Exceptional example of the standard issue 7.92mm service rifle supplied to the Waffen SS by special contract in 1944.  Principal markings include: “4618” (serial number); “bnz 44” (manufacturer’s code and year of manufacture); “Mod. 98” (model: Karabiner Model 1898); “byf” and eagle over “135” (manufacturer and military acceptance stamp found only on the trigger guard assembly; this part was supplied to Steyr by Mauser Oberndorf – a common feature of Steyr rifles made in 1944).   The condition is Excellent with 90% of the overall blue remaining; the bluing is 95% on the receiver, bolt, and magazine follower and about 85% on the barrel and magazine floor plate.  The bore is also excellent.  The front sight hood is missing (note: Steyr used a uniquely shaped sight hood in 1944-45 with a continuous curve that is different from the typical sight hood used by other makers of the Kar-98k).  The stock is also excellent with only minor handling marks; no cracks or gouges (note: Steyr used a uniquely shaped cutout on the right side of the stock below the bolt handle; while other makers used a cutout that is square-shaped, the Steyr design is rectangular).  The rifle is fully functioning and all of the serial numbers match.

As designated by the “bnz” manufacturer’s code, the rifle was made by Steyr-Daimler-Puch in Austria.  Steyr manufactured approximately 85,000 Kar-98K rifles for the SS in 1944; based on the “DR” marked barrel, this rifle was made in August- September 1944.

A detailed discussion of the Steyr SS contract can be found on pages 731-749 in Volume IIb of the definitive reference set, Karabiner 98k, by Bruce Karem and Michael Steves (if you are using any other reference books on the Kar-98k rifle, they are obsolete).  Steyr entered into a special contract with the SS in 1943 to supply Kar-98k rifles directly to the expanding Waffen SS in order to mitigate dependence on the army for basic small arms.  Throughout 1943 the SS contract rifles were stamped with a single SS rune (ᛋ) on the receiver, but this practice was discontinued in early 1944.  Steyr utilized forced labor from the nearby Mauthausen-Gusen concentration camp in the production of Kar-98k rifles for both the SS and the army. Following the bombing of the Steyr plant in February 1944, rifle production was moved to the Gusen concentration camp (with final assembly in Molln).

SS contract rifles manufactured by Steyr in mid to late 1944 can be identified by four features:

1. The serial number has no letter suffix.  Typically German serial numbers go from 1 to 9999 (or 99999), then 1a to 9999a (or 99999a), then 1b to 9999b (or 99999b); then 1c to 9999c (or 99999c); etc.  The SS contract never used letter suffixes and just repeated the serial numbers over once 9999 was reached.
2. There are no army acceptance (Waffenamt) stamps on the right side of the receiver or on top of the receiver.  Three acceptance stamps will typically be found on the right side of the receiver and one on top of the receiver on army Kar-98k rifles.
3. There are no army acceptance (Waffenamt) stamps or army property marks (eagle over “H”) found on the stock.
4. The SS rifles have fewer serial numbers applied than found on army production rifles (likely due to different contract stipulations).  Typically, on SS rifles, no serial numbers will be found on the barrel bands, trigger guard assembly, or magazine floor plate, and only two serial numbers will be found on the bolt assembly (bolt handle and safety).

SS contract Kar-98K rifles in this condition rarely come on the market!  An Excellent opportunity to own a collector grade classic German rifle made just prior to the surprise Ardennes offensive of December 1944 that we know as the Battle of the Bulge!  [SK]

Firearms may only be shipped to a licensed dealer (FFL Holder) - If you are not a licensed dealer, you must make arrangements with a dealer in your state to receive the firearm and transfer it to you.

DISCLAIMER: All firearms are sold as collector's items only - we do not accept responsibility as to the shooting safety or reliability of any antique firearm. All firearms are described as accurately as possible, given the restraints of a catalog listing length. We want satisfied customers & often "under" describe the weapons. Any city or state regulations regarding owning antique firearms are the responsibility of the purchaser. All firearms are "mechanically perfect" unless noted, but again, are NOT warranted as safe to fire.

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