I was offered a police carbine recently, FN model 98, cal. 8x57 JS.It is stamped with the crowned J for queen Juliana during whose reign about 5000 of these rifles were built and issued to Dutch police forces in 1954. This rifle looks like new, in nearly unfired condition with only a few minor dents in he stock. Most of these rifles were stripped down because the actions were used as platform for hunting rifles. So an original one in this condition is becoming a rare find.
What would be the value of this rifle, in similar condition to the one in the picture in the link?
That 5000 or 2700 (which is most often heard for the number of the IOB carbines, comes from a misreading of FN carbine data for the Netherlands in MMRotW. The key fact is that around 40,000 police carbines were made by FN for the Netherlands, 1945 to 1950. Of that, an unknown number were made for the IOB and others. In the 1960's, 2,700 police carbines were converted to 7.62 NATO for use by the Papua, New Guinea police force. It is not known if these were IOB carbines. However, since this work was done at AI/Hembrug 10-15 years after the IOB carbines were made, it is not likely.
There are four sources for this data, the most important being Dutch. They are listed in the FN bibiography in MMRotW. One these 4, the two, the most important are Jan Free, and the article from the Dutch journal "SAM93" (listed in the bibiography) by David deWit on Dutch police carbines.
At any rate I would grab it up fast and if you do post a picture of it.
Yes, buy it now. They might have made that many but relatively few made it to the US market; they are rare. Been collecting Mausers for 40 years and have only seen a few. I had one years ago but it was Wilhelmina, instead of Juliana.
Posts: 17481 | Location: USA | Registered: 02 August 2009
Thats my Juliana in the photo in the military & military surplus forum at the top. It is in new condition. If you can get one like that for $420.00 U.S. Act quickly & buy it NOW!
Posts: 8352 | Location: Jennings Louisiana, Arkansas by way of Alabama by way of South Carloina by way of County Antrim Irland by way of Lanarkshire Scotland. | Registered: 02 November 2001
Awesome gun & it has the sling too which you rarely see. Reindeer you have a pm.
Posts: 8352 | Location: Jennings Louisiana, Arkansas by way of Alabama by way of South Carloina by way of County Antrim Irland by way of Lanarkshire Scotland. | Registered: 02 November 2001
The seller informed that he will also hand over to me a box of 50 original FN cartridges that were issued together with the rifle. Does this add to the value?
Posts: 223 | Location: Netherlands | Registered: 16 June 2005
I did some more research on this carbine. The one I bought is stamped 'GEMPOL', which is an abbreviation for 'gemeentepolitie' There is also a version stamped 'GEMPOL Amsterdam' for obvious reasons. In those days we had two policeforces in the Netherlands; Rijkspolitie, like your state troopers in the more rural areas and gemeentepolitie, like your PD's in 'cities' with more than 25,000 inhabitants. These carbines were not issued to individual officers, who wore a side arm, but every police station had one or two, intended for riot control. So it is likely that no more than a few thousand were stamped as 'GEMPOL' . I saw one without this stamp some years ago. It did have the J and crown but with a teak wood stock. This was probably an IOB version.
Posts: 223 | Location: Netherlands | Registered: 16 June 2005
Originally posted by reindeer: The seller informed that he will also hand over to me a box of 50 original FN cartridges that were issued together with the rifle. Does this add to the value?
The deal keeps getting better. Get over to that man and buy that rifle as soon as you can.
Posts: 8352 | Location: Jennings Louisiana, Arkansas by way of Alabama by way of South Carloina by way of County Antrim Irland by way of Lanarkshire Scotland. | Registered: 02 November 2001
Originally posted by reindeer: Got another one offered in as good or even better condition. Anyone interested? send me a pm and I will forward seller's details and pics.
yes I would.... But we're just to far apart from each other to make it happen.. So Sad..
MopaneMike
Posts: 1112 | Location: Southern California USA | Registered: 21 December 2006
I have ordered gunparts fron the USA more than once and exported a gun or two to friends in Iceland. Yes, it may take some effort and time to arrange but nothing is impossible if you really want it to happen!
Posts: 223 | Location: Netherlands | Registered: 16 June 2005
I thought my FR8 was cute, but that thing beats the hell out of it.
Although with the FR8, it's fun having people at the range asking me if it can go full auto .... what with them mistaking the cleaning kit under the barrel as a gas tube.
-- Promise me, when I die, don't let my wife sell my guns for what I told I her I paid for them.
Posts: 1048 | Location: Canberra, Australia | Registered: 03 August 2012
