One more thought, buckmaster, don't forget that the G33/40 was a Nazi take over of the Czek G33, so if you can find the Czek stuff, that will be pretty much "as issued"....not truly correct, but kind of.
As to "why", folks were just in love with the thought of a lightweight '98, even though even with the small ring, and the really cool ( in my opinion ) milled out portion under the wood, total weight savings was probably 3 oz at the most. BUT is was a status symbal. Don't ask me about the G33/40 in .243 with a mannlicher stock I had for a short while in '70 or so, and very foolishly sold it. Now I gotta go kick myself in the butt, again.
Mark