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Interesting byf 44 - possible German rework??

G

GunzoJ

Member
Hey all,

I picked up a 98k recently that has me completely stumped. I joined this forum hoping we can figure out its history! I know some of the basics but am far from an expert on these rifles.
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Story that I received with the rifle is:
  • GI brings home rifle
  • GI passes away, rifle purchased by gun shop at estate sale
  • “Owner 1” purchases from gun shop
  • I’m owner 2.
Here are the data points that I’ve gathered so far. Doesn’t look to me like a RC based on markings/finish or good fake since no effort was put into matching all serial numbers with a correct stock in better condition. Could this be some sort of German rework during the war? Maybe rework during semi-kriegsmodell period using on-hand parts?

Byf 44 SN 6614 k

No import marks

Matching bolt except safety

Excellent bluing – a little too good. It was refinished at some point and seems like new 135 stamps were put on during the process. Clean 135 next to “scuffed” 135 on side of receiver.
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Eagle/Swastikas “scuffed” but not removed – presumably during refinishing process
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Stock is cracked, flat FN butt plate, inside has newer 6614 stamp in addition to RIGHT outer side of stock. Looks like an earlier stock similar to one on a 1939 147 coded rifle I had.
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Upper handguard has 6614 stamped inside (second SN)
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Mix/match tangent sight serial numbers

Byf, 44, and 135 marks on top of receiver “scuffed”
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Barrel 44 D703 or 440703 with 135 stamp (clean)
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Small x on barrel 180 degrees from where “7.92” normally is, no “7.92” marking

WaA63 on sight base
63 on on sight base
18 and 135 on tangent sight
555 on rear sight elevation slide
280 on sight elevation slide

Stock band (machined) has 280, scrubbed serial number
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Sling mount pitted under bluing, stamped with “3”
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Receiver was drilled/tapped on right side at some point. Is this clearly post-war? Or are there any WWII scope mounts that would fit here?

Also note - the stock has an orange-ish hue in the photos that isn't prevalent in person.

Looking forward to any knowledge that can be shared!
 
God. Some easy stuff as you've deduced. Definitely buffed/reblued or 'touched up' hence the partially removed marks. Mis-mosh parts.
 
swjXE said:
Goes to show. Don't ever believe a story unless it has absolute proof to back it up. o_O
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The good news is that I paid a pretty reasonable price for it :)

With a mismatched cupped butt plate stock (anyone selling one??) it would be a great shooter for what I have into it.
 
the holes in the right side of the rear receiver bridge indicate that it was fitted w/a peep sight at some point in its life, a common sporter mod. My grandfather’s 03 sporter has such a Lyman sight on it.
 
biggymu said:
The serial numbers in the stock were made by modern stamps, as you can still see the circles around the numbers. eBay quality stamps.
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That’s a key point, I wasn’t too sure about those circles. Glad I posted on here to get the truth on it!

Looks like this will get a reproduction or other correct stock and become a pretty shooter in the collection. Anybody have good recommendations for repros or know anybody selling a correct stock?

Even with a repro stock, this will still have more genuine visible history than a Mitchel Mauser :)
 
the stock is in pretty good shape for what it is. I would find a correct flat buttplate, and rear band. It will make that example as good as it’s ever going to be
 
Hard to see in the photos, but the damage to this one isn’t negligible. I’d like for it to stay with the rifle if I sell it and not crack even more. 3D317221-333F-4C5D-9105-B96FFF854EF5.jpeg841D43E5-C60D-42DF-8441-70D13A0FFFD1.jpeg71344EA2-BBCB-45DE-9621-8ED9018CAF67.jpeg
 
yeah, that’s a non-shooter stock, without repairs. the damage to the wrist originates at the recoil lug, when that failed subsequent firing drove the action backwards, splitting the wrist. the split in the web in front of the trigger, while I always hate to see it, often comes from the stock drying out. you can tell its been messed with, because the recoil lug is in backwards (head should be on left, not the nut) and the nut is loose. sometimes the cracking originates from the action screws being loose when firing, but I think that 80 YO laminated stocks are increasingly ‘not up to the task’ of withstanding recoil loads. as John wrote, it is fixable, but not easily. I have several ‘shooter stocks’ with recoil lug damage, this one has gone farther, needs more. (& an expert)
 
Found more evidence of a poor “restoration” attempt when replacing the stock. The cleaning rod had no stud to thread into, the bayonet lug had no pin holding it on, and the butt plate was very poorly fitted to that stock.

Now that I’m this deep and the receiver has already been violated/tapped for peep sights, I’m thinking this could be a great candidate for a sniper clone. What would the best scope/mount combo for a BYF 44 be? I’d be most interested in reproduction parts as this will be a shooter.

Side note - found this stock on Numrich for ~150 and the fit is excellent. Very pleasantly surprised with the stock and reproduction sling.
 

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How did all the metal fit on that repo stock? Doesn't look too bad for $150.

Btw, nice RPK! Build or buy?
 
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