Likely the nicest and rarest German Mauser you will ever see.

Here is a photo of my Mauser Sniper variant and will likely be the nicest and rarest Mauser Rifle you will see and I still have it in the collection.

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Ive had this baby for about 15 years now and was once told to contact Richard Law--the man who authored the 2 volumes of: Backbone of the Wehrmacht, to see about getting my rifle photographed and put into any revised edition of his vol 2--which is on German Sniper Rifles and their variants--but the Author passed away before anything could happen. So---------THIS is the first ever--posting of an image of my rifle--anywhere. Hope you Gents enjoy it? ;-))

Below the Mauser is my 1898 Krag Carbine with original sling and was one of those few Philippine Contract rifles. It too, share a nice hefty market value.

The backdrop is an original and in mint condition--German Army Recruiting Poster along with the SUPER rare postcard with the same image.

 

Carl, these are items that many collectors wish that they had in their collections, they look stunning. :thumb:

 

Thank you Jim. I dont have but a second to be here tonight but--ill be posting more info on this rifle tomorrow afternoon. The research was done be a USMC Historian by the name of Dieter Stenger-who did that for me about 12-13 years ago. Deiter found only scant info on it but sheds a little light on why these came to be.

Thank you also for the nice compliments too ;-)) It makes the years of frustration of never being able to post a photo of it anywhere--a bit better now that people can feast their eyes on something nice. For years I talked about having such things but never had been able to show proof of them ;-)) I have a few other such one-of-a-kinds that ill eventually will get here. Such as one fo the DIamonds recipients 1957 RK, Oaks, Swordss and DIamonds pieces--cased--a 7 place ribbon Bar that had once been the property of: the Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin Friedrich Franz von Grossherzog IVth. Forgive me if I have his name turned out of order a bit--been a long time since I saw it written down. I Also have an 1870 3-place ribbon bar that supposedly belonged to either: teh 99 Day Kaiser-or one of his Inner Circle of friends--less than 10 possibilities of who it is but most certain it was one fo theirs. Research on both ribbon bars was done by a Geneologist-friend of mine some 10-12 years ago.

I also have things liek a German Army Regimentsagesbefehl talking about Major Baron Peter von LeFort--who was Commander if Gebirgsjager Artillerie Regiment 79, and also mentions prominently--he and two of his men. All this is is an official Wehrmacht (Army) Radio Report telling of somehting he and his men did during some attack. I need to get it translated word for word since my German aint fluent. ;-))thumb:

 

Since Dieter Stenger sent this info to me on march 30, 2001--this is all the info I have on this rifle.

Dieter: "The rifle you have, based on what the article said, is super rare. Apparently people know of it, but there are no photos (((untill I posted it here and on 2 other sites))) of actual collector pieces. Here is the article and a good translation from the German."

The Mauser M-98 w/ Large Capacity Magazine.

Once the "rate-of-fire" had a decisive impact at infantry level engagements, it was found that the somewhat encumbering stripper-clip loaded 5-round magazine did not always suffice for every situation.

During the inter-war perios, the solution was found at lengthening the magazine after the original magazine cover was removed and configured in its place. Through this modification, the G-98 had a higher magazine capacity of 25 rounds, although it required loading by way of the conventional method. The lengthened magazine, however; was impractical when firing the weapon in the prone position.

The outcry for a quickly changeable and higher capacity magazine (more than 5-rounds) was quickly heard after the onset of WWII. Studies and experiments conducted by the Heeres Waffenamt, albeit the net result were a few experimental models. Several examples with the large capacity magazines are circulating in collector circles; however, all magazines are of well-known automatic weapon origination. The magazine configurations in Carbine (K-98) were improvised or field expedient modifications. No one has been able to offer original documentation for the modifications.

The only authentication for the modification was found in the Waffenamt Device Protocol of April of 1944. It depicted one example, built and modified by a Mauser firm, of a 10-round removable magazine that was attached to a modified carbine (K-98) designed for experiments with a sniper scope.

As early as march 1942 the question about a removable magazine had been addressed by way of a letter from the Army general Staff to the Department of the Army (Heeresamt). "Unit requests for a weapon with a higher than a 5-round capacity magazine (removable magazine) is expected. However, the requisition of such a magazine would place the greatest pressure on an already over-burdoned industry and delay the current developments for the completion of a semi-automatic weapon and a proposed machine carbine ( the: G-43 and the MP-43/STG-44-respectively). Since both these weapons already have a more than 5-round capacity, it is unproductive to produce yet another removable magazine."

Some of these experimental models may have found their way to the Russian (Eastern Front) where they fell into Soviet hands. More than likely, the weapons were sold to the NVA and the VC to assist in fighting the Americans during Vietman. ((((I know this is for fact because an American nam vet whot and killed a Viet sniper and captured his weapon which was one of these but with a lower cap mag, and his rifle was made at least in 1940 or 1941--I cant recall which? Anyway, this Vet wrote an excellent book on Mausers called: "Mausers of the World" and his Mauser is photographed in it.

More by Dieter: "I would recommend contacting Richard Law who wrote the book: "Backbone of the Wehrmacht." He should get a photo of your rifle. I did try to get a contact address for Richard Law--and got it too late because unfortunately--he had passed away. Anyway, there are no other photos of this rifle or one like mine--anywhere on the net or in any books. The only one on the net as of now--is my rifle.

 

Very nice mate, there can't be many of these knocking about in such good condition. Sure wish this was hanging on a wall in my house. Excellent write up also. :thumb:

 

Thank you Stalin and me too--I wish I could have it hanging on my wall but--the neighborhood I live in aint so nice so--I have it stored in one of my Nephews gun safes. I found another that looks mostly like mine but different in many ways--posted on the WW2 Militaria, Uniforms - WW2 Militaria collectors - historians forum. Uniforms, armor, battlefields at War Relics Forum site and is in a pinned topic on Mauser rifles in their firearms section. Its on page 9--there are three photos of it. The guy never posted anymore on the site.:wtf: His wasnt near as nice as mine but still--I wouldnt mind owning it too ;-))

Im hopefully going to raise enough cash hopefully in a couple weeks--to buy a new made by Schmeisser--22 cal STG-44. Im about to see about selling enough militaria to do so.

 

Carl, are you talking about the rusty one on that site? If so it isn't a patch on the one you have. :thumb:

 

Hi Jim, I am and thank you ;-)) Also, just got a post today from someone who said its not real? Ive posted researched evidence of its reality but I guess its not good enough for the person posting it as "chicanery" All he has to do is to look at the books who titles ive posted about such as: Backbone of the Wehrmacht vol 2 as well as Mausers of the World. Both have period pieces posted in them as well as were highly researched by both Authors as well are factually proven.