Bolt MM 1939 G29/40 completed by Steyr as a K98k & Navy marked

majspud

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I had several other initial candidates at the upcoming Amoskeag auction, but then got honest with myself. What did I really want? A K98 Mauser. Having given up on a BSW as unobtanium at the moment, I moved to the one other K98 variation needed to complete my K98 collection - a KM (Kriegsmarine) or e/M marked piece.

I was looking at a couple of bolt MM G29/40s, when I found this one on Gunbroker. There were only four pictures, so I requested more after the auction ended with no bids. With the guidance of two members of the K98k forum, I got a very nice piece for less than the starting price over at Amoskeag. The seller was very accommodating in working with me. This includes a hard case and original sling - worth $150 on its own. A matched rifle would be $3-4000.

I have basic information about this variation and understand it to be quite rare. The Polish rifle at the time was the WZ29, a Mauser based design in 8mm. So many European countries were using the Mauser design, that when the Germans over ran these countries at the start of WWII, they added additional manufacturing capacity for the K98 with very little further effort needed on their part. Unfinished Polish WZ29 receivers and parts captured at Radom in 1939 when the Germans overran Poland, were sent to Steyr to be completed as K98s in 1940 and 1941. You can see the lined-out WZ on the receiver. Most of these went to the Navy (as did this one; e/M), with a few to the Luftwaffe, and less to the Army. This piece also wears a subcontracted DOT (Czech) marked stock.

These are the seller's pictures; I'll post mine when it comes.

Looks like I need a cleaning rod to complete it. Anyone have an early war unnumbered 12" rod lying around, or by a miracle, one numbered '06'?

T
 

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Here is the "Mauser Wall" in my office; L-R (matched unless stated). Even though the racks will be full with the G98/40, the WWI piece will go back in the safe when I eventually track down a BSW, giving me the one more slot I need and the racks will be all WWII.

1917 Erfurt Kar98a
1925 VZ24 German Depot
1935 S/42G (Bolt MM)
1937 S/27 (Bolt MM)
1939 137
1939 243 Luftwaffe
(1939 G24/40 Kriegsmarine Bolt MM)
1941 bcd (Norge)
1942 AR ZF-41 (RC)
1942 bcd (Depot XII, restored RC)
1944 bnz4
1944 DOU
1945 DOT44 (East German rework)
1945 svwMB

T
 

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That's a really interesting story and would undoubtedly make for a good conversation piece. Did you come across any numbers or estimates on how many were made?

"One of these Eagles is not like the others..."
 
That's a really interesting story and would undoubtedly make for a good conversation piece. Did you come across any numbers or estimates on how many were made?

"One of these Eagles is not like the others..."

Post #14 on this thread from K98k forum.

http://www.k98kforum.com/showthread.php?3427-G-29-40-660-1940-(pics)

Looks like:
To the Army

6/1940: 3,000
7/1940: 5,000
8/1940: 6,000
9/1940: 6,000

To the Navy:

12/40: 10,000
1/1941: 10,000
2/1941: 10,000
3/1941: 10,000
4/1941: 10,000
5/1941: 10,000


Or no more than 60,000 total Kriegsmarine pieces. It looks like Steyr was delivering 2,000 K98s, 10,000 G98/40s, 150 MG34s, and 150 pistols per month to the Navy from 12/40-5/41.

Best I can translate (below):

"In the understanding with the AHA Naval target from 1 October 2,000 K98s, and from the remaining G98/40 up to 10,000 pieces."

The nearly finished 1939 receivers with the Polish eagles are the rarest ones.

After that Radom receivers and parts were marked e/77 with varying codes. When the code changed to 'bnz' the small font was Radom; large font was Steyr. 'bnz4' is a Radom receiver, and 'bnz44' is a Steyr receiver.
 

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From the discussions on the K98k forum, this looks like the 6th known KM marked Steyr completed Polish WZ29, G98/40.

T[banana]

Well, turns out not that 'rare', per se, but damned hard to find in good condition with none as RC, and most were heavily used in WWII. Bolt MM is worth the same as a fully matched regular issue.
 
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Congratulations, Tim.

Yes, you could have bid to win at Amoskeag, and been satisfied with your purchase. But the patience and research paid off, and you got a sense of accomplishment along with a rare piece.
 
Rifle arrived today and is in great condition. All parts matched save trigger. I replaced the matching Imperial straight bolt with a self matching e/77 ex Norge bolt I got on the cheap. Sling that came on it was Israeli. I added a German sling, sight hood, and cleaning rod. Very nice piece.

Now that I have my Navy piece, I need to find a bSw...hopefully I won't have to make a deal with the devil2] to get one.

T
 

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From the discussions on the K98k forum, this looks like the 6th known KM marked Steyr completed Polish WZ29, G98/40.

T[banana]

Well, turns out not that 'rare', per se, but damned hard to find in good condition with none as RC, and most were heavily used in WWII. Bolt MM is worth the same as a fully matched regular issue.

Well that's a prime candidate to be 'sporterized'! Then it will be more rare! [wink]

Great find, Tim!
 
Range report. 48 degrees, damp, overcast, little wind. 40 rounds 1978 M75 Yugo skip bang ammo. First round was in the black on my practice target (left). Hits were a little left and low. I raised my Kentucky elevation a little and bumped the front sight a little left with my handy dandy sight adjuster. Moved to the trials target on the left. 3 of 5 in on the first try, then 5/5. Shot for fun at that point; put the last 5 in the center low - those are the three just above the receiver. Worked well all around.

T
 

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