1937 S/243 K98k

[rlkillion]

Since Chuck is showing off some of his rifles I will add some pics of mine and some information. This one is likely a vet bring back and is matching except for the bolt(common as the bolts where taken from them upon getting on a ship and they got one when they got off out of a pile. This bolt matches itself and is a Imperial German K98a bolt)also the ejector box has another Waffenamt code and last two of another rifle's serial number. It was manufactured at Mauser Werke AG Borsigwalde. 80,889 where made that year which was .576 Percent of total production. It has both Wiemar and early Nazi Eagles. 1937 rifles can have Waffenamt 211 and 280. Most have280 exclusively this one only has 211. It has the Wiemar eagles on the stock, as well as the serial and the "H" for Heer. It is fun to shoot and very accurate. It does kick a bit but it is not my worst...or my best for that.

This article was originally published in the KCN in their JUNE 1990 newsletter as: THE K98k-MAUSER WERKE BORSIGWALDE by Bob Jensen.
Peter Kuck has edited this document on 01/13/2002.

The Mauser Borsigwalde factory (Berlin) had been employed making “Mauser Banner" rifles for “commercial sale” to the German government (i.e. customs, railway police, postal authorities, etc) and for export (including many for the Nationalist Chinese). The Mauser 'Banner' rifles produced at
Borsigwalde can be differentiated from those produced at Mauser Oberndorf only by the concave shape of the legs in the letter M in the Mauser logo. Mauser Borsigwalde was licensed to produce the K98k rifle in late 1934 but it wasn’t until 1935 that the first rifles came off the production line.
The 1935 Mauser Borsigwalde “S/243G” date rifle has the same configuration as the Mauser Oberndorf “S/42G” K98k rifle. They have Weimar style eagles
and use Waffenamt “211” proofs. All known examples were issued to the Army in 1935, and the known serial number range is from 982 to 7871 with an estimated production run of 10,000 rifles.
In 1936 the Mauser Borsigwalde manufacturing code was changed from “S/243G” to “S/243” and a full four-digit date was used on the receiver ring. The Weimar style eagles and Waffenamt “211” proofs were retained. All known production was issued to the German Army, and the known serial number range is from 8185 to 5080c with an estimated production run of 40, 000 rifles. 1937 saw the replacement of Waffenamt “211” with Waffenamt “280”. The Nazi style eagle proof gradually replaced the earlier Weimar type. Both eagle proof types and Waffenamts can be found on rifles produced during this year. As an example rifle #4462b(Jensen) has the Weimar Eagle as the firing proof on the barrel, receiver, and bolt with Nazi style eagles over swastikas on the right side of the receiver as inspector's stamps (two Waffenamt “211”'s and one Waffenamt “280”). At the beginning of the “m” serial number suffix range it appears that Waffenamt “280” proofed parts were being exclusively used. The known serial number range is from 4631 to 897h, with an estimated
production run of 90, 000 rifles. In 1938 the Mauser Borsigwalde manufacturing code was changed from “S/243” to “243”. This
code change occurred between the “i” and “k” serial number ranges. Receivers coded “S/243” exist in the “k” range and receivers coded “243” are known to exist in the “i” range. (This anomaly also exists with Mauser Oberndorf rifles). The overlap in sequence appears to have been caused by the
placement of code “243” receivers (from the milling shop) on top of the older “S/243” receivers in the parts bins. Only when the code “243” receivers in these bins were exhausted, would the earlier “S/423” receivers be reached and used. Weimar and Nazi style eagles can still be found on the same
1938 rifle, but Weimar eagles appear only as the 3 firing proofs, used by Waffenamt team “280”. The known serial number range for “S/243” l938 rifles is from 8153 to 4997k, with an estimated production run of 120, 000 rifles. ”. Stocks and handguards were made of laminated Beachwood.
The known serial number range for the code “243” rifles made in 1938 is from 594i to 6157r, with an estimated production run of 70, 000 rifles. Only Army issue rifles are known.

