This page is under construction and captions and notes of historical interest will be added. I would appreciate any comments.
Kar 98k "last ditch" rifle (1944).
No butt plate or bayonet lug, stamped metal parts, pistol grip
has large palm swell on both sides. Trigger guard was
"bashed" in by MP's to demil this gun. It was a battle
field pickup in Vietnam, of all places. Lend lease??
"I can tell you a little history on the Mauser found in Viet Nam. I recovered it on “Operation Hickory” while with “Hotel Company” 2/26 Marines in 1967 at Hill 117, somewhat near ConTien. There were a number of these recovered when we went back a day or two after a fierce battle on Hill 117 that lasted for two-three days. We didn’t realize we had dug-in amidst a very large number of NVA’s (possibly as large as a Regiment or higher). So, we were pulled off and B-52’s came in and leveled the place. Upon our return we found a large number of items including these rifles that just didn’t fit the other weapons on the battle field. They were a mystery to us all back then [as well] . . . why the NVA regulars would have had these old out-dated rifles? .......the MP’s decided the remaining rifle needed to be demilitarized. Not a real exciting story, but one I thought you might appreciate on one of your collectables, it’s always nice to know a little history on a rifle."
