K98k “dou ‘44” - “Matching” - Possible Factory Bolt Mistake - Question

[PatickD]

Hi guys,

Recently picked up this “matching” “dou ‘44” K98k. It’s a nice untouched rifle. That looks like it’s fresh from a closet. Has a pleasing patina, and light grime. Looks like it has sat since the war. Some type of service number lightly electro penciled on the rear sight base (very hard to see). I don’t think it’s a social, since it’s too long.

Dou ‘44’s had an interesting run of no suffix on the bolt handle. Then added the suffix in late ‘44 for just a little bit. Then once again removed the suffix from the bolt handle.

Now the question:

The rifles serial number:

•8238aa

The bolt serial number:

•8288u(?)

Now since dou had such an interesting production of no bolt suffix, then adding suffix, then once again removing the suffix. Do we think this is simply a factory mistake. The suffix?

It’s very easy to mistake “3” and “8” and I have seen it plenty times. Just seems almost zero chance someone post war found a bolt that was only one digit off, 3 vs 8.

The bolt is also marked “1”, on the bottom of the handle, for Astrawerk

Thanks for any thoughts,
-Danny

 

[flynaked]

Bolt is from a JP Sauer

 

[Muncher 1953]

Bolt is from a JP Sauer

would astra werke have supplied the bolt body to JPS? (noting the ‘l’ on the underside)

 

[flynaked]

Yes, on a late one like this is from.

 

[PatickD]

Bolt is from a JP Sauer

Gotcha, I couldn’t recall if Astrawerk supplied dou too. Thanks for the information.

So it’s a simple bolt mismatch.. oh well.

 

[flynaked]

It happens, I’ve had a couple close like that too. Just keep looking, they’re out there!

 

[Bob in OHIO]

dou font on the bolt is quite small, and Sauer had italics alphas …

 

[AndyB]

There 8288v, the digits are stamped over some of other digits, for me questionable that Povazska Bystrica get in 1944 bolts from Astra, more real from plant Brno. Should be compared the v letter with PB serials.

 

[PatickD]

These were the listing photos. Obvious now the bolt suffix is different, with rifle in hand.

In these photos I thought it may of been a lousy stamp, or whatever.

 

[flynaked]

Show the firing pin, it will have a different font lacking serifs.

 

[PatickD]

Show the firing pin, it will have a different font lacking serifs.

 

[flynaked]

Well I guess I should have said “should” ha! That’s unusual for a Sauer bolt, typically it’s a different font.

 

[yellowkid]

Still a nice rifle and dou is under appreciated in my book! Don’t clean it!!

 

[PatickD]

Still a nice rifle and dou is under appreciated in my book! Don’t clean it!!

Already back on the market lol. I like to focus on 100% matching, completely personal.