Final Nail in the American Collection

[majspud]

My M98 Krag came today, serial 179K, falling midway in the 1899 production run. Truth be told, I got this fair condition piece primarily for the 1943 marked web sling which looks just great on my 3/43 Smith-Corona. Figure the sling is worth $150 on it own. Stock has been sanded/or well worn so the cartouches are gone, but I can see a faint box where the 1899 box was. Rifle has been well used, with two grafts and tree-nails, under the bolt and top of the butt stock. Bore is very good. I spent a couple days oiling and polishing the sling; even so I had to be creative installing it as the keepers had no give. I also got an original oiler, cleaning rod set, and a reproduction muzzle cover. I found an original 1899 dated bayonet and scabbard to go with it. The rifle also came with an old box of Remington 'Kleen-Bore" ammo for it.

My small bore center fire American side of my collection is now complete:

1899 M98 Krag Jorgensen
1/1918 M17 Eddystone
1919/1931 M1903 RIA/Springfield
Fall 1943 Savage Enfield No. 4 Mk. 1*
3/1943 M03A3 Smith-Corona
5/1944 Winchester Garand, RAP overhaul, matched Danish return
6/1943 Rock-Ola M1 Carbine, rebuild with peep sight and bayonet lug.

I'll do an outside picture when the weather moderates.

t

 

[majspud]

More pics. My collection has been reduced by 1/3 since last year, so I put some choice Germans and the Americans out for display and took the other gun racks off the wall.

Watching a Star Trek marathon.

t

 

[majspud]

Think it's safe to shoot that ammo?

T

 

[mac1911]

If your rifle is in good order and headspace is good that rem kleenbore and corelok bullets thats modern ammo and will be fine if stored well over the years.
If no one messed with the sights it will shoot high with the 180 grain stuff.
Now you just need to hunt down one of these and you can reload from cream puffs to full 230 grain original military loadings
Lee Classic Loader 30-40 Krag - MPN: spec30-40

 

[SKS Ray]

You're not gonna try to find an M1941 Johnson?

 

[majspud]

No Johnson, M17 NEW or M17 Remington, Lee Navy, etc. Keep it simple (and affordable).

Haven't seen you around for a while.

t

 

[majspud]

Ray,
Yours is the last on the right of Germans.
T

 

[JuergenG]

That's an excellent one that should be in my basement.

 

[majspud]

Long time no see, Juergen.

t

 

[majspud]

For those who don't know "Ray's Rifle" is an April, 1945, Mauser made and coded "svwMB" K98k, all matched and correct, and VERY rare - only 2500 German proofed pieces versus 25550 French pieces. The French kept Mauser open until April, 1946, to rearm their forces. The little e/135 proof on the top of the receiver makes it worth the big $$.

There are several "Ray's Rifles" in existence. There is an exceptional Lion Crest VZ24 now living in NH.

t

 

[Hardwired]

Somehow I don't see this as a "Final nail"...

On the svw MB, where did the "MB" come from? If Oberndorf started "svw 45" coded K98k's in February why would the Germans change 45 to MB in just a couple of months - this doesn't really make sense to me. Is yours a b block? Is the bolt matching numbers?

Some nice info on latewar.com . Glad I got Vol 3 KM before it sold out.
svw45 rifles
svwMB rifles

I have my eye on a late war Kriegsmodell. I really like the late war issues. Very interesting variants with the expedients and the mixed phosphate and blued finishing but I'm sure not much if any combat on these. Would like to find a late dot stock for my dot 44.

Missing Brit and Commie gear although the Savage lend lease in 303 could be argued with.

 

[majspud]

As if the Germans didn't have enough problems than to change the roll marks of the K98 three times in the winter/spring of '45. Mauser was the only one to make all three changes. Mine in serial 9201c; totally matched. It wears a Sauer stock from 1944 which it explains why it is not in Kriegsmodell trim. Sauer shut down K98 production in the fall of '44 to concentrate on automatic weapons. All extra parts were shipped to Mauser.

I have all four books. A couple of my rifles made the cut over the years.

T

 

[SKS Ray]

Ray,
Yours is the last on the right of Germans.
T

Thought I recognized it

 

[40 caliber]

For those who don't know "Ray's Rifle" is an April, 1945, Mauser made and coded "svwMB" K98k, all matched and correct, and VERY rare ....
There are several "Ray's Rifles" in existence. There is an exceptional Lion Crest VZ24 now living in NH.

t
View attachment 218141 View attachment 218142 View attachment 218143

haven't been on the forum in a while , yes, that "exceptional" VZ remains happy in my safe. of all the VZ's i owned at one time, that is the only one that remains.... And will