1940 243 k98k bring back

[Ethanw]

Just picked up this 1940 243 k98k. The guy I bought it from said it was his grandpa's bring back, and his SSN and name are on the gun. I got it for a steal so I have no complaints about originality or real story of the name. No import marks.

Can anyone here inform me if this a german depot rebuild or was it assembled here in the US? It's almost all matching, only things not are the safety and front band, and stock is 1944. All parts are matching otherwise, so I don't believe this would be a sporter restoration as it still has the matching rear band. Some parts have been stamped over previous serials.

I know it's been rebarreled with a Geco and has the 0,2 marking, so it's been rebuilt at some point. Did the Germans reblue during depot reworks?

What does the "SL" on the bolt knob mean? There was also a "S7" on the underside I believe.

Lastly, the bayonet lug was ground off and has no serial, and the condition is in the white. Was this a defective part used during rework when they were desperate, or did bubba grind this off for some reason?

 

[Sauer_Kraut]

Stock looks refinished, gun looks reblued, anymore pictures of the serials?

 

[Tjv]

I agree with Sauer… sounds more like a story. Always the chance that it was brought back by his grandpa but had a touch up at some point to look “new”

Any more pictures?

 

[Ethanw]

Here are more pictures. Besides the front band and safety, every number matches. Some of the numbers were stamped onto what appears to be recycled parts. Such as the rear sight having 2 serials. The stock is 1944 Br with a sniper butt plate. The part of it being reblued that confuses me is that not every part was reblued at the same time. The trigger housing and bayonet lug are white/worn.

Was this a depot rebuild at one point?

 

[Ethanw]

I agree with Sauer… sounds more like a story. Always the chance that it was brought back by his grandpa but had a touch up at some point to look “new”

Any more pictures?

If it was refinished here in the US, I wouldn't be too worried because I got this for a steal. I always wanted a real k98k but didn't want to spend alot. I am more concerned with knowing the history of the rifle. For the story, the guy told me after I bought it and he didn't know anything about guns, he was just selling grandpa's old stuff.

From what others have said and what I could find here in the forums. I think this was a depot rebuild with a Geco barrel and new stock, which might explain the sniper butt plate.

In terms of bubba getting to it, I'm curious why the bayonet lug was chopped off, and that the new bluing isn't applied to all the parts. I would think bubba would blue the trigger housing and what remains of the bayonet lug, if not replacing the bayonet lug. Did depot rebuilds reblue parts and would that explain the use of the 2 mismatched parts? Or could it have been a combination of depot rebuild, then armorer fix at the field?

 

[Dave Roberts]

The Checkered Butt Plate appears to be original , I also noticed that the Stock has a cut out for either SSR or LSR Base . Is there any proof mark on right side of stock , if so can you post a photo of proof and can you post another photo of butt plate checkering on outer side ??

 

[Ethanw]

The Checkered Butt Plate appears to be original , I also noticed that the Stock has a cut out for either SSR or LSR Base . Is there any proof mark on right side of stock , if so can you post a photo of proof and can you post another photo of butt plate checkering on outer side ??

I was going through what fake sniper butt plates look like. As far as I can tell this is an original. There are no internal markings on the stock. There's a H and e/? On the right side. And a letter C on the keel. Anywhere I should look for specifically for markings? It's an interesting piece for sure.

 

[Bob in OHIO]

Seems like a gun with many "things" going on....

1. Depot rework.... with replaced Geco barrel, 0,2 on the collar ... and then new rear sight added, with previous numbs
2. Metal finish?? Any chance some of the "finish" is just paint? Of the metal parts, the front band looks most like paint
   1. You asked about rework bluing... Yes, the Germans did reblue during some reworks... Here's a gun I still have where the receiver was reblued ==> reblued example
3. BPlate? not something I know about
4. Bolt numbs.... not a fan
5. Trigger guard numbs... not a fan
6. Stock: Cleaned/sanded ... any depot stamp that was ever there is gone
7. Rear band & alignment of the HG and stock is poor. Whenever there's poor alignment (not German done), I am suspicious

In summary, whenever there's an (one) item that is suspect ... the whole becomes suspicious. Your rifle has several items of concern that casts a long shadow, IMO.

 

[Ethanw]

Seems like a gun with many "things" going on....

