Perhaps I overlooked this in the book, but I didn't see it discussed. Why is the H style barrel band used on the 98k (and earlier rifles) ? It seems the full milled band (without cutout, similar to welded band in 44-45) would require less tooling and time. Any insight is appreciated.
"H" style cutout instead of full milled barrel band.. Why?
- Thread starter actiondan
- Start date
98's going back to the originals in 1898 had all milled metal parts, it was the original design and just plain good workmanship. Stamped and welded components did come into favor in WWII as a production expedient. The full milled bands you refer to were used to speed up the process and are referred to as "speed-milled" bands. However, stamping is still much faster than milling, no matter how simple the design, so even they were replaced in the end with stamped bands.
I think dan meant, why is the top band shaped the way it is, when it could be just a closed piece instead of H shaped. My guess is partly cosmetic and partly to reduce the contact with the barrel, but have the contact over a wider area for better support of the bayonet lug and stock. A properly fitted stock, bayonet lug and top band should not apply much pressure to the barrel.
Yes, this is what I was referring to. Sorry for the confusion.
8x57mauser
Senior Member
The entire stock actually doesn't contact the barrel. As built the only stock contact is just forward of the receiver and just before the bayonet lug.
I suspect the cuts in the front band were more along the lines of a weight saving measure, but due the strains that war puts on a manufacturing system they ultimately were deleted to speed up production as the amount of time to produce outweighed the benefit of the design so a speed milled band as we call it was used. Ultimately being replaced by the even easier stamped and welded bands in 1944