Is it a Mauser?

[John Wilson]

Here's some interesting info if anybody cares about who made their rifle, they're not all Mauser k98's you know.


In 1934 only two manufacturers where assigned to produce the K98k. These were the Mauser plant at Obendorf, and the firm of J.P. Sauer & Sohn at Suhl. Mauser, Obendorf was the only manufacturer to produce the K98 from 1934-1945. Each year later, other makers were added to produce the K98k, while some makers where dropped due to production demands or interests in producing other weapons, such as machine guns, machine pistols, or other small arms that were needed. By 1943 there were at least 7 factories that were producers of the rifle. Each makers code, dates, and proof markings for each year are listed below.

1934:
Mauser, Obendorf- S/42K
J.P Sauer, Suhl- S/147K

1935:
Mauser, Obendorf- S/42G
J.P Sauer- S/147G ERMA- S/27G
Mauser, Borsigwalde- S/243G

1936:
Mauser, Obendorf- S/42 above date 1936
J. P. Sauer- S/147 above date 1936
ERMA- S/27 above date 1936
Mauser, Bosigwalde- S/243 above date 1936
Berlin-Lubecker- S/237 above date 1936

1937:
Mauser, Obendorf- S/42, 1937
J. P. Sauer- S/147, 1937
ERMA- S/27, 1937
Mauser, Borsigwalde- S/243, 1937
Berlin-Lubecker- S/237, 1937
Berlin-Suhler-Waffen (BSW)- BSW, date 1937

1938:
Mauser, Obendorf- S/42 1938, and also "42" 1938
J. P. Sauer- S/147 1938, and also "147" 1938
ERMA- S/27, 1938, and also "27" 1938
Mauser, Borsigwalde- S/243 1938, and also "243" 1938
Berlin-Lubecker- S/237 1938, and also "237" 1938
BSW- BSW 1938

1939:
Mauser, Obendorf- "42" 1939
J. P. Sauer- "147" 1939 and also no date or code!
ERMA- "27" 1939
Mauser, Borsigwalde- "243" 1939
Berlin-Lubecker- "237" 1939
BSW- BSW 1939, and also combined with Gustloffwerke for "337" 1939
Steyr- Daimler, Steyr- "660" 1939

1940:
Mauser, Obendorf- "42" 1940
J. P. Sauer- "147" 1940
ERMA- "27" 1940, and also "ax" 1940
Mauser, Borsigwalde- "243" 1940
Berlin-Lubecker- "237" 1940, and also "duv" 40 date.
Gustloffwerke- "337" 1940 Steyr- "660" 1940, and also "bnz" 40 date.

1941:
Mauser, Obendorf- "byf" 41.
J. P. Sauer- "ce" 41
ERMA- "ax" 41
Mauser, Borsigwalde- "ar" 41
Berlin-Lubecker- "duv" 41
Gustloffwerke- "bcd" 41
Steyr- "bnz" 41

1942:
Mauser, Obendorf- "byf" 42
J.P. Sauer- "ce" 42
Mauser, Borsigwalde- "ar" 42
Berlin-Lubecker- "duv" 42
Gustloffwerke- "bcd" 42
Steyr- "bnz" 42
Waffen Werke Brunn, Bystrica- "dou" 42

1943:
Mauser, Obendorf- "byf" 43
J. P. Sauer- "ce" 43
Mauser, Borsigwalde- "ar" 43
Gustloffwerke- "bcd" 43
Steyr- "bnz" 43
Waffen Werke Brunn, Bystrica- "dou" 43
Waffen Werke Brunn, Brunn- "dot" 43

1944:
Mauser, Obendorf- "byf" 44
J. P. Sauer- "ce" 44
Mauser, Borsigwalde- "ar" 44
Gustloffwerke- "bcd" 4
Steyr- "bnz" 44 or "bnz" 4 *
Waffen Werke, Brunn, Bystrica- "dou" 44 *
Waffen Werke, Brunn, Brunn- "dot" 1944 *

1945:
Mauser, Obendorf- "byf" 45 * /**
Mauser, Obendorf- "svw" 45 */ **
Mauser, Obendorf- "svw" MB **
Gustloffwerke- "bcd" 45 * Steyr- "bnz" 45 *
Waffen Werke Brunn, Bystrica- "dou" 45 *
Waffen Werke Brunn, Brunn- "swp" 45 *
*- Later (higher) serial numbers were issued as Kriegsmodells.
**- Kriegsmodells had rough unfinished stocks and no butt plate. Some years may have dual maker codes and/or dual dates marked on receiver


K98 Variations-
During the war several changes and/or alterations were made to the K98. Most of these changes were simply design alterations that were made to simplify or increase production of the rifle. Some of these were totally different model of the K98, including the G33/40. The G33/40 was basically a shortened version of the K98. The G33/40 was only in production for 3 years, from 1940-1942. It was produced by Waffen Werke Brunn, Brunn. It fired the exact same 7.92mm round, and had the same Mauser 98 action. However, that is where the similarities end. The G33/40 had several different parts that were not matching with the K98. These included: the bolt, stock, cleaning rod, sight hood cover, upper hand guard, barrel bands, sling, and even the bayonet.

Another example of the changes made to the K98 late in the war is the introduction of the Kriegsmodell K98. The Kriegsmodell K98 is basically the most simplified version of the K98. Several design changes were made to produce the Kriegsmodell. Several items were completely eliminated, such as: bayonet lug, cleaning rod, bolt disassembly disk, bolt guide, barrel band spring, and even the locking screws for the floor plate. Kriegsmodell K98s are usually late 1944 or 1945 production. They will usually have very rough machined parts, and stocks will be rough and usually unfinished.

[KB Martinsen]

Nice post! Whilst on the subject take a look at www.latewar.com It's a nice little site on late war German weaponry especially the K98 Kriegsmodell.

[Viktor Kauer]

yay found mine:

1938:
Mauser, Obendorf- S/42 1938, and also "42" 1938

[mm1977]

Very informative and thanks for the link to "latewar.com"