• Mauser Rifles Serial Numbers

Oops, I just realized I should have posted here. Well, here's my original post: Hey everybody, I have a Mauser K98 from 1934. I have been trying to identify it for the past year or so, and I've scoured Google with no luck at all. Well, actually I know it was made in Oberndorff or whatever it was, but that's all I can tell. Here is the problem - all of the pictures and references I have found say there should be a 3 letter code (which tells the manufacturer) and two or three numbers, which identifies the year. There is a banner Mauser logo on the top that says 1934, and it does not have the 3 letter 2 number code.

So, according to all of the databases, it should be a non-military one. BUT, it has the eagle/swastika stamped on the side, as well as what I have found to be inspection approval marks on the stock and side of the barrel. There are also a lot of weird crown-type symbols stamped on the side.

So what do you think this is? It doesn't match the standard military specifications for a K98, but I'm almost postitive it is. Could it be some prototype, or a rifle issued to different forces than the Wermacht or something? Any info at all that anyone could provide would be greatly greatly appreciated. I have been searching for a long time, and thought I should probably ask around on some forums. Thanks for your time, and I look forward if anyone has anything to offer!

Thanks again. EDIT: I can post pics if needed. Alright, here are the pictures with descriptions! Here is a plain side view: Here is a picture from above of the bolt/reciever: Here is near the end of the barrel, where the bayonett attaches: A closeup of the bolt/surrounding area: Here is the Mauser logo that is on top of the reciever, right where the bolt slides into the barrel: This is the left-hand side of the reciever, right behind the rear-sight.

You can see the eagle/swastika, but it is a bit worn. There is also a weird 'u' type logo, and I fuzzed out part of the serial number: This is also on the left-hand side of the reciever, down from where the Mauser logo is. There is a 'C' preceding the serial number here, and four letters with crowns above them; B, G, U and N: On the left-side of the reciever, back even further yet, what I've gathered to be the manufacturing plant: This is the right-side of the reciever, right behind the rear-sight. It looks like a capital 'G' with lower case 'e', 'c', and backwards 'c' inside of it.

There is also the number 26: Another angle of the same thing: On top of the reciever, behind the weird 'G' logo and in front of the Masuer logo, the number '791': Also on top of the reciever, but up towards the rear sight a bit more, the letter 'S': One last picture, this time of the bottom of the butt-stock. This appears to be the letters 'byf', a sideways 'M', and three eagle/swastikas, with what looks like the phrase 'W&A 135', but I'm not sure. I again fuzzed out the serial number just in case. Just now, up the stock a little ways, right behind where your hand grips behind the trigger, I found a capital 'P': So I hope these pictures will help.

The stamps on the stock tell who inspected it (I think), and beyond that, all I know is that it was made in 1934 in Oberndorf, so if anyone could find out any more information, like who it was used by, or what exact type of K98 it is, or anything, it would be greatly appreciated! Thanks for looking! BTW, thanks Gil, for the link!

That is the most thorough list I have ever seen! None of the letters made sense for what was on my gun, though (i.e., P being on the stock, when it says it's for ammo, etc.) and most of them didn't match. Thanks, though. Hope the pictures can help.

So does this mean it was built before the war, since there is no 3-letter code stamped on the reciever? But I thought WW2 didn't start until 1939. So why would all the others be stamped with the 3 letter code? And where could I find more info about the 'C' production run?

Also, I bought one box of ammo, and have only fired about 9 or 12 rounds through it, but very seldom, and from now on, I think I'll give the rest of the ammo away and grease it up and preserve it like you said So out of curiosity, how much approximately do you think this rifle would be worth? Thanks again. So does this mean it was built before the war, since there is no 3-letter code stamped on the receiver?

But I thought WW2 didn't start until 1939. So why would all the others be stamped with the 3 letter code? And where could I find more info about the 'C' production run? Also, I bought one box of ammo, and have only fired about 9 or 12 rounds through it, but very seldom, and from now on, I think I'll give the rest of the ammo away and grease it up and preserve it like you said So out of curiosity, how much approximately do you think this rifle would be worth? Thanks again.

Your rifle was built prior to the outbreak of WWII when Germany was rearming. It does not have the ordnance codes because they were used during the war to conceal production sources and numbers.

Not all Kar98k rifles were stamped with three letter codes. The production runs were often 10,000 in size with the year and letter code starting with 'a'. So a 'c' code could mean in 1934 there were 10,000 rifles made with an 'a' prefix and 10,000 with a 'b' before they began making rifles with a 'c' prefix. That is why you do not see Kar98k rifles with serial numbers in the millions like we have with our M1 Garands and Springfields. Not sure what ammo you bought, but never shoot military ammo in this rifle that might be corrosive. That requires extensive and thorough cleaning to prevent rusting and pitting.

Your rifle is a collector item, not a shooter. The letters or numbers in the stock have some considerable significance so whatever you do, NEVER sand the stock. If the wood is dry, a few drops of boiled linseed oil rubbed by hand onto the wood will protect it. Good question regarding the value. If that rifle were offered for sale in the gun shops I visit, it would have a hang tag price of between $750.00 to $1,500.00.

