Q. Lately, I’ve seen a number of ads for surplus Mauser Kar. 98k carbines. Many of the firms that place these ads offer to hand-select certain receiver codes for a fee.

In 1935, the German military adopted its own standardized short rifle, designated as the “Karabiner 98 kurz,” or 98k. Standard Modells were still being made in Mauser factories after 98k ...