I'm not very knowledgeable about Mauser actions, but a friend has an old sporterized Model 98, and I was wondering if the action was worth considering for a custom build. The front receiver ring is marked "DOT", and "1944" under that. On the left side of the ring there's an emblem that looks like an eagle. The action side reads "Model 98", and the parts are numbered 3606. It was the stripper clip cutout, and a 4 or 5-step military barrel.

1944 manufacture date, think about that for a while. Go out and find an '09 Argie, or an FN.

Hint: I have several.

Jim, yes, I figured with a date like that, it was pretty much a "last ditch" manufacture, with build and steel quality being highly suspect.

Thanks...Jon

JB:

DOT means the Waffen-Werke Brunn, which I think was the German's designation for the CZ plants in what we Americans would call Brno.

http://mauser98k.internetdsl.pl/kodyen.html

The eagle stamps are the Waffenamts inspector's stamps I think.

I guess you do have to look at anything made in 1944 as lower quality than the pre war Mausers.

4 digit SN DOT rifles and actions are as good as any Brno made rifles. There is indication of shortcuts in the 5 digit SN DOT rifles.

MY DOT 43 Mauser was/is a superb action. The only difference I can tell was in the surface quality of it vs. pre-war Mausers. Alittle more time spent polishing corrected that. I really don't think metallurgy suffered until darn close to the end of the war. The Russians probably overran the BRNO arsenals before they adopted any unsafe shortcuts.

quote:

Originally posted by ALF:
4 digit SN DOT rifles and actions are as good as any Brno made rifles. There is indication of shortcuts in the 5 digit SN DOT rifles.

They might be as as good as any Brno rifles made
but are they as good as '09's.


By 1944, Germany was being whacked hard and production and quality of production was not nearly as good as it was, the same as the UK.

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This one is 3606 if I remember correctly.

There where no 5 digit serial numbers. There were however letter prefixes.

quote:

Jim, yes, I figured with a date like that, it was pretty much a "last ditch" manufacture, with build and steel quality being highly suspect.

I am sorry but this is total bullsh1t. No army ever supplies its troops with a weapon that will "blow up" when used as it is intended.

Here in Europe where any rifle sold has to be subject to an obligatory over-pressure proof test when sold I have NEVER heard of ANY '44 Mauser ever failing such a test.

Indeed in 1944 these '44 date Mausers originally have also have been proof tested by their maker before leaving the factory. That is what one of Eagle and Swastika marks signifies.

So have no worry at all that it is suitable IF AS ORIGINAL SPECIFICATION. The only worry would be what has been done to it in the years since it was made.

But if it is as good as the day it was made it will be entirely suitable.

quote:

By 1944, Germany was being whacked hard and production and quality of production was not nearly as good as it was, the same as the UK.

This is correct. To whit the two groove Lee Enfield No4 rfles and the "grey" barrels. But whilst quality may have been less in terms of fine finishing I can assure you that the quality of the steel and the safety of the weapon was never compromised.

There are NO over heat-treated 1903 Springfield equivalents to be found in any German, or German controlled, Mauser 98K production rifles.

quote:

Originally posted by enfieldspares:

quote:

By 1944, Germany was being whacked hard and production and quality of production was not nearly as good as it was, the same as the UK.

This is correct. To whit the two groove Lee Enfield No4 rfles and the "grey" barrels. But whilst quality may have been less in terms of fine finishing I can assure you that the quality of the steel and the safety of the weapon was never compromised.

There are NO over heat-treated 1903 Springfield equivalents to be found in any German, or German controlled, Mauser 98K production rifles.

Well said.

The 1903 Springfield is a good example.

The benefit of having proof testing in Europe.


However, I think you can do better than a 44 when it comes to a custom build.

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