This is a rare early Pre-World War II Mauser "banner" D.R. marked K98k rifle, one of only approximately 3,900 made for the German Railway Security Police (Deutsche Reichsbahn, Bahnschutz). These were some of the very first K98ks made for the German Army under their early rearmament program in 1933/34 under the guise of arming the German Railway Security Force. These were essentially made identical to German Army contract rifles, so that later when these organizations were absorbed by the party they would all have the same configuration of rifles; hence the large circled "D.R./2508" (German Railway Security Force) property marking stamped into the left of the buttstock. 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 and the spring retainer for the wide middle band. It has the commercial Mauser banner logo above the "1934" date on top of the receiver ring with the receiver side wall marked, "MAUSER-WERKE A.-G. OBERNDORF A.N." 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. 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 early rust blued metal finish with a light oiled/varnish finish on the wood components. Includes an original cross-hatched brown leather sling and an early Mauser banner commercial style spring-loaded muzzle cover, unlike the later wartime covers.

Excellent, retains 97% plus bright original blue finish on the all the metal parts showing only a few light handling marks. Stock is also excellent, with sharp defined edges and grasping grooves, some scattered light handling marks, some mild dings on top of the wrist behind the receiver tang, and a crisp stamp in the left of the buttstock. Mechanically excellent.