byf43 Low turret finally together

[Stephan98k]

Finally took a few minutes to post this Mauser 'k' block LT from late 1943.
Our friends north of the border helped me locate a scope and a big thank you and callout to our Canadian brothers!

Rifle has been routed through the depot at Spandau as are most snipers in this period.
Small rework of striker assembly - replaced the bolt shroud, cocking piece and FP. Otherwise factory original.
Scope has been re-issued with original number ground and new matching number restruck and I believe period.

Also Dave Roberts helped out with the whole rig, actually had to fight off the sniper hog on the base rifle.

B.

Edit 9/15: Hey guys appreciate a look at your mid-war sniper and see if it has a small "Su" inspection/acceptance stamp just behind the disk on the right side.
Have seen multiple low turrets and single claw snipers from this period with the Spandau depot stamp.

thanks,
B.

I really like this Mauser LT and the background story, in addition it's nice displayed in the Volume II book.

Do you have any idea why this K98k was sent to the Berlin Spandau depot and why the striker assembly had to be repaired? In Volume II is written the bolt shroud and cocking piece were replaced.

 

[Philip]

I really like this Mauser LT and the background story, in addition it's nice displayed in the Volume II book.

Do you have any idea why this K98k was sent to the Berlin Spandau depot and why the striker assembly had to be repaired? In Volume II is written the bolt shroud and cocking piece were replaced.

I have the same question regarding the role or purpose for sending a substantial number of later 1943 and early 1944 sniper rifles to Spandau. Was something done to these apparently new rifles being sent from the factory (or was it from the or some of the weapons depots?)? I had assumed that by around mid 1943 at least, most new sniper rifles were being sent directly to the arms depots supporting the sniper schools. It seems well documented that by this point most actual snipers were coming out of the schools and that school trained snipers were receiving their sniper rifle at the school. It is less well documented but nevertheless addressed in several period accounts that these sniper schools also incorporated a real armorer capability for both the rifle and the optics. I’ll leave it there as I have no information as to the level of repair or replacement they were authorized to perform, except to say that the lowest level that a satisfactory repair can be made saves tremendous time and strain on the system when considered that this is amplified thousands of times.

 

[mdarnell19]

It’s my understanding that all snipers (at least initially) were sent to Spandau depot and Spandau was responsible for distributing the rifles throughout the Wehrmacht.

Many snipers have mismatched rear sights. Possibly because Spandau worked on them to insure that snipers add accurate iron sights also.

 

[Philip]

It’s my understanding that all snipers (at least initially) were sent to Spandau depot and Spandau was responsible for distributing the rifles throughout the Wehrmacht.

Many snipers have mismatched rear sights. Possibly because Spandau worked on them to insure that snipers add accurate iron sights also.

This maybe true, I have no idea. I have a h block 43 sniper with no Spandau stock stamps. I have to assume if all went there then all were not marked as having been there. It is certainly possible and makes some sense if one place (like Spandau) was used as a central “clearing house” for all sniper rifle distribution and any major problem resolution.

 

[bruce98k]

Wow this a bast from the past. Gun now has original matching scope - a team effort again.

 

[Wolfsburg]

It’s my understanding that all snipers (at least initially) were sent to Spandau depot and Spandau was responsible for distributing the rifles throughout the Wehrmacht.

Many snipers have mismatched rear sights. Possibly because Spandau worked on them to insure that snipers add accurate iron sights also.

That's interesting. Mine has a mismatched rear sight. I thought that was a bit odd though assumed maybe the rear sight had been lost for some reason and it was someone's attempt to restore everything to whole again.

 

[Stephan98k]

Many snipers have mismatched rear sights. Possibly because Spandau worked on them to insure that snipers add accurate iron sights also.

That's interesting. Mine has a mismatched rear sight. I thought that was a bit odd though assumed maybe the rear sight had been lost for some reason and it was someone's attempt to restore everything to whole again.

Not only the scope have to be accurate, also the iron sights and it's good you mentioned it, that was one of the reasons for the rework.

I have translated a excerpt of the manual D 134 "Das Zielfernrohr 39 (Zielvier) für den Karabiner 98k"

"E. Checking and correcting the elevation and windage position of the scope (Zielvier) for the K98k

The check of the elevation and windage position of the scope is carried out by the troop in the presence of the Waffenmeister (armorer) or the Waffenunteroffizier (NCO). Any corrections to the elevation and windage position that become necessary must only be carried out by personnel with prior armorer training.

To check use a shooting table, point the scoped rifle with the scope attached via rear sight and front sight with sight "100" to the target located at exactly 100 meters (measured from the sight) (H.Dv. 242 page 7 no. 15) and without moving the weapon, check the gross deviations of elevation and windage of the scope, which was previously set at the distance mark 100."

Regards,
Stephan

 

[mdarnell19]

Great info Stephan, thank you.

 

[Wolfsburg]

Not only the scope have to be accurate, also the iron sights and it's good you mentioned it, that was one of the reasons for the rework.

I have translated a excerpt of the manual D 134 "Das Zielfernrohr 39 (Zielvier) für den Karabiner 98k"

"E. Checking and correcting the elevation and windage position of the scope (Zielvier) for the K98k

The check of the elevation and windage position of the scope is carried out by the troop in the presence of the Waffenmeister (armorer) or the Waffenunteroffizier (NCO). Any corrections to the elevation and windage position that become necessary must only be carried out by personnel with prior armorer training.

To check use a shooting table, point the scoped rifle with the scope attached via rear sight and front sight with sight "100" to the target located at exactly 100 meters (measured from the sight) (H.Dv. 242 page 7 no. 15) and without moving the weapon, check the gross deviations of elevation and windage of the scope, which was previously set at the distance mark 100."

Regards,
Stephan

Thank you! That is great info!!!