M98 military rifles were carried out by a number of different arms making plants in Germany, and later on in different plants in a number of other countries. In the period prior to the 1920s it was standard practice for each plant to stamp its name on the receiver ring, along with the year in which the rifle was made. The left receiver wall was usually stamped to indicate the model of the arm, such as “M/98,” “GEW.98” or “KAR.98.” Sometimes the name and address of the maker was stamped on the side of the receiver. The maker’s insignia or the crest (coat of arms) of the country for which the rifle was made, was also sometimes stamped on the receiver ring.
In the 1930s a number-code system was inaugurated. Each of the producers of this rifle was given a code numeral which was stamped on the receiver ring, along with the date (year) of manufacture. Around 1940 this number code was largely replaced by a letter code; for example, the letters “byf ” stamped on the receiver meant that the rifle was made by the Mauser Werke plant in Oberndorf. Earlier, when the number code was in use, the Mauser firm had the code number “42.” During WWII usually only the last two digits of the year were stamped on the receiver, like “41” instead of “1941.” During 1944 many manufacturers merely stamped one “4” on the receiver. Many of the early code numbers never have been unraveled, but the code letters are known. The list of these codes is too long to include here, but the interested reader can find them listed in Mauser Bolt Rifles by L. Olson and Hatcher’s Notebook by J.S. Hatcher.
It was normal practice to prove all M98 military rifles and give them a serial number. Such proofmarks, the number of marks and their location on the receiver, barrel and perhaps on some other parts, varied. Since these are so varied and of little importance, I shall make no further mention of them. As for the serial numbering practices, there probably was no universal system employed among the many manufacturers during the entire period they were made, except that they did number them. It seems that some manufacturers merely stamped consecutively higher numbers on each rifle they made, and when the number reached a certain point they started over again. Thus there may be more than one rifle made by the same or a different manufacturer having the same serial number. Later on, each manufacturer was assigned a letter to be added to the serial number, for example 7436d, so that production figures could be kept secret. Regardless of the system or systems used, the serial number itself is not important since the date and manufacturer’s name, or code, are stamped on the receiver. Generally, the full serial number is stamped on the side of the receiver ring and barrel, and either the complete number, or the last two digits of it is stamped on most of the other parts of the action. If all the numbers are the same on a given rifle or action, this indicates that all the parts are original with that rifle or action. That the numbers match may be of some importance to the owner of an M98, but having matching numbers on an action which is to be used for building a rifle is of no consequence.
The 8mm Mauser Cartridge
Germany adopted the 8mm smokeless powder cartridge in 1888 along with the Model 88 Commission rifle, with which Paul Mauser had little to do. This cartridge is based on a rimless, bottlenecked case and was loaded with a bullet of .318” diameter. It was then officially known as the 7.9x57I or 8x57I*. The first figure in the cartridge designated the groove dimensions in millimeters, the second figure is the length of the case in millimeters, and the “I” stands for the German word “Infanterie.” This military cartridge was normally loaded with a 227-grain jacketed round-nose bullet having a muzzle velocity of about 2100 fps at an average chamber pressure of about 45,500 psi.
Built by the author, this medium-weight (about 10 pounds) varmint rifle has a 24” medium barrel chambered for the 219 Improved Zipper cartridge. Stock is of extra fancy American black walnut fitted with Niedner-type checkered buttplate and pistol grip cap. Weaver K-10 scope is mounted very low in steel Tilden mounts. Front and rear of magazine are blocked off, the follower shortened to handle the rimmed cartridges. The action is fitted with a German double-set trigger.
When the M98 was adopted by Germany in 1898, it was also chambered for the 8x57I cartridge. The Germans soon wanted better ballistics from this cartridge, so about 1905 they adopted a new spitzer (pointed) bullet for the 8x57mm case, with a new diameter of .323”. This cartridge was designated 7.9x 57IS or 8x57IS. This new bullet weighed 154 grains and in the new cartridge it was driven to a muzzle velocity of 2870 fps at a breech pressure of about 49,800 psi. When this larger bullet was adopted it became necessary to enlarge the rifle bore a accordingly. This was done by increasing the groove diameter only, from .320” to .324”. M98 rifles already made for the “I” cartridge were then rebarreled and chambered for the “IS” cartridge. Later on, a heavier spitzer bullet with a boattail base was adopted and the 8x57 case loaded with this bullet became the standard German military cartridge designated as the 8x57sS. This bullet weighed 198 grains and had a muzzle velocity of 2476 fps at a breech pressure level of nearly 50,000 psi. The 8x57sS is a potent military cartridge with very impressive ballistics.
In the United States, the sporting version of the German 8mm cartridge is known simply as the 8mm Mauser or 8x57mm Mauser. Most U.S. ammunition makers loaded this cartridge years ago and made it with several different types and weights of bullets. However, since there was such a wide variety of rifles being used, chambered for the 8mm Mauser cartridge, some of which had actions of marginal strength or barrels bored too small for the bullets, the cartridge manufacturers became concerned.
In due time, the 8mm Mauser cartridge loaded in the U.S. evolved into a single bulleted loading which developed only mild breach pressures so that it could be fired in most 8mm Mauser rifles. Therefore, as loaded today by Federal, Winchester and Remington, it has a 170-grain jacketed softpoint bullet giving a muzzle velocity of about 2500 to 2570 fps at a pressure level of about 34,000 psi. Gauged by modern standards, or compared to a cartridge like the 30-06 with the 180-grain bullet, the U.S.- loaded 8mm Mauser cartridge appears outdated. This is not the case, however, for these 8mm Mauser cartridges are equal to the 30-40 and 303 British for taking most species of North American big game animals.
The 8mm Mauser cartridge is very responsive to handloading, and the careful handloader having a sound M98 military or sporterized rifle can reload the case to nearly equal the 30-06 in performance.
*Common U.S.-English usage shows the “I” in print as a “J,” but this is incorrect.
Mauser Models 71 & 71/84 FdH
The M71/84 Mauser rifle.
IF THERE WERE a Hall of Fame for firearms designers and inventors, the accomplishments of German-born Peter Paul Mauser would certainly be displayed most prominently, because he, like our own John M. Browning, was one of the world’s foremost creators of firearms mechanisms.
The Model 71 was the first successful rifle designed and produced by Paul Mauser, but this achievement did not come easy, and it was coupled with a personal disaster which would have stopped many a man not as hardy as Paul Mauser. Its success signaled the start of a long career of firearms development which ultimately led to the Model 98 Mauser action system, unquestionably the best military turnbolt action ever designed.
It was natural that Paul Mauser (1838-1914) became a gunmaker; his father and six older brothers were also gunmakers. After some schooling and an apprenticeship in the gunmaking trade, he began to show an interest in gun design while working in a government arms factory in Oberndorf, Germany.
Wilhelm Mauser (1834-1882), Paul’s brother, four years older, was also interested in firearms development work, and they worked together until his death. Paul, however, had the brains and hands for the mechanical details, while Wilhelm handled the business end.
