanks for your time.

Thank you ALF! I will post the stamps and more details as soon as the police have the paperwork sorted out and I have the license. I fear it will take at least two more weeks...

I look at the pictures of the rifle daily, in anticipation!

Regards,
Martin

Congratulations on a real find and buy.

I defer to the Mauser guys here on what to do next after you get it and check it out.

I would shoot it and see how the comb fits me. If you can use it as it is then a new scope and a winter project refinish of the stock would yield a rifle ready to hit the field.

In conclusion I agree with fla3006.

Show us more pictures after you get it and later too. Nice gun.

.

Nice rifle, you did well. I would keep it as is except for the white line spacers.

ALF,

Thank you very much for your most informative post, as always. It was a revelation that JGA made double shotguns and drillings as well - I wish Dieter Anschutz would expand his product line to reflect the company's glorious pre war days!

Sometime next year, I might take up my friend Hannes Fanzoj's old invitation to visit their factory and stay with him at Ferlach. Now that you have told me what I could expect, I must make concrete plans, something that I have been putting off for almost a decade now.

Best wishes and thank you vrey much again,

That was originally a k98K.

quote:

Originally posted by D Humbarger:
That was originally a k98K.

Please explain for an ignorant Swede what that means?

Regards,
Martin

Marterius,

I think Doug is trying to say the same thing I did. That this action was a K98k at one time, A German military rifle used fron the mid/late 30's through the end of the war. That's why I suggested a post WWII sporting conversion. Those two eagles on the receiver ring are typical of rifles of that period.

The old WWI sporter I spoke of started life as a Gew 98. I also have a few K98k based sporters. They are fine rifles.

.

quote:

So I would like to defer comment untill we have been shown all the relevant marks on this rifle.

Gentlemen! You will have all the relevant marks as soons as I have the rifle in my hand!

This is great fun. I have searched the net for more info about these rifles, but AR still seems to be the very best source.

Regards,
Martin

Marterius,
Congratulations!
A very nice rifle1
Don't let it ever cross the Atlantic

We should have a 9,3 mm shoot out arranged!

/Husky

Husky, it sounds like a plan! Perhaps we might even get a beer in the evening...

Regards,
Martin

It will be nice to see what the resolution is once you have posted pics of the markings. It looks like any of the numerous k98k's I have but that doesn't mean it is. The detail is lacking and my eyes aren't all that great.

Martin,

How heavy is the rifle?


I do hope you have not been annoyed by my question

oldun, don't know now since I don't have it home yet. I will tell once I know.

I am not easily annoyed!

Regards,
Martin

Pictures promised, and here they come!

The stamps on the right sight of the receiver ring:


Underside of the barrel:


Underside of barrel and receiver ring:


Underside of reciever ring:


On the left side of the barrel:



Looking forward to any information you might have!

Regards,
Martin

.

Just run a few patches thru the bore, then go shoot it, then go collect a Moose. I think I would keep it as it came. Clean it up some. I like the scope, my guess German # 1 reticle? There is nothing wrong with the older vintage sights.

I think I will tell my liberal friends that I no longer collect guns. I have become a "stamp" collector.

Thank you Marterius, I am now politically correct.

lawndart

Thanks a lot ALF, very much appreciated.

Since it is not an original sporting rifle but a post-war remake, I would not feel as bad if I altered any details, provided that it is done by a really good smith. I would like to keep it as it is, but the mount is much too high (or the stock too low) for any efficient shooting. The optics are however surprisingly clear. The reticle is German #1 and I guess the magnification is about 4x. It should be nice to try out a load that worked well with the open sights.

Lawndart, I should never have guessed that you had this longing for being politically correct!

Regards,
Martin