This is an exceptional, totally original, unissued example of a late WWII German K98 rifle as manufactured by the Gustloff factory that has the innovative enlarged receiver that uses the long side rail type of scope base and machined mount. This style of sniper rifle set-up was a dramatic improvement over all other versions of the 98K sniper rifle systems, as it proved to be extremely robust and durable, requiring considerably less time to manufacture and assemble. The top of the receiver is marked with a single Eagle Waffenamt proof over "bcd/4" the wartime code for the Gustloff factory in Weimar and "4" for 1944, the year of manufacture. The right side of the receiver has a single "eagle/37" Waffenamt, with a small "eagle/1" acceptance proof of the Gustloff factory. The rear of the barrel has the serial number (7761u) of the rifle along with a single eagle firing proof, with a second firing proof also on the right side of the receiver. The rifle has the early war all milled barrel bands, trigger guard and floor plate and it has the correct late war laminated bcd style K98 stock with a single "H" Heers Waffenamt on the left side of the butt stock with a small letter "c" proofmark on the underside of the stock, which has also been fitted with a correct checkered, cupped butt plate. The rifle is fitted with a matching, long side rail mount with machined scope rings that has been fitted with the early center focus "dow" coded sniper scope. These scopes were made by the Opticotechna firm in Czechoslovakia and the rear of the scope is marked "dow/+/ 19805". They have an all steel construction and the center elevation knob is calibrated from 1-8 (100-800) meters. The mount itself has a has a single eagle 359 Waffenamt with the serial number (7761u) behind that, and an additional "359" on the base. It is a complete with a blued cleaning rod, rubber muzzle cover, sheet metal front sight hood, original leather sling and leather scope caps. The front and rear scope caps are stamped 38 and 40 respectively for the diameter of the objective and ocular lens. The consignor has provided a copy of a letter dated June 1961 from the original owner to a collector friend of his, describing the originality and superior condition of this rifle.