DOU 44 pictures and info

[Wiseguy507]

I originally posted this on reddit to get an idea of the value since I was trying to sell, wound up learning some interesting info and was told I should probably share it here to get more experienced eyes on it.
At first the front barrel band seemed to be a mismatch but I was told the welded H-band were rarely used and are correct if they are stamped with the WaA135, which luckily mine is. Pretty interesting.
Also learned that DOU blueing is known to be particularly dark.
Anything Else interesting? I bought it maybe 10-12 years ago and brought it to the range once for about 25 rounds. I know that DOU is the Czech mfg. and that's about it.
I'll do my best to post pictures, bear with me.

 

[Wiseguy507]

 

[Wiseguy507]

Let me know what you guys think! Maybe if it's intriguing enough I'll hold onto it, I do feel pretty bad about letting it just sit for so long though.

 

[Jdt]

I have a B block Dou 44 and it has the type 3 barrel band, Dou used the WaA80 code throughout the war so someone either stamped that barrel band or found one that matched the serial number of that rifle. H band is not correct and I'm not aware of any examples known too use H bands that late. H bands are a 1941 or earlier affair and then depot builds as well but those would have been depot system supplied spares or commercial made examples.

Here's my B block Dou 44

dou. 44 #7443 b, possible grenade launcher use.

Got this in a trade for a pretty nice DOT 44 I had to buy cause the seller/trader wanted a replacement, was abit of story but happy too have it :) Rifle is matching and definitely in used condition, the dark oxidation spots on the stock from what I've read indicate this rifle rifle had spent...

www.k98kforum.com

 

[Wiseguy507]

"The numbers actually do look good. After GEW mentioned about early bands showing up on these later dou 44 rifles, that kind of did ring a bell. Did some quick researching, and I found a post by one of the authors of "The Books" and it was confirmed. He says it will be marked WaA135, which yours is, so you're good!"

So that above statement is wrong? No chance the band is correct?

 

[Jdt]

"The numbers actually do look good. After GEW mentioned about early bands showing up on these later dou 44 rifles, that kind of did ring a bell. Did some quick researching, and I found a post by one of the authors of "The Books" and it was confirmed. He says it will be marked WaA135, which yours is, so you're good!"

So that above statement is wrong? No chance the band is correct?

I'll check my sources, if other members said it's legit then I would take there word over mine because they have a lot more experience.

 

[Jdt]

Where else on the forum did you post this rifle? Or was it just reddi,t then you came here?

 

[Wiseguy507]

It was from a member of the K98 reddit

 

[Jdt]

I just found your reddit post, Zeppelin is someone I've gone to collecting questions etc, serial number on the band does look fine, Zeppelin mentioned its good to go so I'm inline with him as H bands being used that late was something I'm not aware of.

 

[Jdt]

That welded H band is awesome! I was not aware of that being a thing. Super neat example, I have to agree that it's a scarce variant as this is the first one I've seen.

 

[Zeppelin5000]

This is something I had to do a quick research on. After it was mentioned, it did sound familiar, so I went online (I was too lazy to dig out my books lol) and it was confirmed in an old post from Mike (Steves) that Brünn II did use up some old H bands.

Aside from that though, this band is even better than a standard H band being that it's stamped, which is scarce!

Here's a photo of the bottom of the band that the OP originally posted.

 

[AndyB]

Dou is not czech made but slovakian.

 

[Jdt]

This is something I had to do a quick research on. After it was mentioned, it did sound familiar, so I went online (I was too lazy to dig out my books lol) and it was confirmed in an old post from Mike (Steves) that Brünn II did use up some old H bands.

Aside from that though, this band is even better than a standard H band being that it's stamped, which is scarce!

Here's a photo of the bottom of the band that the OP originally posted.
View attachment 420430

I pulled out volume 2B and there is a trend of these stamped H bands in the e block, the two reported rifles are 3891e & 7713e with another reported in the p block, rifle number 7262p.

 

[Wiseguy507]

I'm learning more every day! Crazy the amount of nuance to these things

 

[Zeppelin5000]

I'm learning more every day! Crazy the amount of nuance to these things

Makes you want to keep it, huh? ;-) Nothing wrong with letting it sit. It did it's job and deserves to simply be admired. I enjoy going into my "War Room" and just looking at things and admiring their history.

 

[hale1940]

I saw your original post on reddit. Glad you made it here!

Really nice honest dou44. Neat variation too with the welded H bands.

