This is a rare early Pre-World War II Mauser "banner" D.R.P. marked K98k rifle. Thes rifles are discussed on page 5-12 of the excellent book, "Backbone of the Wehrmacht" by Law. These were actually the very first K98ks produced by the German army under their early rearmament program in 1933/34 under the guise of arming the German postal service. The Reich postal service requested rifles be made identical to German army contract rifles, so that later when those organizations were absorbed by the party they would all have the same configuration of rifles; hence the Deutsches Reich Post (DRP marking) buttstock markings. This is a rare transition model between the 1924 commercial Standard Model and the later K98k military rifles as it retains the cross-pin for the "H" pattern front band the new spring retainer for the wide middle band. It has the commercial Mauser Banner/1933 logo on top of the receiver ring with the receiver side wall marked, "STANDARD-MODELL1924". The left side of the receiver has the "Crown over B, U, G and N" proofs. It has its original pre-war walnut stock and handguard featuring finger grooves on the sides and a flat metal buttplate with the large circular "D.R.P./500454" property stamp on the left side of the buttstock as discussed above. The right side sling slot is also stamped "DRP/Kbg", which may be a city code. Retains all the original early milled components, barrel bands, trigger guard, and floor plate and all have their original matching serial numbers. It has the original cleaning rod and an early "one-piece" commercial style push on front sight cover/muzzle cap, not the later wartime covers. It is complete with its original cross-hatched leather sling that is still intact after more than 80 years. It has the early rust blued metal finish with a light oiled/varnish finish on the wood components.

Excellent with 95% plus of the original rust blue finish on the all the metal parts showing only minor/light edge wear from handling over the years. The re-varnished stock and handguard are both very fine having never been altered or modified, with a clear sharp buttstock stamp and showing numerous very light handling marks overall from handling over the years. Mechanically excellent. Remember, this excellent rifle is almost 90 years old and went through the war!