This is an excellent example of a late WWII 98K single claw sniper rifle that was manufactured by the Steyr factory in 1943/44. This style of sniper rifle was based on the tried and true German claw mounted scope system with the front and rear scope bases soldered to the front and rear receiver rings that is mated to a single claw mount on the scope. This style was originally used though out WWI, however proved to be highly time consuming to produce during WWII and was later replaced by the more efficient and stronger turret and long side rails sniper rifles. The top of the receiver ring is completely covered by the base with the rifle serial number (2383d) stamped on the side of the front base. The top of the barrel is marked with the small circular Steyr factory proof mark, next to DEW, the barrel code, next to a single "WaA623" proofmark. The receiver side wall is marked "MOD 98" which is correct for this series of rifle. It has the standard tangent rear sight inverted 'V' front sight along with the correct milled barrel bands, trigger guard and floor plate. The stock and handguard are the correct late war laminated versions with a checkered cupped butt plate with the take down bolt through the butt stock. The right side of the butt stock has a single very small eagle Waffenamt proof with a slightly larger Eagle 27 proof in the pistol grip area. The scope itself is a correct WWII Hensoldt version, that is marked on the side "DIALYTAN 4X/75453/bmj/blue cross". The left side of the front claw mount is numbered "d/2383" and the rear scope ring is numbered "2383" on the upper and lower sections. The rifle is complete with an excellent original WWII cross-hatched brown leather sling, a set of unmarked brown leather scope caps, and an original green metal scope can that is marked on the lid "9620/eagle proof/jvb" for the wartime maker.

Excellent overall with 98% plus of the wartime blue finish on the rifle, with wear on the edges and high spots only with blue loss on the bolt body itself from just cycling the bolt. The stock and hand guard are also in excellent condition with only minor light handling marks or pressure dents and dings in a few places with clear distinct markings. The top of the comb looks all original and unsanded, however, it is slightly lower than the edge of the buttplate and may have been sanded a long time ago or the butt plate is a later replacement. The scope blue has been professionally restored overall, with the scope tube itself, showing some minor light pin-prick type pitting overall under the blue finish with both the ocular and objective ends of the scope now starting to fade and brown out. The markings are clear and sharp and the elevation knob works correctly. The leather sling, and lens caps are in excellent condition with only minor handling marks, and the scope can is also in excellent condition with 95% of the original dark green painted exterior, with only minor chips and nicks on the corners of the can from use in the field. The Canvas belt loop and pull tab are both in excellent condition. This rifle has all matching numbers on the visible parts to include the scope rings. An excellent example of a late WWII Steyr (bnz) single claw sniper rig.