Depot Rifle?

[K98kg43]

Hello everyone. Picked this rifle the other day on an auction and wanted some opinions on it. I know virtually nothing about depot rifles. It appears to be a XI depot, I'm guessing Hannover? It is a different style stamp than the other couple I have seen.
All of the numbers match, and has what appears to be many depot build parts. It is in a flat plate butt stock that has the serial numbers in the channel. Ill post as many pictures as I can right now, it is apart in the process of cleaning it up.

As a new member I just want to take the chance to say that I'm glad to be here and feel I'm in the right place with the knowledge I have seen on these boards.

 

[K98kg43]

Bolt pictures

 

[K98kg43]

Other pics

 

[K98kg43]

Stock pics

 

[K98kg43]

The trigger group and sling that was on it

 

[mrfarb]

Welcome to the forum, and you made a good start! Yes, your research is correct, this is a Hannover depot build. It's very difficult to find matching depot rifles, especially from this depot - I don't recall seeing one when I put that chapter together in the book. Too bad the stock is sanded, but the markings are still there to some degree - the wrist marking is probably Hr6. The side marking of the large eagle I have not seen on any depot build before. However, It really appears original to the rifle with the refinish work and circumstances. This is why you need matching stocks on depot guns, to record odd trends such as that side eagle. I have 4 examples noted as being reported, yours makes 5. And thank you for taking photos of all the areas you like to see on a depot build, very helpful.

 

[K98kg43]

Thanks for the info mrfarb! I tried to get all the numbers and eagles I could find. I did wonder about the barrel not being serialed, was this common with this depot? Also is the depot number stamp style common? Most I have seen especially from the eastern depots are un- serifed. And about the stock, is there a way to un-shellac it without ruining the eagles? I did read about another depot rifle, can't remember where or when that had also been shellaced the same way but I doubt the depot did this originally correct? I wish I could get more info on the history of the gun, 80 yr old man that sold it had a living estate sale, only 3 guns on it with this being the only military gun. It looks unfired with a bright shiny bore and un burned bolt face.

 

[swjXE]

Congrats, very nice depot build.
If you use great care in removing the rust from the metal and use Jasco stripper and lacquer thinner with toothbrush to get that ugly glossy finish off the stock,
using no abrasives or steel wool, you will definitely have a nice addition to your collection. You could be in the danger zone of messing up a cool piece. Tread carefully!
P.S. I forgot to say a very important thing, NEVER USE WATER, USE LAQUER THINNER ONLY, WATER WILL SCREW UP THE MARKINGS AND RAISE THE GRAIN ON THE WOOD!

 

[M1903A3]

Fantastic rifle! You scored big time. Honestly if I were you I’d leave the stock alone as this rifle is so uncommon that I wouldn’t risk damaging it.

Side note: that “jwh” manufacturer code on the magazine floor plate is extremely uncommon.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[mrfarb]

Personally, I wouldn't strip the stock. You have a 50/50 chance of it looking either bettor or way worse once it's stripped. Usually, in my experience, stocks that have been sanded that much and shellacked look worse when stripped, and the markings get lighter and less distinct. It's done, you can't put the toothpaste back in the tube, and no the stock sanding and refinish is not wartime done.

Barrel lacking serial number is consistent with this depot, here's another posted here: http://www.k98kforum.com/showthread...pot-XI-Hannover-(Magdeburg)-with-depot-repair

 

[swjXE]

Personally, I wouldn't strip the stock. You have a 50/50 chance of it looking either bettor or way worse once it's stripped. Usually, in my experience, stocks that have been sanded that much and shellacked look worse when stripped, and the markings get lighter and less distinct. It's done, you can't put the toothpaste back in the tube, and no the stock sanding and refinish is not wartime done.

Barrel lacking serial number is consistent with this depot, here's another posted here: http://www.k98kforum.com/showthread...pot-XI-Hannover-(Magdeburg)-with-depot-repair

I have nothing but the greatest respect for mrfarb and I'm not even in the same room with him as far as knowledge. He's correct that if you leave the stock alone you run no risk of making it any worse, however I'm one, and you may also be one of those guys that just can't stand looking at that horrible shine on a 98 stock. I've had great results using Jasco stripper to soften the finish and a toothbrush dipped in lacquer thinner to remove it with no damage to the wood or markings. You must do it outside or have great ventilation and wear gloves. DO NOT USE WATER TO REMOVE THE STRIPPER, WATER CAN RUIN THE MARKINGS AND USE NO ABRASIVES! This is my approach and with all of the combined knowledge on this fine forum I'm sure there are other techniques as good or better.

 

[K98kg43]

Thanks for the input on the stock everybody. I won't mess with it for awhile. I just know it'll eat on me though, that's why I had to ask. It's just such cheap crap varnish, almost feels sticky it's so soft! Makes you mad some times. This would of been a beautiful gun if it wasn't for poor handling and poor storage. Fought through a war just to become an abused POW in a closet! I'll get it all cleaned up and post some more pictures of it all back together.

 

[swjXE]

It's a great find and you're very fortunate to have found it, it's far more interesting than the garden variety 98k. It's hard for all of us to find these wonderful relics that should have been left alone, but you have to remember that this was the most terrible war in history and the vets that fought it didn't necessarily put a high value on the items that they brought back. Your responsibility as a caretaker of history is to take your time and learn everything you can about restoring it properly or pass it on to someone who will.

 

[M1903A3]

Thanks for the input on the stock everybody. I won't mess with it for awhile. I just know it'll eat on me though, that's why I had to ask. It's just such cheap crap varnish, almost feels sticky it's so soft! Makes you mad some times. This would of been a beautiful gun if it wasn't for poor handling and poor storage. Fought through a war just to become an abused POW in a closet! I'll get it all cleaned up and post some more pictures of it all back together.

I look forward to your photos! Try to look at your rifle this way: it’s amazing that it survived at all, and it was actually a captured piece far longer than it was in combat. Like an old man it has signs of its past all over it, some recent and some very old. Just as you can look at an older person and see (or imagine) what they looked like with less age on them, look at your rifle and see past the shellac and rust spots. It’s a relic of a war long over, made and used by people long since gone. It’s beautiful and significant just the way it is.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[40caliber]

It bugs you the way it looks. Think how you’ll feel if you make it look worse.

Don’t ask me how I know.

 

[mrfarb]

It bugs you the way it looks. Think how you’ll feel if you make it look worse.

Don’t ask me how I know.

Myself included. What I did was clean the rifle and took a chance, then sold the result so I wouldn’t have to look at it anymore. Honestly, drink about 3 Bourbons with the rifle and some denatured alcohol nearby. The next day you can claim you drunk stripped it and you’ll be able to blame bourbon. Like I say, 50/50 chance it will look worse.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[K98kg43]

I think I'll get it cleaned up and skip the stripping and just go on to the drinking and staring then. Sounds like my best option

 

[swjXE]

My gosh,
Am I the only one that thinks that stripping this stock to improve it is basically a no-brainer. I've stripped at least 10 stocks and the result was always a vast improvement, I will admit I had an excellent teacher and mentor.

 

[K98kg43]

Finally got it all spruced up. Found some hidden waffenampts along the way.

 

[K98kg43]

The waffenampts