How to Remove a Mauser Stock

The Gewehr 98 (known as Gew 98) is a Mauser rifle issued by the German Army between 1898 and 1935. It was the German infantry's standard rifle during World War I. Patented by famed firearms designer Paul Mauser in 1895, its bolt-action operation is fed by an internal magazine with a capacity of five 8 x 57 mm rounds. Muzzle velocity from the 29.1-inch barrel of the Gewehr Mauser is 2,881 feet per second. For close-in trench combat, the Gewehr 98 was designed to be used with a bayonet. Like most imperial German rifles, the Gewehr 98 was initially supplied with walnut stocks. However, beech was substituted in 1917 because of shortage of walnut wood during and after World War I.

Things You'll Need

  • Slot screwdriver
  • Wood clamp
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Instructions

    • 1

      Open the bolt and verify that the rifle is unloaded.

    • 2

      Slide the bolt all the way back. Push the bolt release lever on the left side of the receiver and pull the bolt out of the receiver.

    • 3

      Push the magazine floor catch by inserting a small screwdriver into the hole in the magazine floor on the underside of the stock. Remove the magazine floor and the magazine spring.

    • 4

      Unscrew the cleaning rod and remove it from the cleaning rod tube.

    • 5

      Compress the front hand-guard band spring with a wood clamp or similar clamp. Use a rubber hammer to tap the front band spring gradually forward and off the end of the barrel.

    • 6

      Compress the rear hand-guard band spring tabs between thumb and finger and slide the read band spring forward and off the end of the barrel. Lift the hand guard off the barrel.

    • 7

      Turn the forward trigger guard locking screw 1/2 turn with a slot screwdriver to unlock the forward trigger guard screw beneath it. Unscrew the forward trigger guard screw with a slot screwdriver.

    • 8

      Turn the rear trigger guard locking screw 1/2 turn with a slot screwdriver to unlock the rear trigger guard screw beneath it. Unscrew the rear trigger guard screw with a slot screwdriver.

    • 9

      Lift the trigger guard out of the receiver.

    • 10

      Separate the receiver from the stock.