 

[Wiseguy507]

Makes you want to keep it, huh? ;-) Nothing wrong with letting it sit. It did it's job and deserves to simply be admired. I enjoy going into my "War Room" and just looking at things and admiring their history.

I have had that sentiment as well. I actually buy clearance picture frames from hobby lobby and build gun displays, so I've had most of my collection up on the wall for the past few years. Lately I've been in more of a less is more mindset, and have downsized in both my home and collections so the thought is present.

 

[Wiseguy507]

examples!

 

[Loewe]

The front band is consistent with trends, e-block has a grouping (and Andy is right, dou is Slovakian, and there is a difference) :

1944 dou 1374 / HMFB (serialed-probable e/135), SRB (serialed along bottom)

1944 dou 3184 / FB m/m, SRB (3184 RBSW)

1944 dou 4658 / SFB (4658), SRB (4658 RBSW)

1944 dou 4768 a / SFB (4768), RB-NA

1944 dou 7443 b / SFB (7443), SRB-NA

1944 dou 130 c / SFB (serialed), SRB (serialed along bottom)

1944 dou 1985 c / SFB (serialed), SRB (serialed along bottom)

1944 dou 3209 c / SFB (serialed), MRB (serialed along bottom)

1944 dou 3340 c / SFB (serialed), SRB (RBSW)

1944 dou 3677 c / SFB (m/m), SRB (3677 along bottom)

1944 dou 4921 c / SFB (serialed), SRB (RBSW).

1944 dou 5831 c – SFB (FS), SRB (RBSW).

1944 dou 7388 c – SFB (FS), SRB (along bottom).

1944 dou 682 d / SFB (serialed), SRB (serialed along bottom)

1944 dou 933 d / FB m/m, SRB (serialed).

1944 dou 4836 d / SFB (serialed), SRB NA

1944 dou 5225 d / SFB (5225), SRB (5225 along bottom)

1944 dou 9612 d / SFB (serialed), SRB (RBSW)

1944 dou 1332 e / MFB(H) (serialed) e/135, SRB (serialed along bottom)
1944 dou 1619 e / MFB(H) (serialed) ANA, SRB (serialed along bottom)
1944 dou 3519 e / MFB(H) (FS) e/135, SRB (serialed along bottom)
1944 dou 4864 e / MFB(H) (serialed) ANA, SRB (serialed along bottom)
1944 dou 8295 e / SFB (8296), SRB (8296 along bottom)

1944 dou 732 f / SFB (FS) ANA, SRB (serialed along bottom)

1944 dou 4000 f – SFB (4000), SRB (4000 along bottom) (StBS)

1944 dou 4462 f / SFB (NA), SRB (serialed along bottom)

1944 dou 5734 f / SFB (5734), SRB (5734 along bottom)

1944 dou 6159 f / SFB (FS), SRB (NA)

1944 dou 7704 f / SFB (FS), SRB (NA)

1944 dou 8427 f / SFB (NS), SRB (serialed along bottom)

1944 dou 792 g / SFB(792), SBB (792 along bottom)

1944 dou 1153 g / SFB(1153), SBB (1153 along bottom)

1944 dou 2010 g / SFB(2010), SBB (m/m) (milled bandspring- e/26-NS)

1944 dou 5589 g / FB m/m, SRB serialed (serialed along bottom)

1944 dou 7563 g / tg not serialed, fp serialed

1944 dou 7911 g / SFB (7911), SRB (7911-serialed along bottom)

1944 dou ser. 9420 g / tg not serialed, fp serialed (e/214 tg & fp e/135)

1944 dou 1768 h / SFB (FS), SRB (FS) (serialed along bottom)

1944 dou 4896 i / SFB (4896), SRB (4896) (serialed along bottom)

1944 dou 6699 i / SFB (6699), SRB (NA)

1944 dou 59 j / SFB (FS), SRB (FS) (serialed along bottom)

1944 dou 1178 j / SFB (1178), SRB (1178) (serialed along bottom) (Stamped BS)

1944 dou 3770 j / SFB (FS), SRB (FS) (serialed along bottom)

1944 dou 9334 j / MFB(C) (FS), SRB (FS) (serialed along top)(fake?)

 

[Embalmer]

Makes you want to keep it, huh? ;-) Nothing wrong with letting it sit. It did it's job and deserves to simply be admired. I enjoy going into my "War Room" and just looking at things and admiring their history.

It's what I do, though built my display into a coffee table so can admire them every time I watch TV. Wife hates it, but IDC lol. Wish I built it a lil wider though...