Original German WWII Laminated Karabiner 98k Lower Stock with Period Arsenal Repair and 30mm Bolt Hole - K98k

Original Items. Only One Available. In 1935 the German military introduced the K98k bolt action rifle or Karabiner 98 Kurz, as a replacement for the older GEW98 or Gewehr 98. The first examples had more in common with their predecessor than later examples, such as the rear sling attachment, which started out the same as the GEW98 fitting, but then was switched to a slot in the butt stock.

The stocks originally had been made from single pieces of wood, but from 1937 onwards they switched to laminated wood, as a result of trials that had stretched through the 1930s. Plywood laminates are stronger and resisted warping better than the conventional one-piece patterns, did not require lengthy maturing, and were cheaper. These were usually made from walnut and beech laminate, but sometimes elm was used. The stocks originally had flat butt plates, but after 1940 they switched to cup butt plates without a storage compartment, which helped keep the stocks from delaminating.

This stock is in good overall condition and has an interesting period arsenal repair near the front, which was possibly not completed, as the cleaning rod channel is plugged. This example is inlet for the larger 30mm metal fitting through the butt stock that aided in bolt disassembly in the field during cleaning (not included). There are some markings on the butt including 39 and ovx, which would indicate manufacture by Weser Sperrholzwerk GmbH, Holzminden, a supplier of plywood to the boat-building industry.

The stock is in very nice service-used condition and ready to help put your sporterized k98k back right. Measures 38” in overall length.