1. Depot rework.... with replaced Geco barrel, 0,2 on the collar ... and then new rear sight added, with previous numbs
2. Metal finish?? Any chance some of the "finish" is just paint? Of the metal parts, the front band looks most like paint
   1. You asked about rework bluing... Yes, the Germans did reblue during some reworks... Here's a gun I still have where the receiver was reblued ==> reblued example
3. BPlate? not something I know about
4. Bolt numbs.... not a fan
5. Trigger guard numbs... not a fan
6. Stock: Cleaned/sanded ... any depot stamp that was ever there is gone
7. Rear band & alignment of the HG and stock is poor. Whenever there's poor alignment (not German done), I am suspicious

In summary, whenever there's an (one) item that is suspect ... the whole becomes suspicious. Your rifle has several items of concern that casts a long shadow, IMO.

If it is all painted, do you think it has a more "original" finish underneath? I paid $480 for it so as long as it shoots I don't care too much about finish. What is the best way to strip the paint without damaging any potential bluing underneath?
For the Bplate, it is a real sniper bplate, so atleast I got something cool related to the stock.

 

[Sauer_Kraut]

I think at 480 you did fine.

 

[Dave Roberts]

Is the stock and hand guard numbered in the barrel channel or not . The stock MAYBE an original LSR Stock . Knowing if its numbered or not would help determine whether it was from a Sauer or Gustloff LSR

 

[Ethanw]

Is the stock and hand guard numbered in the barrel channel or not . The stock MAYBE an original LSR Stock . Knowing if its numbered or not would help determine whether it was from a Sauer or Gustloff LSR

There are no numbers inside. Only the source code Br and date on the butt. They may have been removed when sanded. It's 1944 if that helps.

 

[Dave Roberts]

Can You post good clear close ups pics of base cut out and bolt cutout ??

 

[Ethanw]

Can You post good clear close ups pics of base cut out and bolt cutout ??

I will but it'll have to be Friday. I'll also do test spot somewhere hidden, and see what is under the paint. If it's bare metal then I think it'll be best to leave the paint on, as I do not want to reblue. If it was not sanded and just painted ontop off, I'll try to remove the paint safely as to not destroy any fi ish that may remain.

 

[Ethanw]

Can You post good clear close ups pics of base cut out and bolt cutout ??

I was able to get my Fiancée to take them. Let me know what you think. And I appreciate all of you your input, plus the input from the other members. This is my first post here and you all are able to answer my questions. Thanks!

 

[Bob in OHIO]

This new pic of the reciever is more encouraging.... This blue /reblue may be period done.

 

[Ethanw]

This new pic of the reciever is more encouraging.... This blue /reblue may be period done.

That's good to hear. My fiance tried scrapping to see if anything flakes off, and nothing did. I don't believe it is paint. I've been looking at other 243 examples on the forums, and there are a few that look similar in finish. If it is blued, I can't imagine there's a way to tell if it was done by Germans or here in the US other than visual inspection. Let me know if there are more photos I can add.
Thanks.

 

[Ethanw]

This new pic of the reciever is more encouraging.... This blue /reblue may be period done.

So turns out the bolt release had some "cosmoline" type substance inside the bolt release mechanism, as well as inside the bolt. I would think that if this was reblued in the US, they wouldn't add cosmoline after. So my thinking is, this was a depot rebuild that was prepared for storage/transport when it was taken by the allies. Then it was cleaned but not thoroughly. When I got it, it was incredibly oily. That may explain why the finish is very strong, and the oil makes it look blacker when taking a picture.

I like to make a spreadsheet of my assets for my Financials and insurance, what would you guys say the value of this rifle would be today? I didn't include a picture of the bore, but it basically looks unfired, I don't see a single scratch in the chamber or crown. Only the bolt has some finish rubbing off.

 

[Ethanw]

Update on what I found on this rifle. I was able to do hours of searching but I found the soldier who brought this k98k back from Europe. Enlisted in March 1941 and retired a Major. So this convinces me that this rifle came straight from Europe in this configuration. So the Germans really did some crazy assembly towards the end of the war. That explains the sniper stock on a regular rifle, and the chopped bayonet lug as whatever parts they could find. Including the few mismatched. Also after looking at other examples here, I'd say the bluing is depot period correct, especially since the barrel and receiver show different wear.

 

[Herk1994]

I highly disagree that it came home like that. It was reblued a long time ago, and that individual probably “prettied” up the stock too