Another truly great firearm...and one with which I've used to build a number of custom rifles.  Like the '03 Springfield, it just feels right in your mitts.

got 2 :)  but uh wheres the cleaning rod on tht one?

Jay,

 
The real classic this one isn't it.
 
At which model did Mauser change from the Straight bolt handle to the one bent down like in your picture?
Was it the M96 that still had the straight bolt handle?
 
Regards.
 
C

I love thoes old Mausers. I have 4 in either origional condition or sporterized. All of the sporterized ones were that way when I got them. My K98 loves the 185gr Core Lock moving at 2600fps. I've toyed with the idea of trying the 180gr Barnes but haven't gotten around to it yet. I'm on the lookout for another one to turn into a 8X57 MAI.

Quote from: CAfricaJay, The real classic this one isn't it.  At which model did Mauser change from the Straight bolt handle to the one bent down like in your picture?  Was it the M96 that still had the straight bolt handle?

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I know that there are some who venerate only one model as being the best C, but I'm a fan of the Model 98 in all it's configurations.  The action/magazine design is just timeless and it is very easy to build a good looking custom rifle on this action.

As far as the specific information you asked about...the following is as good a short history as any:
 
"The Mauser company, established by the two Mauser brothers, established its reputation in firearms making in the last decades of the XIX century, and continued to build a very well thought-out and skillfully built firearms until the end of the World War 2. Some years after the WW2, the Mauser company was restored in the West Germany and continued to build firearms, but mostly a larger-caliber ones, like the aircraft cannons etc. But some of earlier Mauser works became the standards against which all others designs are judged, even after some 100 years after its introduction. One of such designs, is undoubtfully a Mauser model 1898 rifle, also known as Gew. 98 or simply G98 (G = Gewehr, rifle in German). This rifle was designed from the experience, gained on previous Mauser designs, and was first appeared in 1898 as a standard German army infantry rifle. It was carried by Germans through the First World war, along with carbine shortened version, known as K98 (or Kar-98, from Karbiner = carbine). In the 1904 Germans were first to introduce the new, "spitzer" bullet (with pointed tip, instead of the older blunt, round-shaped tip). New bullet had much better long-range ballistic, so all sights were regraduated for new ammunition.

During the interwar period this fine design was slightly altered to became the K98k - Karbiner Kurz, or short carbine - a somewhat shorter, lighter and handier version of the original one. This version appeared in 1935 and was manufactured until the 1945 in large numbers not only by Germans, but also in numerous countries, occupied by Germans. Many versions of this design also were licensed to other countries, which also used to build their own versions of the G98. Most famous of those "foreign Mausers" are Persian Mausers, Turkish Mausers, Czech VZ-24 Mausers, Yugoslavian Mausers and some others. The list of the vast variety of the Mauser-type versions could easily cover a number of pages, but, for the sake of compactness, I will describe only the basic, German model.

The model 98 rifle is a manually operated, magazine fed, bolt action rifle. The magazine and the bolt action are the two most famous features of the model 98. Magazine is a two-row, integral box, with quickly detachable floorplate. Magazine could be topped either with single rounds, by pushing rounds into the receiver top opening, or via the stripper clips. Each clip can hold 5 rounds, enough to fill the magazine, and is inserted into the clip guides, machined into the rear receiver bridge. After the loading, empty clip is ejected automatically when bolt is closed. Magazine could be unloaded by operating the bolt (safety must be in the middle position!) or by removing the magazine floorplate (not recommended).

Mauser bolt is a simple, extremely strong and well thought out design. The bolt has three locking lugs, two at the bolt head and one at the rear part of the bolt. The bolt handle is rigidly attached to the bolt body. On the original Gew 98 rifles it was straight and located horizontally when bolt was in the closed position. On the K98k the bolt handle was bent down, which allowed for more comfortable carrying and bolt operations. Bolt has a gas vent holes that are designed to move the hot gases away from the shooters face and into the magazine opening in the case of the cartridge case or primer rupture. Next famous feature of the model 98 bolt is a "controlled feed" extractor. Massive, non-rotating claw extractor was designed to engage the cartridge rim as soon as cartridge left the magazine, and held the cartridge case firmly until it was ejected by the ejector, fixed inside the receiver. Combined with a slight bolt retraction at the last stage of the bolt turn-open rotation, caused by the cammed surface on the rear receiver bridge, this resulted in very positive primary extraction. Model 98 is a striker-fired weapon. Striker is cocked when bolt is rotated to open, allowing for smoother forward bolt pull. The rear part of the striker is protruded from within the bolt, so state of the action (cocked or not) can be checked visually or even manually. The bolt group can be easily removed from the receiver simply by pulling out the bolt stop, located at the left wall of the receiver, and then by rotating and pulling the bolt out. The safety switch is located at the rear of the bolt and has three positions: in the left position (when looking from behind the rifle) it locks the sear and also locks the bolt in place, so it could not be rotated and opened. in the middle (raised) position it still locks the sear, but bolt is unlocked and could be operated, to load and unload the rifle; and in the right position, the rifle is ready to fire. Safety could be easily operated by the right thumb finger.

