Kar 98 AZ Overhaul and Restoration: Anvil 0115 

I wouldn't have had the courage to fix my duffel cut numbers matching Mauser 98K until I saw one of your older videos and I did it last year and it's held up great ever since. It got a numbers matching late war K98 back in action.

As a kid in Middle School around 1970 I remember a shop teacher having us all make a scraper from a piece of sheet steel with a metal file. I thought the guy was out of his mind thinking I'd use a scraper when we had power tools. Since watching a number of Anvil video's I realize I would do better to work a lot slower.

As someone who has used your restoration videos to conserve or deep clean many surplus rifles, I really appreciate the work you guys put into these videos! I have been able to conserve a 1916 Gewehr 98 and a 1918 M91 Carcano so far.

I’m not a complicated man, I just enjoy seeing my man Mark work his magic on firearms that I will never own whilst chastising folks that have done horrible things to firearms I will never own. I just enjoy your content my brother. 👍🇺🇸✌️

Your overhauls are pure quality, not destroying the old finish, fantastic work like always!!!

Mark, the level of care and respect you show these old firearms is so impressive. If people showed half of that to each other, the world would be a better place. Love your vids, keep them up.

Mauser 98 never gets old. The 8x57 lives on as a venerable hunting cartridge all over the World.

I enjoyed this immensely. Thank you! Per the wrong ammo joke at the end: An online auction site sold me a rolling block as a .45-70. It needed a nose piece. In emails to a source I was informed it can't be that caliber. On CLOSER checking I found it was .43 Spanish. Worse ... a .45-70 would chamber! I returned the piece marked for caliber on box and wrapping as well as tagged on the gun. They sold it again ... as .45-70! I'll always wonder what happened if some poor smuck fired it.

I just got me one of those old school Fuller sweepers ( aka electrostatic carpet sweeper ) for that very purpose. Makes cleaning up easy in the small secondary work shop where I'm working on old spinning reels my own guns and vintage airguns, and I figure if I picked up a lost screw it should be easy to recover. If necessary I could empty it into a bucket of water, and the screw would sink. I'm sure you've seen or used one of these in your lifetime. My mom got one when I was a kid and I thought it was the coolest thing because it could clean up chip crumbs without electricity. They will push one of these every 15 years or so on TV and it seems like a novel idea when you don't realize they've been around longer than Vacuum cleaners.

Very cool! Had a gunsmith do a boil out conservation on an old colt wheel gun and it was stunning!

Thanks Mark, now I know how mine got screwed up by the smart-ass that I paid to break it. Even though I didn't know much about the rifle, after I actually looked at my old book on Mauser Bolt Action Rifles I managed to repair it myself. I should have asked the so-called gunsmith if he had a book like mine before he started on it. Ain't that a hell of a note, nowadays you have to pay people a portion of the job even before they do any work, then they tell you that the gun has broken parts that just happened to break when he tried to work on it. So I got my gun back in pieces and he kept the retainer money as an inspection and estimation fee. I came really close to losing my shit right there. Lesson learned, make sure you talk to somebody you know who has had work done by the gunsmith before. Just so happened, I found out that he has done this a few times before to other people. You are an awesome gunsmith Mark!

thanks Mark watching you made me attend a 2 year Gunsmithing course in Prescott, AZ, started this week, love watching you.

I love these guns and watching you work Mark!

Because of you Mark, my bench grinders have either a grinding stone, cloth wheel or carting wheels on them. Wire wheels are banished to another part of my shop.

When your watching these videos or working on your own guns time just fly's by! its amazing.

first war mausers are my favourite riffle. i have 4 complete and 2 restorations on the go at the moment. all of mine are battle field recovered and to fight through the rust of a 100 years in the ground is a challenge.

Mark, For those times where you drop a gun part into the haystack of sawdust, I use a neodymium magnet from an old hard drive. it snags things right up from a distance. Awesome video

This is some of the best content on RU-vid for guy who likes to see how guns work and how to make them work again. Thank you from the upstate!

I can relate to those bent front hinged barrel bands. I have a couple spares and almost all of them are bent to a certain degree!

Great work. The sling is on the left side of the rifle because the bolt is on the right side "because everyone is right handed" and you don't want it stabbing you in the back as you carry it.Thanks for sharing. Love watching you work and the commentary. That is really a beautiful piece, one on my bucket list, maybe some day.

I wonder how many times I'll watch this one.... Thank you Mark and Bruno!

"Murphey was an optimist" was my dads adage too. Funny to hear it from anyone but himself or me.

Excellent video, so much to learn about these German work horses. Thanks Mark.

I love analog computers. I think society has largely forgotten how useful they can be. No batteries, no power, nothing but your mind and a functioning mechanism are needed. Adjustable sights, such as this example, are wonderful reminders. Besides my E6B flight computer, this is a really good demonstration of how manual/analog tech can stand the test of time. I am struggling to think of other analog computer examples that we might use every day and not even think about.

