Don't know much about Mausers but this looked promising, hoping you all can shed some more light on it. Swung by a small town hardware store while on a long drive yesterday and found this in the used rack on consignment for $350.
The Good:
The front band, band spring, rear band, follower, magazine floorplate, takedown screws, bolt stop, handguard and stock all match the original German Serial number. The handguard has both the serial number stamped and penciled in. The stock is only penciled so may be a Norwegian replacement? Next to the penciled serial number it has several numbers scribbled over. It looks to me like 2 41. Were German stocks date coded? February 1941?
The Bad:
Previous owner removed the rear sight but it doesn't look bubba'd to me, just missing. I left my phone number with the shop to give to the previous owner offering cash if he can dig it up. Guess I'm looking for a U-notch rear sight and spring if that doesn't turn out.
Buttplate is not matching, original serial number crossed out, restamped to match Norwegian serial number.
Bolt is not matching anything, looks like a mix of serial numbers.
Stock has a good ding in the finger rest.
Questions:
AX date codes are apparently slightly scarce? Is this still the case? I found in a thread here from years ago where someone was asking for an AX 40 or 41 Norwegian K98 and said they had never seen one.
Where might I find a replacement rear sight with U-notch?
What do these Norwegian guns bring? I can't find any on gunbroker even searching completed auctions. Would the AX code add anything?
Any significance to the XX183 over s marking on barrel?
Apologies for the cell phone pictures.
Link to full size pictures