Mauser Karabiner 98k (K98k) – 1938 ERMA Manufacture, Russian Capture

Mauser Karabiner 98k (K98k) bolt-action rifle, manufactured in 1938 by ERMA (Erfurter Maschinenfabrik) under factory code “27” — one of the early wartime production codes used by Nazi Germany.

This rifle is a Russian capture variant, and notably retains matching serial numbers on most major components, including the receiver, bolt, floor plate, barrel, and stock — an uncommon find among captured rifles, which were typically rebuilt with mixed parts during Soviet rework processes.
Collectors familiar with Russian capture K98ks know that partial part mismatches are normal due to post-war arsenal refurbishments, and are a historical characteristic in their own right.

One particularly interesting feature: the bolt still retains visible traces of Soviet storage grease, suggesting this rifle was placed in storage after capture — possibly during or shortly after WWII — and has not been fired or issued since. Whether it remained untouched through the Cold War or earlier, it appears to have been preserved in deep arsenal storage for decades.

Key Features:

• Manufacturer: ERMA (factory code “27”)

• Year of Manufacture: 1938

• Caliber: 7.92×57mm Mauser (8mm Mauser)

• Serial Numbers: Matching on most major parts (receiver, bolt, barrel, floor plate, stock)

• Markings: Waffenamt and Wehrmacht eagle stamps present; some may be defaced or peened, typical of Russian capture practices

• Condition: Very good overall — bright bore with strong rifling, solid hardwood stock with minor handling marks, well-preserved blued finish

• Bolt: Retains Soviet arsenal grease, indicating long-term storage and likely post-war inactivity

• Stock: Hardwood (possibly refinished or replaced during Soviet rework)

• Action: Smooth cycling, mechanically sound

• Capture History: Russian capture and rework — typical of post-war Eastern Front recoveries

Collector Notes:

Russian capture K98k rifles with intact German markings and matching serials are becoming increasingly rare. This 1938 ERMA production rifle is especially desirable for its early-war craftsmanship and provenance. While many captured rifles show heavy rework and part mismatches, this example stands out for its exceptional originality and the presence of original Soviet storage grease, hinting that it may have been mothballed since the post-war period or early Cold War era. A highly collectible piece of WWII and Cold War firearm history.