9/17/19 - This is a very rarely seen pre-WWI Kar. K98a carbine, made at the Erfurt Imperial Arsenal in 1909. In 1909, the lowest number of K98a carbines were produced (not counting 1907 - the first partial year of production). Essentially a carbine version of Gewehr 98, it was issued to mounted troops, artillery crews and later to trench assault troops in WWI. Majority of the surviving rifles were then overstamped with Weimar 1920 property marking and issued to Reichswehr and Police units after WWI. Made from 1907 to 1918 at the three main German Arsenals, the wartime examples are by far the most common ones. This is the first prewar specimen that we have encountered. It is dated 1909, together with an Imperial crown on the chamber and is profusely proofed with imperial acceptance marks. Every part on this gun is numbered and is matching throughout! The bore is mint. The stock is matching as well with no cracks and is not duffel cut. It has the usual small dings and scratches one would expect to see on a 110 year old military rifle that probably participated in two wars. The metal finish is all original and retains about 80-85 of pre-war blue with some patina showing here and there. There is no pitting, with just a few spots of discoloration present.
As a bonus, the gun has a unit marking on top of the buttplate! Overall, a great example of an early prewar Kar. K98a, that survives in very good unmolested and unmodified condition with all the matching numbers. The rifle also comes with its original sling and an original muzzle protector.
