I was just given a German Mauser 98 in real good shape
All the numbers match and the serial number is 10465
It has German Swastika markings in several places the only number that might have anything to do with caliber in on top of the barrel just in front of the bolt it is "44"
I think I remember that these are 8MM Is that correct and can I shoot it with modern ammo
Chuck

Thanks in advance
I can't do pictures

I have checked more the serial number is 10465 with the number 0465 on every part of the gun
above the # 44 on the barrel top the a 3line mark with the number 135 below it this is very small.
also there are several places that have "byf" in lower case one of them above the "44"
there is also gqm above 44 in the center of the butt plate
the swastika has an eagle above it in two places on the left side of the barrel and one on the left side of the receiver

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"44" is production date. Any alpha characters on receiver would indicate manufacturer. Eagle proofmarks usually mean it was tested to 20% beyond it's intended pressure expectations. It's a good idea to have it headspaced before shootiing it.

Does it read 'PREDUZECE 44' by any chance?

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Del: You don't want to shoot that rifle. It is much too valuable as a military collector item. Put it away and keep it for your first born's college tuition. ....... Big Cholla

That serial number is strange; Nazi serial numbers on weapons had only four digits with a letter prefix or suffix. As JcMack says, the Nazi manufacturers code, consisting of two or three lower case letters will be found on the receiver ring. Let us know the manufacturer's code if you can find it; there's a book that lists the code and manufacturer.

44 is the year of production and the original caliber is 8x57JS or 7.92x57

delete - my questions were inappropriate . . . didn't want to hijack this great thread

K98k manufacturer's codes 1934-1945
Gustlof Werke...****ss? I had one of those. Mine was not completely original. Very accurate with iron sights.

Gustloff Werke

I have one that was made in 1944. Another poster said to check the headspace and that is an excellent suggestion. I shoot mine on a regular basis and it is an excellent shooter. Thanks Larry

Pics would be helpful. Great find.

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Nice Christmas present! I’d like to see pictures too.

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K98 typical caliber is 8x57IS (Infantrie Spitz), this is still a very popular caliber over here for hunting. Most K98´s are used for hunting over here in Germany, not many have the "Nazi" markings anymore, so this makes yours a rather rare piece.

Das holen in der stocken

K98k Disassembly

Sounds like a nice one!

You'll find various stampings on both the receiver, barrel and bolt... and sometimes even the stock.

Here are some pics I took recently. Two different k98's with "waffenampt" stampings...

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Linda
SWCA #1965, SWHF #245

byf is the Nazi manufacturer's code for Mauser Werke. If it is on the receiver ring, just below the date stamp of 44, that means the receiver, and probably the whole rifle, was made by Mauser. gqm is Loch & Hartenberger, Metallwarenfabrik, Jdars-Oberstein. They were a metal fabrication plant and probably just made the buttplate, although it's odd to find more than one manufacturer's code on a weapon.

135 is the number of the Waffenamt (Weapons office, part of the German govenment), that inspected the rifle and found it fit for service. Waffenamt 135 was located at Oberndorf and inspected the products of Mauser Werke. The 'three line mark' above the number 135 represent an eagle with outstretched wings standing on a circle containing a swastika. These details are only visible on the larger waffenamt stamps. The number may also be preceded by the abbreviation WaA. The waffenamt stamp is found on many parts of the weapon, and different numbers may indicate that parts were produced by other plants and inspected elsewhere. For example, the waffenamt stamps have shown that some P 38 pistols produced at Mauser had sldes produced by FN.