Third Party Press

Rare Königberg depot build rifle

mrfarb

mrfarb

No War Eagles For You!
Staff member
This thing is so neat I had to post it, can't keep it to myself. This is a newly built rifle made at Königsberg for the Heer, built completely from new depot parts. Finding matching depot builds is terribly difficult, ever rare I dare say, and this one has to be pretty tough to find as it's the highest serial I've seen. I have pics of another that appears to be matching, but? Anyway, a few pics to whet the appetite for what it is. It's very well worn, but completely original/untouched. Check out the war eagles!
 

Attachments

  • kgside.jpg
    kgside.jpg
    290.9 KB · Views: 265
  • kgserial.jpg
    kgserial.jpg
    82.5 KB · Views: 274
  • kgrec.jpg
    kgrec.jpg
    301.6 KB · Views: 291
  • kgkeel.jpg
    kgkeel.jpg
    124.9 KB · Views: 251
  • kgfp.jpg
    kgfp.jpg
    98.1 KB · Views: 308
  • kgbolt.jpg
    kgbolt.jpg
    104.9 KB · Views: 259
  • kgbands.jpg
    kgbands.jpg
    90.5 KB · Views: 238
  • Love
Reactions: Jdt
This is beyond cool.


What year would this have been produced? I see 39 on the barrel assuming that is a date...other early features.... 1940?
 
Wow very cool. All early features, and a Geco barrel. And a proprietary firing
Proof? I mean war eagle, that's a cool rifle. Good find Mike.
 
Pretty cool rifle. This is the one you told me about the other day. You got it from Ben at Classic Firearms latest batch for sale correct? Good pick up considering all the war eagles.
 
Magnificient! How is the wrist marked?

ugafx4 said:
What year would this have been produced? I see 39 on the barrel assuming that is a date...other early features.... 1940?
Click to expand...

Almost certainly the 1941-1942 time frame.
 
mdarnell19 said:
Pretty cool rifle. This is the one you told me about the other day. You got it from Ben at Classic Firearms latest batch for sale correct? Good pick up considering all the war eagles.
Click to expand...

I don't know 🤔 - it doesn't have that cool cupped butt plate or indications that it was captured by the Czechs or Israelis to use against the Nazis. How can we trust that Farb guy?
 
Wrist is marked just like a Königsberg depot gun, Eagle/69. It's not really that often you find something so unique.

attachment.php


As to time frame, most depot builds were done in 41-42, I suspect these were done 42 only because I have pics of a byf42 version of this exact gun, a reclaimed receiver. Pics attached.
 

Attachments

  • kgwrist.jpg
    kgwrist.jpg
    124.3 KB · Views: 436
  • gercolctor_1013056408_IM000003.jpg
    gercolctor_1013056408_IM000003.jpg
    49.1 KB · Views: 107
  • gercolctor_1013056409_IM000001.jpg
    gercolctor_1013056409_IM000001.jpg
    156.7 KB · Views: 102
  • gercolctor_1013056410_IM000000.jpg
    gercolctor_1013056410_IM000000.jpg
    163.6 KB · Views: 95
  • Love
Reactions: Jdt
Nice rifle Mike where on earth did you find such a rare beauty congrats too a great find buddy.

Let me guess it was in Ben's last crate wasn't it. :biggrin1:
 
This came from a farmers auction, he told me it came from Old Ben and the war eagles were legit.
 
It did hope that poor farmer didn't get Ben'd over then lol! You know looking at this rifle it was probably priced far less then the other ones. For one not enough war eagles, no rare black butt plate, no special X mark, etc! Most likely sold at discount.
 
1940.....I was way off.


I love the 5 winged thunder chicken on the reciever too.
 

Attachments

  • B2cDNIWCUAAvKyb.jpg
    B2cDNIWCUAAvKyb.jpg
    24 KB · Views: 68
The thing about depot guns and the blue wear is an interesting point. Each component on this rifle is a depot spare, some components were supplied already blued, some may have been in the white. In this case, the gas shield has no inspections anywhere so I suspect it's some foreign part or WW1 part. Safety is e/37 inspected. So, the weak blue on some parts faded faster, while the better quality blue on the safety remained. It does not look replaced, but it's possible it was replaced later- that's the thing with depot builds over factory built rifles, you just never know. It also makes them more difficult to authenticate over factory rifles. Having one like this to compare later finds to helps.
 
mrfarb said:
Wrist is marked just like a Königsberg depot gun, Eagle/69. It's not really that often you find something so unique.
Click to expand...

So the Weimar-style Kg69 on the wrist and Kg11 on the metal. Interesting! One wonders why they would still be using an earlier style acceptance. Can't say I've ever seen any other Kg part with an 11 inspection, either.
 
If the rifle was completely built from new parts, why would they use "0,2" on the barrel collar? I thought they only did that when they replaced a barrel. I have no doubt about the rifle's authenticity-- I just find that marking odd.
 
D-K said:
If the rifle was completely built from new parts, why would they use "0,2" on the barrel collar? I thought they only did that when they replaced a barrel. I have no doubt about the rifle's authenticity-- I just find that marking odd.
Click to expand...
I think the spare barrels came into the depot system marked '0,2'. Had an e block LZa build that had it ground off, but at least on this one, the HZa simply didn't bother removing it.

Checked my XX depot build (which uses a spare K98b receiver) and it has the 0,2 also.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Military Rifle Journal
Back
Top