Pick up almost any wartime Mauser K98k and you will find a short cluster of letters and two digits stamped on the receiver and barrel — something like byf 41 or dot 44. That is the maker code and year, and once you can read it you know who built the rifle and when. Here is how the system works and what the common codes mean.
Why codes instead of names
Before the war, German makers marked rifles with their actual name or a simple code such as S/42 or 42 (both Mauser Oberndorf). As production ramped up around 1940, the Ordnance Office assigned secret letter codes so captured or photographed arms would not reveal which factories were active. From then on, a K98k is identified by its code plus a two-digit year.
Common K98k maker codes
- byf — Mauser-Werke, Oberndorf am Neckar (1941–1944). The most prolific wartime K98k maker.
- svw — also Mauser, Oberndorf, used in 1945. svw 45 rifles are late-war and desirable; French post-war production also used svw.
- bcd — Gustloff-Werke, Weimar (1942–1943).
- dot — Waffenwerke Brünn (Brno/Bystrica, occupied Czechoslovakia), 1941–1944.
- ar — Mauser-Werke, Borsigwalde (Berlin).
- ce — J.P. Sauer & Sohn, Suhl.
- bnz — Steyr-Daimler-Puch, Steyr (Austria).
- S/42, 42 — earlier Mauser Oberndorf codes (mid-1930s to 1940).
The two digits after the code are the year: byf 41 is a 1941 Mauser Oberndorf rifle, bcd 43 a 1943 Gustloff, dot 44 a 1944 Brünn rifle, and so on.
Why the code matters to collectors
The maker and year set the context for everything else. Some code-and-year combinations were produced in far smaller numbers than others, late-war rifles often show cruder finishing and more stamped parts, and certain factories are simply more sought-after. The code also tells you whether the markings, parts, and proofs you are looking at are correct for that maker and period.
Captured, refurbished, and rebuilt rifles
Many surviving K98k rifles did not stay in German hands. Common variations include:
- Russian capture. Rifles taken by the Soviets and refurbished often have force-matched or electro-penciled numbers and peened or defaced Waffenamt and eagle stamps.
- Yugoslav rebuilds. Postwar Yugoslavia reworked captured Mausers and added its own crest, mixing German wartime parts with later arsenal work.
- Battlefield and bring-back rifles. Non-import-marked examples with original wartime markings carry extra interest for collectors who value untouched configuration.
None of these are flaws — they are part of the rifle’s story — but they do affect originality and value, which is why we describe them plainly on every listing.
How we list K98k rifles
At Old Steel Arsenal we spell out the maker code, year, and what we can verify — matching status, bore condition, visible proofs, and any capture or refurbishment marks — with honest photos of the actual rifle. If you want a particular code, year, or configuration, ask and we will tell you what we have on hand. Browse our rifles or see the full catalog.
General information for collectors, not legal or investment advice. Codes and dating can vary; verify details on the individual firearm.