The 1939 code “243” rifles (fig. 2) have a greater number of variations than those of previous years. Early production rifles saw the final use of the Weimar eagle and Waffenamt “280”. Mauser Borsigwalde would use Waffenamt “26” from 1939 until the end of production in 1944. Some small parts such as front sight bases followers, bolt bodies, safeties, and rear sight bases can be found with variant Waffenamt numbers. The Nazi style eagle is used exclusively as a firing proof by the end of 1939. The known serial number range is from 944 to 7684x, with an estimated production rub 250,000 rifles.
Mauser Borsigwalde also produced rifles for the Luftwaffe in 1939. They were produced as the standard issue rifle with a “L” service branch stamp on the right side of the stock or as the rarer variant with a Luftamt proof in place of the usual Nazi eagle proof. The Luftamt proof may be found on the barrel, the receiver, or on both.
The 1940 code “243” rifle shows very little variation from the standard set in 1939. Proofs were eagle “26” throughout with the exception of a few eagle “211” stocks up to the “b” range. The known serial number range is from 1324 to 1209t, with an estimated production of 210,000 rifles. There is a 1940 variation (in the “h” serial number block) of K98k’s with resin stocks (we call it fiberglass today). Rifles with these stocks were standard in all other respects and are among the rarest of the K98k rifles.
1941 changes included the use of the letter code “ar”, a change from a full four-digit receiver date to a two digit date, and the use of a cupped buttplate (to keep rifle stock butts from delaminating). “ar” 41 rifles are essentially the same as contemporary production from other plants. The known serial
number range is from 3462 to 1814m with an estimated production of 135,000 rifles. Borsigwalde production totals start to decline due to the increase in production of MG34, MG42, and aircraft Machine guns at the plant.
Mauser Borsigwalde was one of the first makers of ZF/41 scope mounted rifles in 1941. Marinien (Navy) issue rifles are also known to exist in the “b” range. They only differ from the standard issue rifles with the “M” service branch stamp on the right side of the stock
The 1942 “ar” coded rifle keeps the standard configuration. The final assembly proof was moved to the top of the receiver above the manufacturing
code. Contract barrels appear for the first time on Borsigwalde production (cyw). The Known serial number range is from 6589 to 500 l., with an
estimated production run of 125,000 rifles. Changes occur on Borsigwalde production ZF/41 scope mounted rifles. Both the early flat roller and later beveled roller K98k ZF/41 rifles can be found with the production of the flat roller system apparently ending in the b serial number range.

1943 Mauser Borsigwalde rifles are similar to the previous year’s production. As the production of the K98k slowed at Mauser Borsigwalde, “ar” coded receivers were sent to both Sauer and Gustloff facilities for assembly. “ar” 43 rifles with the eagle “37” final assembly proof on the top of the receiver were Borsigwalde production assembled by Sauer. These rifles will usually have a CE (Sauer) coded barrel. (Jensen's note: [his] “ar” 43 serial # 5217c has
the eagle “37” assembly proof and the “280” firing proof. Barrel code is script Sauer style rk507. Eagle & swastika proofs on barrel and receivers are the smaller Sauer style as opposed to the larger Mauser variety proofs. The stock is laminated with clear resin and has the larger bolt takedown washer and is proofed eagle “H” and eagle “135”. The rear sight group and barrel are proofed “280”. The bolt release has the typical Sauer contour as opposed to the Mauser variety). Some stamped parts are seen in the 43 issue. The known serial number range is from 205a to 93221, with an estimated production of 130, 000 rifles.
1944 was the last year of production of K98k rifles at Mauser Borsigwalde. Production was probably terminated due to the priority given to the manufacture of machine guns and other weapons. Stampings were used for front bands, band springs, and trigger guards. The known serial number range is from 669 to 8101r, with an estimated production of 190,000 rifles. An interesting 1944 variation is the “ar” coded receiver assembled at Mauser Oberndorf, which can be identified by of an eagle “l35” assembly proof rather than the eagle “26”. BCD/AR coded rifles are commonly referred to as being doubled coded. These rifles will be examined separately in another article along with the other known double coded rifles. There are double coded “bcd/ar” ZF/41 equipped rifles dated 42 that are known to exist.

[rlkillion]

Not a perfect pic as I cut off a little but here is the whole rifle. These were taken before I cleaned it up so it looks a little better now. I also attached the article I pasted above as it has pictures in it and a little more info that I cut.

[Panzermacher]

Nice one! Very clean looking.