Correct.

As I mentioned above, a 98a...but...

Has anybody actually made a close comparison between a KAR 98a and a so-called transitional 98 small ring action?

For example, IIRC, all 98a/KAR actions had manufacturer's stampings on them. This one appears to have a clean receiver ring. From the pix it appears so to me, tho it may be scrubbed.

What are the salient differences between the 98a and transitional actions?

I mean, it is easiest for us to say "It isn't an Original Waffenfabrik Mauser", call it a guild gun or post-War conversion, etc, but according to Speed's Volume 1, and Vol III Archive {just yesterday I was given that one...EXCELLENT book!}, the more we know, the more we don't. Evidently many guns were made up on so-called transitional actions during a wide range of dates. These actions must have laid in storage for years at times and were used up catch-as-catch can.

This has been a very interesting gun to speculate about.

Rick R:

Can we pester you for some pictures of the bolt gas relief holes?

Also, how about a full list of the markings on the gun?

Thanks for posting!