Regardless of the differences between the M48 and the true K98k, the Kragujevac rifles are, in fact, legitimate M98 variants. We verified these differences by direct comparison and measurement between our M48 and a 1943 production Mauser K98k owned by a friend. There are other detail differences as well, but the receiver dimensions are the most significant. M48 sights are also placed and graduated differently than the K98. The M48’s bolt handle is flattened on the bottom, which serves the same purpose as the K98k’s stock cutout. The M48 lacks the K98k’s stock cutout for access to the bent bolt handle, as well. The M48’s bolt is almost exactly 1/4 inch shorter than the bolt of the 1943 German (Mauser) manufactured K98k we used for comparison. The center to center measurement of the floorplate screws of the two rifles differs by some 5/16 inch, making it virtually impossible to install a M48 action into a stock intended for an M98. The most significant difference is the M48’s receiver, which is approximately 1/4 inch shorter than that of a K98k. This is not the case, as there are significant dimensional differences between the Yugoslav M48 and the German 98 series rifles.

The buyer of an M48 may be misled by advertising to believe that he is purchasing a K98k “clone” that will accept all Mauser 98 components and can be “sporterized” using hardware designed for M98 rifles. There are even more differences, between the M48 and K98k, however. For example, the handguard of the M48 begins at the receiver ring rather than at the rear sight as is the case with the K98k. In fact, the M48 that we received more closely resembles these rifles than a German K98k. These rifles were essentially copies of the Czech/FN Vz24 rifle, short rifle or the Czech Vz 12/33 Carbine. In fact, Mauser 98 variants had been in production at Kragujevac on machinery purchased from FN for many years prior to 1948. Variations of Mauser rifles had been produced at the Kragujevac Arsenal since the 1920s, contrary to some advertising press that claims that the M48 rifles were produced on captured or Nazi-provided German machinery. Not only did many nations adopt the M98 or one of its variants, most of those who did produced their own versions of it, including Serbia/Yugoslavia. Most M98s were produced in 7.92x57mm caliber, although it was manufactured in other calibers, as well. The Model 98 originally was adopted by Germany as the G98 and later as the K98k, which was the mainstay of the German Army during World War II. The M1903 design was little more than a M98 with magazine cutoff and a few other minor modifications to suit US Ordnance.

The classic Mauser M98 defined bolt action military rifles during the first half of the 20th Century, having been adopted by over 40 nations in one form or another, including the United States, which paid Mauser a $200,000 licensing fee to produce the venerable M1903 rifle.

Mitchell mauser k98 vs m48