krukster86
Well-known member
Latest acquisition from a local collector who is starting to thin out his collection and focus on bigger and more expensive “toys”. It is a 1938 dated FB Radom Wz.29 short rifle, with some rather interesting characteristics. I want to thank Tokarev38 for some vetting before the purchase.
The most obvious modification to the rifle is the elimination of the side sling mounts. Both the sling bar cut out in the butt stock and the side sling loop on the rear barrel band have been deleted. It seems like an extraordinary amount of effort went into the elimination of the sling bar cut out in the butt stock, which I still do not fully understand why it was done.
The seller has never taken the rifle apart since purchasing it 15-20 years ago, so it was still slathered in grease. Upon disassembly, I felt the fore end of the stock give way and noted that it was duffle cut at the rear barrel band. The way that this was “hidden” was quite clever. A metal “tab” was inserted into the loose fore end and it was drilled to align with the rear barrel band screw channel, which keeps it secured for handling when the rear barrel band screw is installed. While I did repair the duffle cut of my “parts build” 1937 Wz.29, I think I will leave this one as-is.
The rear barrel band under sling swivel screw nut is missing, but that isn’t a huge issue.
The bolt is particularly interesting. It does not match the rifle, and the serial number format suggests it may have been intended for a Wz.98a long rifle. It is serialized in the Polish fashion (post 1933), and has the Polish eagle on the knob, but there is a cancelled Imperial German serial number on the bolt handle base. Also on the reverse side, there is a Bavarian lion proof and crown over Fraktur letter. This almost leads me to believe that this is a former German Gew.98 bolt body that was reworked by the Poles and restamped for reissue. The rest of the bolt is a hodgepodge, with a Polish firing pin and cocking piece, and a Gew.98 shroud and flag safety.
The stock does match the rifle and has pretty visible proofs. I did not see any depot markings anywhere.
The most obvious modification to the rifle is the elimination of the side sling mounts. Both the sling bar cut out in the butt stock and the side sling loop on the rear barrel band have been deleted. It seems like an extraordinary amount of effort went into the elimination of the sling bar cut out in the butt stock, which I still do not fully understand why it was done.
The seller has never taken the rifle apart since purchasing it 15-20 years ago, so it was still slathered in grease. Upon disassembly, I felt the fore end of the stock give way and noted that it was duffle cut at the rear barrel band. The way that this was “hidden” was quite clever. A metal “tab” was inserted into the loose fore end and it was drilled to align with the rear barrel band screw channel, which keeps it secured for handling when the rear barrel band screw is installed. While I did repair the duffle cut of my “parts build” 1937 Wz.29, I think I will leave this one as-is.
The rear barrel band under sling swivel screw nut is missing, but that isn’t a huge issue.
The bolt is particularly interesting. It does not match the rifle, and the serial number format suggests it may have been intended for a Wz.98a long rifle. It is serialized in the Polish fashion (post 1933), and has the Polish eagle on the knob, but there is a cancelled Imperial German serial number on the bolt handle base. Also on the reverse side, there is a Bavarian lion proof and crown over Fraktur letter. This almost leads me to believe that this is a former German Gew.98 bolt body that was reworked by the Poles and restamped for reissue. The rest of the bolt is a hodgepodge, with a Polish firing pin and cocking piece, and a Gew.98 shroud and flag safety.
The stock does match the rifle and has pretty visible proofs. I did not see any depot markings anywhere.
I've got two atm.
I woulda got in on it but chose something else (layaway). Lots of rifles on my short list... Oh well, I'll have to dig around in here and see if I can find your examples.