K98 Cleaning Rod Help
- Thread starter crthomas
- Start date
I do not like it, see these photos of some rods:
THIS lower POST IS GOOD, Bruce has some important observations; A MUST READ
https://www.k98kforum.com/threads/k98k-cleaning-rods-12-original-german-or-norwegian.54237/
Below are ones liberty sold with serial numbers but shorter threads
These are early rod with two # serials
Here this link shows a repro and a original side by side, source: https://www.1944militaria.com/product_p/rpk98rod.htm
original on bottom, reproduction on top.
THIS lower POST IS GOOD, Bruce has some important observations; A MUST READ
https://www.k98kforum.com/threads/k98k-cleaning-rods-12-original-german-or-norwegian.54237/
Below are ones liberty sold with serial numbers but shorter threads
These are early rod with two # serials
Here this link shows a repro and a original side by side, source: https://www.1944militaria.com/product_p/rpk98rod.htm
original on bottom, reproduction on top.
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Back in the day there was a cleaning rod and Sling repro ID web page . Its gone, but I referenced it with a photo in this ancient SRF post about a vz 24:
see https://web.archive.org/web/2021062...rplusrifleforum.org/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=4032
see https://web.archive.org/web/2021062...rplusrifleforum.org/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=4032
Your rod to my eye looks like some of the RC K98K rods the original owner of Classic Arms had someone machine for the new RCs K98 that just came onto the market for sale. RC K98ks that were just coming out. People purchased his reproduction cleaning rods and capture screws that looked OK (better than Chinese repros) and/or but not as good as the real post war Norwegian k98 cleaning rods and slings from Stewards Military Antiques, now also gone also. I do not like the thread length and taper and the color of the rod. I do not like the flat bottom and the way the threads taper out. I do not like the lack of wear or use. Even a re-enactor would age wear the rod. But, I am no expert. Lets see what the real K98k experts say.
Most repro rods bend rather easy. I cannot see if the cleaning rod hole is oval or square on the ends?? Most fakes are soft metal and squared off ends to the patch hole. But, there are both cheap and better reproductions??? I do not own one, but people liked Classics' early machined cleaning rods that they put with their select sale Russian Captures. They were hard steel rods.
Below are two photos of the soft reproduction cleaning rod offered by At The Front re-enactors equipment. The cleaning patch hole is oblong and not a straight mill but angled on the bottom with correct threads that actually screw into the rifle. By sight a better looking rod lacking a high blued almost like paint finish. But still a reproduction with distinct threads lacking wear. It does not have a dark RC type finish or blue black.
A common bend on a soft steel reproduction rod, just not the same hardness to reproduction rods
Most repro rods bend rather easy. I cannot see if the cleaning rod hole is oval or square on the ends?? Most fakes are soft metal and squared off ends to the patch hole. But, there are both cheap and better reproductions??? I do not own one, but people liked Classics' early machined cleaning rods that they put with their select sale Russian Captures. They were hard steel rods.
Below are two photos of the soft reproduction cleaning rod offered by At The Front re-enactors equipment. The cleaning patch hole is oblong and not a straight mill but angled on the bottom with correct threads that actually screw into the rifle. By sight a better looking rod lacking a high blued almost like paint finish. But still a reproduction with distinct threads lacking wear. It does not have a dark RC type finish or blue black.
A common bend on a soft steel reproduction rod, just not the same hardness to reproduction rods
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Thanks everyone for the input, I'm betting that it's a reproduction, but the rod will not bend unless you really bare down on it. Attaching a few more pictures. Patch opening looks ramped top and bottom, as far as oval or rectangular I can't really tell.
Attachments
Muncher 1953
Senior Member
there are also repros floating around that are made from 2 pieces, a rod threaded on both ends with a patch head screwed onto one end. the large step at the head makes these obvious. I would think they wouldn’t hold up as well in actual use, but certainly cheaper/easier to make than turning 12” of a real one.
