Description
Rare & highly desirable!
Lowest documented serial number of less than 81,000 made in 1937!
Recently imported from the US & available for immediate sale is this nice example of a pre-war Kar98k manufactured in 1937 by Mauser Werke AG, Borsigwalde. We know this because S/243 was the Nazi secret squirrel code for Mauser Werke AG in 1937, both of which are on the receiver ring.
Records show that less than 81,000 were made in this year by Mauser Werke AG with just 80,889 K98’s made there in 1937, making this a rare & hard to find code when you consider the limited numbers made & the attrition rate, both in Wehrmacht service & end of/post war.
Out of over 12.5 Million Kar98k’s manufactured, this represents just 0.576% of the total manufacture of Kar98’s according to Richard D. Law’s renowned book ‘Backbone of the Wehrmacht’ (see photo), making this a hard to find example for your collection.
This was likely made very early in 1937 as indicated by the S/N of 2427 & uniquely, in the K98 collectors bible ‘Backbone of the Wehrmacht’, this rifle is lower than any serial number encountered by the researchers (see photo showing lowest S/N observed).
It has all the Waffenamts in the right places (correctly, a mixture of Weimar & early Nazi acceptance stamps are everywhere) & many numbers match including barrel, receiver, front sight, complete rear sight, floor plate, magazine follower, front barrel band & the bolt although not matching, does match itself. It is marked ghn which is a subcontractor we are not familiar with but think it is mid-war & it is something can be researched easily enough.
As can be seen in the photos, this is in great condition with a nice even patina & good wood. The bore is shiny with clearly visible rifling so definitely a shooter.
It does sport the correct flat butt plate stock which is laminated & not solid as would be expected & you can still see 3 (three) very clear, dark Waffenamts & H on the stock indicating it went to the Army.
This is a very good example of a pre-war Kar98k which was manufactured when all parts were milled & not stamped, when high quality was supremely important & everything has a Nazi Waffenamt or S/N stamped on it.
Do your own research & you will know if this is for you. Please view the photos carefully & make your decision based on what you see as they form the main description & override all written information. Ask for more if desired.
We are offering this rifle as a collectable piece of military history & acknowledge the grievous atrocities committed by the Nazi regime & some of its military, particularly toward the peoples of occupied territory & the Jewish population in Europe. In no way do we condone or glorify the Nazi regime which must be remembered for the vile stain on human history that it was.
We think we have described it accurately & correctly but do not claim to be infallible so if we have got anything wrong, it is unintentional & are happy for feedback from people who know more than we do.
Whilst we check these out for serviceability, the warranty has expired & this is sold on an ‘as is’ basis. As with all used guns, we recommend you have this checked by a suitably qualified person prior to shooting.
We have a pretty unique refund policy on our collectable guns whereby we will refund your money if it is not as described when you receive it. Just let us know before you send it back.
Call for shipping cost to your dealer.
