This is a like new example of an exceptionally rare late WWII 98K military configuration commercial rifle manufactured by the Gustloff-Werkes factory. This is not one of the standard commercial Mauser sales or post war reworks. There were only a few hundred of these rifles actually manufactured during WWII as manufacture was controlled by the Gustloff factory with profit from sales directed to the SS/Nazi Party. The receiver is marked "bcd/4" for the Gustloff-Werke factory and (1944) the year the receiver was manufactured. It is serial numbered "3439" with no letter suffix, same as "SS" rifles, with the standard "Mod.98" markings. The right side of the receiver has the "Eagle/N" Commercial proof next to the "diamond/U" proofmark indicating a non-military sales rifle. The underside of the barrel is stamped "3439/F.R. LANGEHAN/ZELLA-MEHLIS/CAL. 8X57 JS" with the chamber area stamped with a double "Eagle/J/3 45", indicating compliance with the 1940 proof laws for rifles and manufacture in March 1945. The barrel is also stamped with a "double heart with an arrow inside", indicating it was assembled by the "Gewehr-Und Fahrradfabrik company" which produced military rifles and machine gun parts until the end of WWII. It is fitted with an original Gustloff barrel stamped: "817.44.bcd" next to a "bcd/shield" manufacturers mark. It is fitted with a K98 military style rear sight ("Eagle/359" proof) indicating Mauser manufacture with the inverted "v" front sight and original front sight cover. It is fitted with a correct unnumbered late war bolt with the large gas hole. The top of the bolt handle has a very faint "Eagle/N" proofmark. It has all the correct, unnumbered late war parts including a milled trigger guard and floor plate, as used by the bcd factory with stamped barrel bands and an all blued follower stamped with the wartime code: "lxr". It has the correct late war laminated stock and handguard with a cupped, sheet metal buttplate. The stock channel has a small "phh" subcontractor proof, and the sling slot has a very small/partial Waffenamt/Eagle proof. This rare rifle has the original late war brushed blue finish on all the parts. Many of these rifles were issued to the Volkssturm during the final months of the war as rifles were impossible to due to with most having been captured or destroyed by the Russians.

Outstanding, like new condition with 99% of the original late WWII blue finish on all the metal surface. The stock and handguard are also in like new condition with nice original wartime finish. It is mechanically excellent with a excellent bright, shiny bore. The rifle looks unfired with 99% of the blue finish on the bolt face. This is an exceptionally rare rifle that cannot be improved on and would certainly be the center piece of any WWII German military rifle collection. This variation of 98K rifle is so rare that they are not even mentioned in the book: "The Backbone of the Wehrmacht" by Law.