A collector that really wanted it might pay more. Hope this helps. All the best. Your rifle was built prior to the outbreak of WWII when Germany was rearming. It does not have the ordnance codes because they were used during the war to conceal production sources and numbers. Not all Kar98k rifles were stamped with three letter codes.

The production runs were often 10,000 in size with the year and letter code starting with 'a'. So a 'c' code could mean in 1934 there were 10,000 rifles made with an 'a' prefix and 10,000 with a 'b' before they began making rifles with a 'c' prefix. That is why you do not see Kar98k rifles with serial numbers in the millions like we have with our M1 Garands and Springfields.

Not sure what ammo you bought, but never shoot military ammo in this rifle that might be corrosive. That requires extensive and thorough cleaning to prevent rusting and pitting. Your rifle is a collector item, not a shooter. The letters or numbers in the stock have some considerable significance so whatever you do, NEVER sand the stock. If the wood is dry, a few drops of boiled linseed oil rubbed by hand onto the wood will protect it. Good question regarding the value. If that rifle were offered for sale in the gun shops I visit, it would have a hang tag price of between $750.00 to $1,500.00.

A collector that really wanted it might pay more. Hope this helps. All the best. Why does the stock have the 'byf' ordance code?

Shouldn't the metal parts have it as well? It almost seems like it is an old rifle like you said, put into a later stock or something? But the serial numbers on the bottom of the stock match, so how could that be explained? I only shot Remington 8xwhatever through it, not military ammo. But I think I will oil it up and not shoot it anymore now that I know it is so collectible. Thanks for the tips!

And thank you very much Gil and everyone for your help. It has been fun to learn more about the history of this rifle! I am now interested in collecting WW2 guns, because they have so much history behind them! It's really fun to learn about. Why does the stock have the 'byf' ordance code?

Shouldn't the metal parts have it as well? It almost seems like it is an old rifle like you said, put into a later stock or something? But the serial numbers on the bottom of the stock match, so how could that be explained? I only shot Remington 8xwhatever through it, not military ammo. But I think I will oil it up and not shoot it anymore now that I know it is so collectible. Thanks for the tips! And thank you very much Gil and everyone for your help.

It has been fun to learn more about the history of this rifle! I am now interested in collecting WW2 guns, because they have so much history behind them! It's really fun to learn about. Because 'bfy' is the German Ordnance Code for the Mauser works were your rifle was made. Hope this helps. All the best.

Alright, here are the pictures with descriptions! Here is a plain side view: Here is a picture from above of the bolt/reciever: Here is near the end of the barrel, where the bayonett attaches: A closeup of the bolt/surrounding area: Here is the Mauser logo that is on top of the reciever, right where the bolt slides into the barrel: This is the left-hand side of the reciever, right behind the rear-sight. You can see the eagle/swastika, but it is a bit worn.

There is also a weird 'u' type logo, and I fuzzed out part of the serial number: This is also on the left-hand side of the reciever, down from where the Mauser logo is. There is a 'C' preceding the serial number here, and four letters with crowns above them; B, G, U and N: On the left-side of the reciever, back even further yet, what I've gathered to be the manufacturing plant: This is the right-side of the reciever, right behind the rear-sight. It looks like a capital 'G' with lower case 'e', 'c', and backwards 'c' inside of it. There is also the number 26: Another angle of the same thing: On top of the reciever, behind the weird 'G' logo and in front of the Masuer logo, the number '791': Also on top of the reciever, but up towards the rear sight a bit more, the letter 'S': One last picture, this time of the bottom of the butt-stock. This appears to be the letters 'byf', a sideways 'M', and three eagle/swastikas, with what looks like the phrase 'W&A 135', but I'm not sure. I again fuzzed out the serial number just in case.

Just now, up the stock a little ways, right behind where your hand grips behind the trigger, I found a capital 'P': So I hope these pictures will help. The stamps on the stock tell who inspected it (I think), and beyond that, all I know is that it was made in 1934 in Oberndorf, so if anyone could find out any more information, like who it was used by, or what exact type of K98 it is, or anything, it would be greatly appreciated! Thanks for looking! BTW, thanks Gil, for the link! That is the most thorough list I have ever seen!

None of the letters made sense for what was on my gun, though (i.e., P being on the stock, when it says it's for ammo, etc.) and most of them didn't match. Thanks, though.

Hope the pictures can help. A little bit late but I am new to this forum: The word 'Geco' on the right side of the barrel is an abbrevation for the factory of Gustav Genscho who might have provided the barrel.

The 'byf' is the code for 'Mauserwerke Oberndorf am Neckar'. The stock is made of composite wood. It doesn't match the rest of the gun because the laminated wood stocks were first made in 1938/39 when walnut became rare.

Mauser Rifles Serial Numbers

K98k with the 'Mauser ton' were delivered to the different organisations of the NSDAP (Nazi party) like SA, SS and so on. Officially they were delivered to the Reichspost, the German Postal Service.