This provides a means to recock the action in case of a misfire. I do not know why the safety was made to lock the cocking piece and bolt when the action is uncocked. This feature is of doubtful value.
The 98/40 bolt-stop is nearly identical to the one on the Greek Mannlicher-Schoenauer action. It is fitted on a stud on the left side of the receiver bridge, and is pivoted on a pin and tensioned by a coil spring. It projects through a hole into the left locking lug raceway and stops the bolt on contacting the ejector, which fits over the locking lug. Like the M-S action, there is a ridge-and-groove arrangement on the bolt-stop and left locking lug, so that unless the ejector and/or bolt head are not assembled on the bolt, the bolt cannot be inserted into the receiver unless the bolt-stop is depressed, but with the bolt head and ejector in place, the bolt can be inserted without depressing the bolt-stop. Since this rifle could actually be fired without the bolt head, which would be very dangerous, the fact that the bolt cannot be inserted into the receiver without first depressing the bolt-stop is a safety feature which reminds the shooter that the bolt is not fully assembled.
The trigger and sear mechanism is similar to that in the M-S rifle. The sear is pivoted on the bottom of the receiver on a pin. The trigger is pivoted on the rear end of the sear on a pin and has two humps which provide the double-stage pull. A projection in the rear of the sear extends through a hole in the cocking piece raceway in the receiver tang to contact the sear on the cocking piece, and holds it back when the action is closed. This action is cocked on the forward or closing motion of the bolt.
The sear and trigger are tensioned by a coil spring. A head pin inside this spring, with its head resting on the front of the sear, projects into a hole in the receiver. There is a hole drilled into the rear edge of the bolt body, and when the bolt is fully closed and locked, this hole is aligned over the end of the sear safety pin so that, unless the bolt is fully locked, the rifle cannot be fired. This arrangement is similar to that used in the M93 Mauser, Japanese Arisaka and 1917 Enfield. This extra safety device is of no value since the cocking piece will not let the firing pin protrude from the face of the bolt head unless the bolt handle is turned down completely. There is also a narrow groove in the bottom of the bolt which aligns with the sear safety pin when the bolt is forward, but with the bolt handle raised. This allows the trigger to be pulled to release the sear from the cocking piece so that it can follow the bolt forward. However, to lower the bolt handle afterward, the cocking piece has to be pulled back slightly.
Well constructed of sheet metal, the magazine box is held in place under the receiver by the trigger guard plate, with the plate attached to the action by a guard screw through each end and threading into the receiver. A latch in the front of the larger trigger guard bow holds the magazine floorplate in place. Depressing this latch allows the floorplate to be removed. One end of the W-shaped follower spring in mortised into the floorplate, while its other narrower end fits into the bottom of the milled steel follower. The rear end of the follower is square, and when the magazine is empty, it prevents the bolt from being closed, indicating to the shooter that the magazine is empty. This prevents blind loading. The magazine box, trigger guard plate and latch are not too unlike those of the Japanese 38 Arisaka action.
Model 98/40 bolt head showing: (A) dual locking lugs, (B) extractor, (C) bolt head, (D) ejector and (E) gas vent hole in the bolt body.
The method used to stock this rifle is quite different from any other stocking method used on military rifles known to me. It is most like that used on the British Lee-Enfield rifles; that is, with a two-piece stock; a separate buttstock and forend with the buttstock attached to the action by a through bolt. From this point on, however, the Lee-Enfield and the G 98/40 stocking methods differ.
On the Lee-Enfield, the part of the action to which the buttstock is attached is an integral part of the receiver and called the butt socket. On the 98/40 action, the part which I will also call the butt socket is a separate part fitted between the rear end of the trigger guard and the receiver tang. The rear guard screw passes through this part to hold it in place. In addition, the top and bottom of this butt socket are milled out to fit closely over the tang end of the trigger guard to prevent it from pivoting. Hooks at the top and bottom of this part also engage in grooves in the tang and trigger guard, and secure it to the action. In fact, it is so well attached to the action that it is almost an integral part. Two long oblong holes are milled through the inside of the butt socket so that tenons can be made on the forend and buttstock where they fit against it.
A heavy bolt threaded into a tenon on the butt socket is used to fasten the buttstock securely to the action. The forend, with tenons which extend halfway into the butt socket, is also held securely in place on the action by the trigger guard plate, magazine box, recoil lug and the front trigger guard screw. Even without the two barrel bands, the forend is secure.
While the buttstock attachment is no better than on the Lee-Enfield, the forend attachment method on the 98/40 is much superior to that of the Lee-Enfield. As I mentioned in the chapter on the Lee-Enfields, the British had a problem with the forends of their rifles, and I believe a lot of this could have been eliminated and the bedding problems easily corrected had the rear end of the forend been tenoned into the butt socket. The designers of the 1935 Hungarian rifle, from which the 98/40 was developed, probably knew about the forend problems of the Lee-Enfield and designed their forend and the action so that it would be as secure as if the forend were part of the buttstock. It is believed that the designers went to the two-piece stock design for reasons of economy and to achieve a stronger buttstock. In doing this, they developed perhaps the very best method and arrangement for fitting two-piece stocks.
Comments
All-in-all, the German Model 98/40 is a good action. It has its share of undesirable features, but it also has some strong points. Manufactured from 1940 to 1945, those made early in this period show much better workmanship and finish than the ones toward the end. In early samples, the bolt moves in the receiver as smoothly as the best Mannlicher-Schoenauer action. Although some experts dislike the separate bolt head feature, I don’t think it is that bad. The extractor is probably more rugged than the extractor in the commercial Mannlicher-Schoenauer action. The forward placement of the bolt handle is not liked, but it is necessary in this type of action.
There is no need for the thumb-piece on the firing pin nut. The cock-on-closing feature is not generally liked, and without any extra trouble this action could just as well have been made to cock on the uplift of the bolt handle. The magazine floorplate release latch is neat, and although the floorplate is not hinged to the trigger guard, it is convenient for unloading since it can be quickly removed.
Every part of the 98/40 action is made of steel—there are no stampings or alloy parts. There is little question that the finest steels were used in the manufacture of the major parts of this action, with the receiver and bolt parts properly heat-treated. I believe this action entirely suitable for almost any modern cartridge that is not too long for the magazine box; for if it was safe for the 8mm German military load, it should also be safe for other cartridges developing breech pressures in the 50,000 psi range.
Gunsmithing
The 98/40 rifle and action offer a number of remodeling, sporterizing and rebarreling possibilities. First, the 8mm Mauser cartridge for which this rifle is chambered is entirely satisfactory for big game hunting, and if the rifle you have has an excellent bore, it would be best to leave it in its present caliber. The 98/40 barrel has a very pleasing contour and taper, quite ideal for a sporter. To make a simple sporter, the original military sights can be removed and other sights installed. After removing the military rear sight, the small square step on the barrel can be filed down to smooth out the shoulder contour. Good replacement sights for a hunting rifle made on the 98/40 would be the Williams Guide rear sight mounted on the Williams ramp base. The barrel is not too long, but it can be shortened if desired.
