ERMA- early war- a total mutt

[Blicero]

I offer up this k98 as a refutation to all my friends who call me a milsurp snob who doesn't have or appreciate anything showing hard use or unoriginality.

First, here's why I own it. It's a code 27, "A" letter block early '39 Erfurt manufacture, which filled a hole for me:






Now let's count the ways this gun is wrong or incorrect, the things that would make the true snobs toss their cookies:

1. It has a - gasp!- Gew98 rear band and a chipped hand guard:




2. Besides the barrel, there is not a single matching part on this rifle, and the bolt number is obviously a non-German font so it's been renumbered somewhere in its postwar life:









3. Some schmuck painted the stock with a rack number or some such nonsense that insults the gun's original Teutonic glory! WHY BUBBA?!


4. Incorrect, unoriginal sling provision:



5. The exposed metal shows pitting & finish loss:



Obviously, this is gun saw postwar service & upgrades, likely in Czechoslovakia. Here's the circle Z on the firing pin:



And here's where things get a little weird for me. Also on the firing pin is something I've never seen on a K98 or its parts: A crescent moon and Arabic numbers on the firing pin:




K98s are known to have gone to Iraq, but to the best of my knowledge all of those guns are marked with the triangle 2/Jeem property stamp. There are no markings like that on this gun.

Yeah, this gun is far from correct. It's bastardized. But guess what, I'm fascinated by the long & diverse service life it lived. Whod'a'thunk it!? Now please refrain from berating my alleged snobbish demeanor from herein. Thank you. 

[Loose}{Cannon]

Best gun you got.   

[Justin Hell]

What a slut this thing has been over the years...probably used against opposing factions time and again.  Defending and offending the side of 'right' more times than can be counted by her stamps.

That's no milsurp son...its a retiree.

I can only hope my first venture into these could be so storied and traveled.
 

[Phosphorus32]

Safe to say that old Erma K98k saw some action on more than one occasion.  It would be interesting to know which countries it traveled through, and/or served for, during its travels.

[Dannyboy53]

Yep, this one is definitely a fascinating rifle...if it could only tell us it's story!

[Blicero]

Best gun you got.   

Nawww, come on now. Let's not get carried away.