Mauser Model 98 Stock

[jimmyj]

Reading how Mauser Model 98 rifles were bought back from WWII in duffle bags by returning veterens. Instead of cutting the butt stocks off could have the stock and barreled action been separated would this have been short enough to fit inside a duffle bag instead of cutting the stock ?

 

[erikpolcrack]

No - the duffle cut was needed even with the rifle broken down.

 

[DWalt]

The length of the stock itself is only a few inches shorter than that of the assembled rifle.

 

[30-30remchester]

Duffle bags must have varied in length. I have owned several mausers with the duffle bag cuts include one 22 trainer mauser. I doubt people would cut them off if they fit. The several I have owned and seen had the cut under the barrel band. That way upon returning home the wood could be doweled and glued back together and the barrel band returned to original position with nobody the wiser. Makes we wonder how many people have one so repaired and unaware. Of all odd things, I acquired an 1898 U.S, Krag rifle in a gun trade. Taking it apart to research and clean, it too had a duffle bag cut so repaired. Makes me wonder if the rifle had been overseas at some point. The Russians had some in WW1.

 

[16thVACav]

Of all odd things, I acquired an 1898 U.S, Krag rifle in a gun trade. Taking it apart to research and clean, it too had a duffle bag cut so repaired. Makes me wonder if the rifle had been overseas at some point.

Maybe you have the Krag carried by Sgt. Schultz in several episodes of Hogan's Heroes.

 

[Alk8944]

I acquired an 1898 U.S, Krag rifle in a gun trade. Taking it apart to research and clean, it too had a duffle bag cut so repaired. Makes me wonder if the rifle had been overseas at some point. The Russians had some in WW1.



It could well have been a "Bannerman" gun too!

 

[LVSteve]

The 'duffle cut' was usually made under the lower band. That way when the gun was put back together, the join was hidden.

 

[Bozz10mm]

My dad's Mauser 98 was cut at the handguard ring and the upper handguard cover was missing. Dad epoxied it back together many years ago, and I found a replacement upper hand guard cover 5 years ago. Yeah, I refinished the stock. It was bare white wood when he brought it back. Numbers aren't matching anyway.

 

[alwslate]

The duffle bag cut was very common on the Japanese Arisakas brought back from the war.

 

[stansdds]

Maybe you have the Krag carried by Sgt. Schultz in several episodes of Hogan's Heroes.

Never understood why the producers went to great lengths to make the uniforms correct, but could not find a few surplus Mauser rifles.

 

[DWalt]

Duffle bags must have varied in length. I have owned several mausers with the duffle bag cuts include one 22 trainer mauser. I doubt people would cut them off if they fit. The several I have owned and seen had the cut under the barrel band. That way upon returning home the wood could be doweled and glued back together and the barrel band returned to original position with nobody the wiser. Makes we wonder how many people have one so repaired and unaware. Of all odd things, I acquired an 1898 U.S, Krag rifle in a gun trade. Taking it apart to research and clean, it too had a duffle bag cut so repaired. Makes me wonder if the rifle had been overseas at some point. The Russians had some in WW1.

And back then, some rear area troops were issued Krags and older revolvers. Railroad troops (those who built, maintained, and operated military railroads) were armed with Krags. There was no expectation they would be needed or used in combat and it allowed more newer guns to be sent to the front.

 

[2152hq]

I've put a few back together for customers over the yrs.
The best one was a Reichs Post (sp?) 98 Mauser. Beautiful condition and the cut was made underneather the bbl band.
The reconstruction done afterwards was not of very good quality though. The glued together joint with a nail for reinforcement was loose and the bbl band was damaged as well.

All salvageable, a strong solid joint with 2 epoxy bedded threaded rods and a wooden dowel in the center. The joint itself then colored to match the wood even though it was all underneath the band when in place.

I struck the joint with one of my small ID mark punches and a yr date underneath there as well for those that golooking in the future.
The bbl band was easy to straighten out, polish as orig and re-blue.

I think the owner, now in his late 80's still owns it, though he had it out at a couple shows a of late dangling it in front of some buyers.


One duffle cut I own is a 1910 Mannlicher Schoenauer bring-back.
It's a full length rifle, not the usual carbine.
1/2oct/1/2rd org bbl in 9.5 M/S.

The rifle had a full length (to the muzzle) stock as well, all one piece.
The stock was duffle cut about an inch and a half past the front swivel to stow it in the dufflebag to return with it.
The brother of the WW2 GI that brought it home (and from whom I bought it from at a show) that said he remembers the extra forend piece being around. But then it 'kinda disappeared'.
The claw mount scope is missing too,,what else is new.
Another project.
A complete vintage scope in MS mounts I have.
Time I don't seem to be able to find.

 

[walnutred]

Never understood why the producers went to great lengths to make the uniforms correct, but could not find a few surplus Mauser rifles.

As was mentioned in another post rear area troops often had captured weapons. It's not entirely unlikely that a prison guard would have a Scandinavian Krag. Though a Mosin would have been more likely.

 

[LVSteve]

As was mentioned in another post rear area troops often had captured weapons. It's not entirely unlikely that a prison guard would have a Scandinavian Krag. Though a Mosin would have been more likely.

The Wehrmacht had many designations for Krag-Jorgensen rifles, depending on where they came from and type.

Danish Krags in 8x58R:

"Scharfschutzen-Gewehr 311 (d)" for the original long infantry rifle.

"Scharfschutzen-Gewehr 312 (d)" for the M1928 Sniper model.

Karabiner 506 (d) for all Danish Krag carbine models.

Norwegian Krags in 6.5x55 Swede:

Gewehr 211 for Krag-Jørgensen M1891

Zielfernrohr-Gewehr 212 for the Krag-Jørgensen M1891 "Sniper"

Gewehr 213 for the Krag-Jørgensen M1930

Karabiner 411 for the Krag-Jørgensen Kavalerikarabin M1881

Karabiner 412 for the Krag-Jørgensen Kavalerikarabin M1895

Karabiner 413 for the Krag-Jørgensen Ingeniörkarabin M1904

Karabiner 414 for the Krag-Jørgensen Artillerikarabin M1907

Karabiner 415 for the Krag-Jørgensen Karabin M1912

With all those designators, I'm guessing they issued some of them.

 

[stansdds]

True, and I had not considered the widespread use of obsolete and captured weapon use by rear area personnel. Maybe the producers of Hogan's Heroes actually got it right!

 

[30-30remchester]

Sorry for the late revival of this thread but just got home from an out of state trip. I collect many things military. My grandson just absconded with a US military bayonet from WW 2 that has a sheath from Denmark that I had. Some of the military items that the US armed once conquered nations with. Odd obsolete guns and knives fascinate me. I stare at war pictures to check out the gear. I have seen a soldier landing at D-Day and he is armed with a 1917 Enfield. I once had an 1884 Reich revolver with WW 2 capture papers. All nations used opponent's gear. Saw a photo of a German carrying a British SMLE sniper rifle. And it has been documented that German guards of POW's had Krag rifles though I feel they probably were Norwegian capture guns not US but cannot swear to that.