I fixed a cut down sporterized gew 88 stock by purchasing a second broken stock with a good forend, cut exactly to match, glued, and hid the joint behind a barrel band. Looks great, you can't tell it was ever cut!

Great information to have, Mark, thank you. I'm currently attempting to restore an Israeli Kar 98 in 7.62 NATO. It was a mess, but is slowly getting back to original condition.

You're the Bob Ross of gunsmiths. Happy little stocks.

I was today old when I found out what the fixture with the hole was in the stock of a Mauser rifle. Man, I love yer vids.

Great that you save and preserve these weapons. History is a grand thing. I hope you continue to make this content.

"Steel is bubblegum" - Mark Novak

I love this long format deep dive down the rabbit hole. Fascinating stuff. Cheers, Mark 👍

As always its a pleasure to watch your videos Great job

Holy crap, this was the best Anvil so far. Loved being able to see the entire transformation of this Mauser.

Who else feels like breakin’ down their Mauser after watching this? Thank you for all of the invaluable information.

Great work, Mark. Absolutely beautiful piece of equipment.

Ladies and gentlemen, YARD SALES are great places to find tools for not much money. Spending $1 on a crescent wrench so it can be "sacrificial" to modification is the way to go!

I really enjoyed this in depth repair. Please do more on this type of video. Thank you! Regards from Canada 🇨🇦

Mark never disappoints! Another excellent showcase.

You are the lord of the milsurp!

I really like your work on guns. In the beginning I was so geared to modern weapons, now I’m more interested in old and the history of weapons.

That acriglas works great to fix vintage steering wheels too

Two-stage trigger > single stage. But my first experience with rifle triggers was a Mauser-type (M1903) and the US Rifle, Caliber .30, M1. So it's baked into my formative experiences as a young guy. Also I really enjoy these videos.

I always wondered what that recessed round doohickey on the butt was for; stripping the bolt in the field, who'd have thought it?! excellent job, another classic Anvil movie. I like the long director's cuts over the serialised Saturday Flash Gordon length Anvils!

Another great trip down the rabbit hole! Best content on RU-vid. Love your show, and thanks for all of the great info!

Awesome video and great job on the 98. Another one saved from the graveyard

Ouutstanding video production! The stock disk was the ah-ha moment for me. I cannot tell you how many times I wondered what that washer was for.

I'm hooked, best firearms content on the web.

Your attention to detail is amazing. Live long and prosper.

Thanks for bringing us along for another journey down the rabbit hole. Always great seeing your work. Everything I've learned over the years, from you guys, has helped me do so much for so many old firearms that would've just crumbled into a pile of red gack. Truly appreciated. 🤙🏾

A trick I like to use with Mauser sights is a small squeeze quick clamp with rubber faces. I use the clamp to squeeze down the sight to both aid in removal, specifically with the pin type and in assembly, potentially saves you some effort and a possible scratch if you have a less steady hand than Mark Novak here and your screwdriver slips.

Mark just showed us how to put the magic smoke back into a (analog) computer!

Thank you for the videos your putting out you are very informative and you make learning very fun. Im appreciative to learn from a person with the vast amount of knowledge as you have. It's very hard to find a gun Smith nowadays .😕

Mark, thank you sir. This has been such a wonderful tutorial. You showed me many tricks that will certainly save me headaches in the future. Very entertaining!

Another informative video, and professional, intuitive work, Mark.

Appreciate you taking us along. You're an exceptional smith. Bravo. Awesome film crew too! I always enjoy the teams productions.

Hahahaha! Make sure you get the mold release all the way around, because Murphy was an optimist (Murphy's law)🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

'dear god don't get this stuff on your fingers' LOL just like I apply it.. lol

Just a fantastic video. I love the skill, the practical approach and the humor. I've been binge watching this channel for a few weeks now and I have been thoroughly entertained. Mr. Novak, you are a gem!

Mark, you are a master. I wish I could spend a week with you in your shop. Thank you for another awesome video!

I always learn something from Mark's videos.

I wait all week for these videos. Another masterpiece. Bravo!

44:53 Summer thunderstorms adding to the ASMR of your video. It sounds like you are 15 miles behind the front lines with artillery going off. I use to watch hours of "This Old House", but they are nothing. I would rather watch your channel instead. Anyone in not appreciating your work is just plain wrong. You are such an artist.

Great video, extremely informative and yes, it probably will be a reference years from now. For "set" screwdrivers I'm liking my Chapmans and they are not magnetic.

