If you’ve ever looked at a modern bolt-action rifle and thought that it feels familiar, you can thank Paul Mauser. In 1898, he perfected a design so fundamentally right that the firearms world collectively decided to spend the next century trying to copy his homework. Now, Mauser is reaching back into its own archives to bring us the Mauser 98 Das Original, a rifle that manages to respect its 19th-century roots while acknowledging that we do, in fact, live in the future.

The history of the M98 is less of a product launch and more of a global takeover. Born from the need for a reliable service rifle for the German Empire, the Gewehr 98 introduced the world to the controlled round feed—a mechanism that grabs the cartridge and refuses to let go until it’s safely tucked into the chamber. It was strong enough to handle the pressures of smokeless powder and reliable enough to survive trenches, deserts, and jungles alike. This rifle’s design was the blueprint for nearly every sporting bolt-action that followed.

Over the last 125 years, the 98 action has been built by the millions and cloned by just about every major manufacturer on the planet. Its signature three-position safety and massive claw extractor became the gold standard for hunters who preferred their equipment not to fail when something with teeth was running toward them. While it has seen duty in two World Wars, its transition from a soldier’s tool to a gentleman’s hunting rifle is where the M98 truly found its soul, becoming the preferred choice for African safaris and mountain stalks.

The new M98 Das Original honours this legacy without being a museum piece. Mauser has integrated modern metallurgy, specifically a Diamond-Like Carbon (DLC) coating on the bolt that provides a level of wear resistance and smoothness that 19th-century blacksmiths could only dream of. When you cycle the action, it feels less like mechanical parts moving together and more like two pieces of wet ice sliding past one another.

For the aesthetic traditionalists, the rifle features hand-selected Grade 5 walnut. This is the kind of wood that makes you want to sit in your study with a glass of scotch just to look at the grain. To complement the timber, Mauser added a gold-coloured trigger and subtle "Since 1898 Das Original" lettering on the floor plate. It’s an exercise in restrained elegance—visible enough to be noticed, but quiet enough to remain tasteful.

In a move that has surprised a few long-time collectors, the standard configuration now includes the .300 Win Mag for the very first time in this specific model's history. Alongside the venerable .308 Win and .30-06, the addition of the .300 Win Mag brings a bit of extra reach and authority to the platform. It’s a nod to the North American hunter who wants the soul of a Mauser but the ballistics of a modern powerhouse.

If your tastes lean toward the truly substantial, the Magnum configurations are where things get serious. Chambered in .375 H&H and .416 Rigby, these rifles are built to handle the big stuff. To ensure your shoulder remains in one piece, these versions come equipped with a red safari recoil pad system. It provides a classic look while doing the heavy lifting of absorbing the heavy kick produced by these legendary African calibers.

For those who find standard edition to be a bit too common, Mauser has also crafted a strictly limited Anniversary Edition. Only 25 of these masterpieces exist, and they are a showcase of what happens when master gunsmiths are given a blank check and a bit of artistic freedom. Each one is a unique work of art, featuring color case hardening on the action, bolt handle, and trigger guard, giving the steel a marbled, iridescent finish that modern chemicals simply can't replicate.

The attention to detail on the Anniversary models is almost obsessive. You’ll find gold damascening, intricate English ornaments, and a bolt handle ball finished with fish-scale checkering and gold inlays. The stock is upgraded to an exquisite Grade 8 wood, making it look more like a functional sculpture than a firearm. It is a tribute to the "Golden Age" of safari rifles, designed for the collector who values the history of the hunt as much as the hunt itself.

Practicality and luxury rarely occupy the same space, but the Mauser 98 has always been the exception. The standard models carry an MSRP of $12,000, while the larger Magnum variants sit at $14,500. While that might be more than a used hatchback, a hatchback won't reliably cycle a .416 Rigby in a dust storm, nor will it look particularly good mounted over a fireplace. You are paying for a century of refinement and the peace of mind that comes with "The Original."

"The Mauer 98 Das Original edition was built in Germany for American hunters and collectors who appreciate perfection and top-tier engineering," said Jason Evans, CEO, Blaser Group. "The new Das Original delivers the legendary reliability of the original M98 with enhanced features and, for the first time ever in a Mauser 98, this edition is now available in .300 Win Mag."

Whether you are eyeing the new .300 Win Mag for your next mountain trek or looking to secure one of the 25 anniversary treasures, the message is clear: the King is back, and he’s had some work done. The Mauser 98 remains the benchmark against which all others are measured. It’s a rifle that doesn't just shoot, it also tells a story that began in 1898 and, by the looks of things, isn't ending anytime soon.