Model 98 rifle featured a one-piece wooden stock with semi-pistol grip. Gew 98 and Kar 98K differ not only in the length of the barrel and the front part of the stock - they also have different sling mountings. While Gew 98 has two sling swivels, the K98k has only one, forward swivel. Instead of the rear swivel there's a through cut in the buttstock, through which the sling is passed. Those rifles also have different rear sights: Gew 98 have a curved, tangent sight, while K98k has more modern, leaf type rear sight. Front sights are of open, barleycorn type, on some carbines with removable"

Quote from: Lost Huntagot 2 :) but uh wheres the cleaning rod on tht one?

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Shortly after Hitler came to power he decreed that only clean ammunition would be shot by his men.  All the excess ramrods were used in the final days of the Reich to strengthen the backbones of upper party members and mass murderers so that they could at least flee to South America with their stolen money/treasures.

Thanks Jay,
 
So am I correct in surmising that the bent bolt handle appeared in about 1935 and that if you find one with a straight handle it is almost invariably an older model?
 
I have seen several 98 actions that did not have a hinged floorplate to the magazine.  That contradicts what you said above or doesn't it?
 
Regards.
 
C

Quote from: CAfricaThanks Jay,[/size]

So am I correct in surmising that the bent bolt handle appeared in about 1935 and that if you find one with a straight handle it is almost invariably an older model?

I believe so...if 'unaltered' and 'military'.  The 'bio' seems to say that the K98 was used during WW1 as well and in 1935 the K98k was introduced.  I'll see if I can find out more about this and try to get the sequence straightened out.  I just plain don't know right now.

I have seen several 98 actions that did not have a hinged floorplate to the magazine. That contradicts what you said above or doesn't it?

Personally I've never seen an unaltered military rifle with a 'hinged floorplate'.  The ones I've had to do with all had flanges that hooked over the opening in the bottom of the action.

Regards.

C

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Here is the G98:

CAfrica, the '09 Argentine was the only Mauser that I know of that had a hinged floorplate. That is what makes it so desireable as a basis for a custom rifle.

Ooops...'bug is right.  I forgot about the '09.  I was thinking only of the G98s and K98s that came our way.  

I do have to say that I've seen some awful pretty 'after market' floorplates for Mausers.  Seems to me that someone was producing a colored one at one time.

Quote from: Jay EdwardI do have to say that I've seen some awful pretty 'after market' floorplates for Mausers. Seems to me that someone was producing a colored one at one time.

I've seen some nice ones too. I have also seen some that cost as much as a new production rifle! 400 bucks for a hinged floor plate is a bit more than I want to pay.

Reason why I asked is because of the action that I bought for building my 6.5-06.
 
It is a DWM model (has the logo on the front ring).  The bolt is bent down like in your first picture.  This one has a swing out hinged floorplate but I simply assumed it was an aftermarket fitted unit.
 
Someone had done a home job on the trigger to make it adjustable.  I didn't want to take chances with something like that so had a Timney fitted.
 
One day when (if) I get my license, I'll post some pics.
 
C

Let me see?  I own 9 Mausers of one type or another and have two actions waiting on me to build something.  I own two M96 Swedish small ring 6.5X55 Mausers, one VZ-24 Large ring rifle in 8X57, one 98 8X68S that I think was an original sporter from the factory, one Husky 38 sporterized 6.5X55, one Turk 1903 custom 6.5X55 with a Swedish military barrel, one sporterized Mauser 95 7X57, one sporterized VZ-24 in 308, and one sporterized M38 Turk Mauser in 7X57.  The two actions waiting on projects is another 1903 Turk that will probably become a .257 Roberts, and another 95 small ring action that may end up as either .257 or 275 Rigby (7X57) or another 6.5X55.

To say I like the Mauser is an understatement.:D   Best actions ever built.  The grandfather of all modern bolt action rifles.:)

I kinda like 'em too. More than a few of you would have to use all your fingers and toes to count the number of k98s and 98 variants I have. All still stock milsurps. I just can't bring myself to take 'em apart. I have purchased a few actions-only though, upon which I intend to build something sooner or later. Ol' John's got the first one going on a .338 Mauser AI. (Which by the way, even as much as I like the 8mm, I think might be a 'better' cartridge than the newly-reported 325 WSM.)
 
Paul

Quote from: Arkie55Let me see? I own 9 Mausers of one type or another and have two actions waiting on me to build something. I own two M96 Swedish small ring 6.5X55 Mausers, one VZ-24 Large ring rifle in 8X57, one 98 8X68S that I think was an original sporter from the factory, one Husky 38 sporterized 6.5X55, one Turk 1903 custom 6.5X55 with a Swedish military barrel, one sporterized Mauser 95 7X57, one sporterized VZ-24 in 308, and one sporterized M38 Turk Mauser in 7X57. The two actions waiting on projects is another 1903 Turk that will probably become a .257 Roberts, and another 95 small ring action that may end up as either .257 or 275 Rigby (7X57) or another 6.5X55.

Geez, Arkie, you don't like those 6.5x55s do you? :D