Nice Film. You do nice work and you do a great service for the little pieces of history that you save. In that sentence, I'm not talking about the guns you work on. I'm referring to the guns that your less experienced veiwers are working on. Because of the detailed explanation of the bits, pieces and reasons why; you probably have saved a lot of guns from the people who are trying to fix them! For those veiwers, I want folks to understand the extractor on these rifles is not intended to flex much at all. The design is for the cartridge rim to slide up into the claw of the extractor. If you are firing single rounds, you need to place them in the magazine for feeding. If you place the round loose in the reciever and close the bolt, you are forcing the extractor to snap over the rim. This is a very improper technique and will do damage. Mark, I think that we all realize how smart our Father's were (although we probably didn't when we were teenagers!). I can really appreciate your Father's regards that 'Murphy was an Optimist'! Well said. That Early Mauser front nose design with the hinge was not the best idea that ever came out of the Mauser facilities. I think that they got damaged a lot by soldiers beating, clamping and prying on them; trying to get the weapon back together in the field. Thanks to Bruno and all the folks involved with your production team. Nice work. Ya'll Take Care and be safe, John

👍yet another rescued piece of history. Thanks for sharing

Beautiful work on this vintage K98 AZ Mauser restoration. Thank you for sharing!

You do excellent work sir I like your program it's educational thank you

OUTSTANDING Mark!! I love when I learn something new! Thank you sir and it is always a great pleasure to pick up the information you put down. Thank you sir.

I have used your wood restoration techniques on many old items. I had never used Acraglas before a couple years ago when I watched one of you vids. Love these “deep dive” repair videos!

Great show, very entertaining and informative. Thanks for posting.

Awesome video. I always learn something when I watch you.

Awesome as usual! I have a few Mausers in the vault and they are great shooters. So glad I got them in the military config and they were not turned into a sported back the the 50's and 60's. Thanks for sharing Mark!

Thank you for your time. Such an invaluable resource!

Amazing to watch a master at work!

You are an artist Mark

excellent --- many thx ------- i am a machinist not a gunsmith.------------ attitude and technique has been priceless-------- you are a gifted teacher and now i am a better man.

Thank you for another great informative and entertaining video. I wish I had seen this video before I purchased my after market 20 rd mag. I figured everything out, but this video would have kept the air around me a little less "blue" : )

Excellent. I learned what not to do on a 1895 Chilean Mauser.

To bounce off of what Mark said at 12:25 The Germans were never too concerned with expensive finishes on wood in a general issue military sense. This is evident when you look at the finish of the G1 rifle used by the West Germans where the finish was rather rough and assumed to be a replaceable part. You also see this in East Germany where the SSG82 has a very rough and unfinished wood stock or East German wooden AK furniture where they were relatively unfinished compared to other variants of the AK. Where you see a deliberate and beautiful finish on wood is with hunting rifles, specially made sniper rifles, and target pistols. Germany has a lot of access to lumber domestically and from the Nordic countries so it is just seen as something you can replace if needed but made nice if wanted.

That was like a full length feature film... Outstanding! I have a lot of interests in a lot of channels, but only support one patreon. Thanks Mark!

I won several Mausers. Great video. I have one with a duffle cut on the butt end. I think I might try to repair it thanks to this video.

Nice video Mark! I have a K98az my uncle brought back from WWII (Not duffel cut) so it was a wealth of info for me.

Thanks for the video. Always interesting and I learn a lot.

Lol well Mark the bit on the bolt assembly for a mouser was very informative , I had a 98 action mouser it had some odd markings and someone buggered the entire stock friends and front end parts as well as the front sight couldnt hit the broad side of a barn with it even even closing the distance. And I managed to get it close but each shot bounced the front sight out of zero.

I've watched enough of these to trust your expertiese... but I can't help wince sometimes watching you work :P

It’s a pleasure watching you work you magic, chief.

Outstanding. Thank you!

Yes! The love the Kar98AZ deserves!

Thank you sir having never seen one before I do like it excellent video and content five stars

Just a quick word on tool modification for very specific situations... Like Mr Novak said, don't be afraid to modify a tool if it'll get the job done. Sure, we've all got our favourite screwdrivers, hammers, chisels and whatnot, but at the end of the day, tools are a consumable product. They are there to be used and abused until beyond effective repair, and then be replaced. You don't have to use your best chisel for a thing like shown in the video, but if you need a tool that you don't have, and you have a tool that could be made to do the job with some modifications, just go for it. Why? Whats the price of the job you are doing, when compared with the cost of, in this case, a new cold chisel? 😉

I'll admit when I restocked my 1938 98k I had acquired a very beat down stock from a gun show. I set to refinishing it starting with 36 grit sandpaper and ending with 3,000 grit. It honistly was smother than most vintage furniture with the english walnut color.

No, Sir, it has been a pleasure, and a privilege, to watch you work. Once again, honor is due.

A rare bird indeed. Great work Mark! Thank you!

I love watching Mark work and explain it

Nicely done, nicely done! "... I could do this all day!..." So could we, watch you all day that is!

A Long video from Mark doing his thing is perfect for a lay-in

Thanks again Mark... great work.

Wow what an awesome job!

I can’t wait for the next video. Always a pleasure learning with you. God bless. By the way, what is your favorite cigar?

Thanks for giving a beautiful old lady new life!