German byf Code K98k Mauser 23.5” 7.92x57mm Bolt Action Rifle, C&R

Make: Mauser-Werke, Oberndorf on the Neckar

Model: K98k

Serial Number: 21386 d

Year of Manufacture: 1943

Caliber: 7.92x57mm (8mm Mauser)

Action Type: Bolt action, internal 5 round magazine

Markings: The top of the receiver is marked with, “byf / 43” and with a Heerswaffenamt inspector's mark from Mauser Werke AG. The left side of the receiver is marked, “21386 d / Mod.98”. Serial numbers on the trigger guard tang and magazine cover plate are marked "21386". Serial numbers on the bolt are "1386". The buttplate is marked, “12 / p". There are various Reichadlers and Waffenamt stamps throughout.

Barrel Length: 23.5”

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a chevron post dovetailed to a serrated base with a protective hood. The rear sight is a v-notch sliding escalator assembly marked 1-20.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The laminated wood stock has a semi-pistol grip, scallop for the bolt handle, nose cap with bayonet lug, hole for the missing cleaning rod, through bolt, sling well, sling pass through, and a steel buttplate. The buttplate has impact marks, wear along the edges along with patina. There are compression marks, scuffs, minor chips, and scratches throughout the wood. There is a single, 1 inch, area of damage under the rear sight on the right side. There are no cracks. The LOP measures 13" from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The stock has been "duffel bag cut" in order to shorten it. The stock rates a Good to Very Good overall condition.

Type of Finish: Blued

Finish Originality: Original.

Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is pronounced with some light wear. There is very light erosion in the bore. In this writer's opinion, this bore rates 8.5/10

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 80% of its metal finish. There is light thinning throughout with handing marks. There are some small spots of light patina throughout. There are a few corrosion freckles. The action has light wear. The screw heads show only light tooling with good slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle rates a Very Good condition.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We did not fire this rifle. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None.

Our Assessment: The German Karabiner 98k (K98k) was the standard service rifle of the Wehrmacht throughout World War II, renowned for its ruggedness, accuracy, and classic Mauser engineering. This particular example, bearing the "byf 43" code, was manufactured in 1943 at the Mauser-Werke plant in Oberndorf am Neckar during the height of wartime production. Despite the increasingly strained German war economy by that time, rifles like this retained high standards of craftsmanship and were issued across all branches of the German armed forces.  The "byf" code and accompanying Waffenamt and Reichsadler acceptance stamps give this rifle strong authenticity and traceability within the WWII collector’s realm.

This K98k retains approximately 80% of its original blued finish and features a correct laminated wood stock, which was standard for mid-war production to conserve resources and improve durability. The rifle displays honest combat wear, with scattered pressure marks, minor chipping, and signs of field use on both the stock and buttplate, yet remains free of cracks.  The bore remains bright with well-defined rifling and only light erosion, rating 8.5/10—excellent for a military rifle that almost certainly saw service during the war.  The rifle is "duffle bag cut", shortening the stock and giving evidence to how this wartime capture got to the United States.  If rifles could talk, this one would have a story to tell.

This is a fine and desirable example of a wartime-produced German K98k rifle. With its matching serial numbers, solid bore, and authentic wear, it represents an excellent addition to any WWII or Mauser collection. Whether appreciated for its historical value, shooting performance, or as a tangible artifact of Germany’s wartime industry, this "byf 43" K98k is a compelling piece of 20th-century military history.