German K98 Nazi Israeli French svwMB 8mm Mauser Bolt Action Rifle C&R
Sold For: $1025
LSB#: 210118PF01
Make: Mauser Oberndorf (svwMB). Between August of 1945 and May of 1946 “svwMB” was the Post WWII factory code for K98 rifles produced in Oberndorf, under French occupation.
Model: K98
Serial Number: 14546 b
Year of Manufacture: August of 1945 to May of 1946. See pages 247 to 251 of Richard D. Law’s book, Backbone of the Wehrmacht – The German K98k Rifle, 1934-1945.
Caliber: 8mm Mauser (7.92x57mm)
Action Type: Bolt Action, Internal Magazine
Markings: There is no visible import mark. The top of the receiver is marked Mod.98 (this marking was moved to the top of the receiver for all K98 production in 1945), and “svwMB”. The left side of the receiver is marked with a partial Nazi “eagle / swastika”, and with the serial number. The right side of the receiver is marked with 2 “eagle / 135” inspection stamps. The barrel shank is marked with Israeli markings that include “7.62” and “4-58”. The right side of the rear sight base is marked with a “eagle / 135” stamp. The bottom metal is marked with 3 “eagle / 135” stamps, “svw”, and “byf”. The top of the bolt handle has been restamped with the last 3 digits of the serial number. The bottom of the bolt handle is marked with 2 “eagle / 655” inspection stamps. The rear of the bolt assembly is marked with numbers that do not correlate to the serial number in 3 places. The bottom of the buttstock is painted “7.62” in white. This is not a true Israeli stock. Israeli stocks have 7.62 deeply stamped or cut into the bottom of the butt.
The sling buckle and leather are each stamped with a circled Israeli marking. The bottom of the sling is marked “2804-0252” next to the Israeli mark.
Barrel Length: Approximately 23 ¾ Inches
Sights / Optics: The front sight is an inverted “V” post set atop a small ramped base and under a removable protective hood. The rear sight is a “V” notched blade attached to a sliding sight escalator assembly marked from “1-20”.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The laminate stock has a pistol grip, scallop for the bolt handle, stamped metal nose cap, stamped & welded, barrel band with sling bar, through bolt, slingwell, sling pass through, and a metal buttplate with hole on the edge to service the bolt. The nosecap was made without a hole for a cleaning rod. It has been modified. An imitation cleaning rod has been screwed to the front of the nosecap & stock. The buttplate has been polished. It shows several scratches and surface erosion. The refinished nosecap and barrel band show scrapes & scratches. The right side of the butt shows a thin filled surface repair. The right side of the stock shows a repaired edge crack below the receiver ring. The wood shows several scrapes and scratches. Many of these marks have been finished over. The LOP measures 13 inches from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The stock rates in about Very Good Plus overall condition as refurbished.
Type of Finish: Blue
Finish Originality: Refinished
Bore Condition: The rear of the bore is bright. The groves near the muzzle are light grey. The rifling is deep. There is fouling and frosting in the grooves near the muzzle. The fouling should clean up a bit. The bore shows an M.E. of 1.0
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 92% of its metal finish as refinished. Most of the barrel finish is original. The front of the barrel & front sight have been refinished. The barrel shows various scrapes as well as discoloration. The bottom metal shows scratches, thinning, and discoloration. The remaining metal shows light scrapes & handling marks. The screw heads show use. Many of the markings are deep. Overall, this rifle rates in about Very Good Plus condition as refinished.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We did not fire this rifle. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: The rifle comes with an Israeli K98 sling. The leather shows scrapes. It shows scrapes & light oxidation on the buckle. Overall it is in about Very Good Plus to Fine condition.
Our Assessment: This is an interesting German K98 with German, French, and Israeli markings on it. This K98 has been assembled, it was not issued in this configuration. We have seen many Israeli K98 rifles and have never seen one with a Nazi “eagle / swastika” that was not defaced or crossed out. That being said…the rifle still has marks from French occupied Germany on the receiver and Israeli marks on the barrel shank making it quite a unique K98.
The Nazi marked German K98 receiver was made at the Mauser Oberndorf factory in Germany under French occupation. It was made between August of 1945 and May of 1946 when the Oberndorf factory was destroyed and anything of value was transported back to France. The “svwMB” marking on the receiver is the Post WWII factory code for K98 rifles produced at Oberndorf, under French occupation. This is the 3rd variant of the Mauser Oberndorf factory code in 1945. The other 2 wartime variants are “byf 45” and “svw 45”.