german mauser

[malard]

my dad passed away and I found this old 8mm. It has 1940 on the top of the barrel. It has two eagles on the barrel and the joint of the barrel and the bolt. the barrel #is 4983 and the bolt front is 4983. Under the gun on the bottom plate two #'s 4983. The bolt is bent and has #7520. Metal but plate 1/2 to 3/4 inch thick. Any idea what I have her.

[dave]

Probably a German K.98k. Mauser. Standard WW11 rifle of the German armed forces. Made in 1940 it should have two or three letters above the 1940 which would be the maker. Your post is a lil confusing as to the bolt---you give it two numbers. And what is "joint the of the barrel and the bolt"? A picture would help ID it better and almost every part on that rifle should have the serial number or last two numbers (4983). Sorry about your dad, was he a WW11 vet? The 1940, by the way is on the reciever, not the barrel.

[malard]

Sorry for not knowing terms. What I called the Joint you called the reciever. The numbers above 1940 are 337. The #'s 7520 was on the top of the Bent Bolt and on the side of the safty tab. He was in Korea. I have no idea how he got the gun

[dave]

Rifle was manufactured by Gustloff-Werke, Werke Weimer, Germany in 1940. I understand you to say that the bolt also has the #4983. If so, the bolt has been renumbered to match the rifle, probably by an armorer or repair facility. Many of such rifles were captured by the Russians during WW11 and were given to other communist countries, such as China and N.K. So your father may have got it while in Korea. A very nice collectable rifle, depending on condition could be worth 500 dollar +.

[malard]

thanks ever-so