chgruener
Member
Group,
I am the new owner of the recently sold 243 - 1939 #8087 with accompanying battle damage.
This rifle already has a thread, but the photos were directly taken from the listing. Now that I’m back in town from the holidays, I’ve picked it up at my FFL and properly photographed it for you all to dissect
As previously mentioned, this rifle is made from at least 3 other rifles, with the majority of the rifle likely being from a 1940 Mauserwerk Oberndorf. These parts include the stock (WaA655 / H), hand guard, bayonet lug, front and rear barrel bands, butt plate, bolt release lever, rear sight ladder, rear sight slider, follower, floor plate, magazine/trigger guard, and the entire bolt. The barrel is a CXM354 dated 1940, proofed WaA26 (Mauser-Werke Borsigwalde), the receiver is a Mauser-Werke Borsigwalde dated 1939, and the rear sight base is marked WaA26. Both the receiver and barrel have been scrubbed of their original serial numbers and renumbered to match the SN from the Mauserwerk Oberndorf “parts kit”. The only other part I could find that was not from the original #8087 rifle or the donor rifle. was the front sight post which is numbered #61 and has a WaA280 (Erma).
This rifle is LK5 marked on the left side of the butt stock and has one other LK5 hallmark, a “23” stamped into the under side of the wrist.
Unfortunately someone in the past has cleaned up the stock which has faded the LK5 marking, as well as the rest of the markings and proofs. Luckily, they are still legible.
Some of those who may know me from Facebook and instagram know that I am a very serious collector of battle damaged Japanese weapons. I have yet to own a damaged German weapon, which is my reason for acquiring this one. The damage to this rifle, in my opinion, is caused by a shell fragment or piece of shrapnel. The wood shows hallmark signs of this, however the barrel damage is interesting, being similar to deflected bullet damage I own and have observed in the past. There is also minor damage to the stock disc area, where a very small piece of fragmentation or shrapnel struck the wood and then struck the stock disc, denting it and deflecting away. The other minor gouges near this area are also likely caused by smaller fragments.
I am a complete beginner when it comes to collecting K98s, but I have read most of the very lengthy discussion threads about the LK5 marking. It’s my opinion that the LK5 marking is some sort of depot marking that was applied to rifles that were reworked, and apparently mostly captured, in Southern France. Possibly Luftwaffe? And in this rifle’s case, it was reissued to a unit where it was damaged in combat.
Here is a Google Drive link to all photographs:
LK5 Marked & Battle Damaged K98: 243 - 1939 #8087
I am the new owner of the recently sold 243 - 1939 #8087 with accompanying battle damage.
This rifle already has a thread, but the photos were directly taken from the listing. Now that I’m back in town from the holidays, I’ve picked it up at my FFL and properly photographed it for you all to dissect
As previously mentioned, this rifle is made from at least 3 other rifles, with the majority of the rifle likely being from a 1940 Mauserwerk Oberndorf. These parts include the stock (WaA655 / H), hand guard, bayonet lug, front and rear barrel bands, butt plate, bolt release lever, rear sight ladder, rear sight slider, follower, floor plate, magazine/trigger guard, and the entire bolt. The barrel is a CXM354 dated 1940, proofed WaA26 (Mauser-Werke Borsigwalde), the receiver is a Mauser-Werke Borsigwalde dated 1939, and the rear sight base is marked WaA26. Both the receiver and barrel have been scrubbed of their original serial numbers and renumbered to match the SN from the Mauserwerk Oberndorf “parts kit”. The only other part I could find that was not from the original #8087 rifle or the donor rifle. was the front sight post which is numbered #61 and has a WaA280 (Erma).
This rifle is LK5 marked on the left side of the butt stock and has one other LK5 hallmark, a “23” stamped into the under side of the wrist.
Unfortunately someone in the past has cleaned up the stock which has faded the LK5 marking, as well as the rest of the markings and proofs. Luckily, they are still legible.
Some of those who may know me from Facebook and instagram know that I am a very serious collector of battle damaged Japanese weapons. I have yet to own a damaged German weapon, which is my reason for acquiring this one. The damage to this rifle, in my opinion, is caused by a shell fragment or piece of shrapnel. The wood shows hallmark signs of this, however the barrel damage is interesting, being similar to deflected bullet damage I own and have observed in the past. There is also minor damage to the stock disc area, where a very small piece of fragmentation or shrapnel struck the wood and then struck the stock disc, denting it and deflecting away. The other minor gouges near this area are also likely caused by smaller fragments.
I am a complete beginner when it comes to collecting K98s, but I have read most of the very lengthy discussion threads about the LK5 marking. It’s my opinion that the LK5 marking is some sort of depot marking that was applied to rifles that were reworked, and apparently mostly captured, in Southern France. Possibly Luftwaffe? And in this rifle’s case, it was reissued to a unit where it was damaged in combat.
Here is a Google Drive link to all photographs:
LK5 Marked & Battle Damaged K98: 243 - 1939 #8087
