Finding a German infantry rifle with capture papers is interesting but not really strange or unusual. Having those papers filled out at Bien Hoa Army Base in December of 1969 is a horse of a different color. Made out to a Staff Sergeant Jack L. Gibson of Company A, 5th Special Forces Group, the export license identifies this "rifle, German" by serial number as OK to ship to Fairbury, Nebraska. The 5th Special Forces Group (aka 5th SFG(A)) traces its lineage to the 1st Special Service Force of WWII fame and was present for virtually the duration of the Vietnam War, being among the first Special Forces units sent in to act as advisors to the South Vietnam military in 1961 and some of the last forces out when the government collapsed in 1975. As North Vietnamese weapons go, this one is particularly interesting, a J.P. Sauer produced Mauser 98 bolt action rifle that bears a number of Chinese markings on the receiver and buttstock in addition to the standard German markings and that has been altered by an unknown party to use a repurposed "BSW 1939" marked MG13 25-round magazine as a fixed "trench mag". The exact circumstances are unknown, but the Nationalist Chinese government did import and use German-made 98k rifles and MG13 machine guns during the Chinese Civil War and the Second Sino-Japanese war, and some adventuresome Chinese or Vietnamese gunsmith might have brought the two together. Along with the capture papers, the rifle also includes scans of books and articles connected with the original WWI-vintage "trench" magazines, as well as a similar rifle noted as a Soviet capture given to the Vietnamese.

Fair by jungle warfare standards, with a mixed brown and gray patina and scattered mild pitting overall. The barrel bands have been replaced, and the trigger guard locking screws are absent. The well region was altered to accommodate the magazine, with some welds and cracking at the front corners. The stock shows chips, scuffs and shrinkage. Mechanically very good, though not guaranteed safe to fire. A technically interesting firearm and a bona-fide world traveler to boot, which would make a fine addition to any collection of German, Special Forces or Vietnam artifacts.