Viet Cong Jungle Stocked Mauser Rifle with Presentation Plaque

Here is a very rare Viet Cong Jungle Stocked K98k Mauser.

The rifle was made in 1942 and maker code BNZ which is Steyer Damiler Puch AG. 117,836 were made in 1942 by BNZ.  As with all the small arms captured by the Russians, they were saved for the unknown future. Hundreds of thousands were sent to Hanoi as war aide. Some stayed in the North for the militia while many made their way south to the Viet Cong.

This one has a Presentation plaque to a Captain assigned to the MACV Military Advisory Team 38.  This Team was stationed at Bao Luc, Lam Dong Province in the Central Highlands.  Research is underway to determine more about the service members named on the plaque.

As you can see, it has a neat, hand carved, jungle-made stock with a German style rear sling cutout like found on the original stock this one replaced. It is very likely the stock was damaged thereby necessitating this hand made replacement. I have been collecting since 1976 and have only ever seen one Mauser like this with a Jungle made stock.

The rifle is pitted as you can see.