Matching ar 43, "k" Block

[pzjgr]

Was lucky enough to pick this up in a trade deal with a good buddy, beautiful gun. Has an Astrawerk made receiver, E/26 final. Sweet unmessed with stock, completely blank externally, serialed fully in the channel, and in the handguard. Another interesting point pointed out is the receiver serial has a script "k" suffix, while the bolt has regular font "k". Bolt is FN made, with E/140 acceptance on the bolt handle, and "MI" stamp on the rear locking lug (didn't come out clear on pic).

Barrel code is ar-4-ao (forgot to grab pic, but I can if need be). Also noted that on the 6 o'clock on the barrel and the receiver there is a script "k", I assume repeating the serial suffix?

When I got it, the bayo lug was offset forward, and wouldn't budge. Upon disassembly the bayo lug pin was present, and in the hole, with the lug resting against it, so that's why I couldn't be pushed back. I drifted the pin out, correctly mounted the bay lug, and re-inserted and drifted the pin back in, everything went back together perfectly and is now lined up as correct.

Here are some overall pics...

 

[pzjgr]

Some detailed pics...

I was extremely happy to be able work this trade, and add this beauty to the collection. Thanks to my friend for thinking of me!

 

[pzjgr]

And some more...

 

[pzjgr]

And some more...

 

[joryfreeburg]

Very nice rifle. That rifle would fit in any collection. Congrats

 

[Dave Roberts]

Great addition to Your collection . Very nice example

 

[Guillaume d'Orange]

Very neat. Congratulations

The FN bolt had its "X" inspection mark just like on later bolts for Mauser Oberndorf.
Questions: to which manufacturer has FN started to provide bolts ? when ? (the answers might be somewhere in the books...)

 

[Bigdibbs88]

Good gun

 

[mauser99]

very interesting... I picked up on the odd ball Script K on the receiver. I cant recall seeing that before ? The bolt has a standard type K.. The k on the receiver looks more like BLM type lettering but obviously its an ar assembled rifle.

 

[Loewe]

Very neat. Congratulations

The FN bolt had its "X" inspection mark just like on later bolts for Mauser Oberndorf.
Questions: to which manufacturer has FN started to provide bolts ? when ? (the answers might be somewhere in the books...)

The most probable guess is FN bolt bodies start showing up at MB first, early in 1941, the d-block with waffenamt e/103 & e/613 represented in this block. Not showing up at WMO until the b-block of 42, but WMO trends are only 1/3 up to date as that is a lot of reports to turn to trends... WMO was the largest mfg to work through and generally the most boring as they are probably the most consistent.

MB is one of the more interesting makers, probably the most interesting, I still own a ar/43

 

[Aaron]

Nice rifle, and good work resetting the lug! I dig the finish on the safety and the sintered front band.

 

[heavy_mech]

Man, that is really nice. Love how pristine the insides of the barrel channel appear. Astra receiver and FN bolt are also cool. Congrats on getting this.

 

[Guillaume d'Orange]

The most probable guess is FN bolt bodies start showing up at MB first, early in 1941, the d-block with waffenamt e/103 & e/613 represented in this block. Not showing up at WMO until the b-block of 42, but WMO trends are only 1/3 up to date as that is a lot of reports to turn to trends... WMO was the largest mfg to work through and generally the most boring as they are probably the most consistent.

MB is one of the more interesting makers, probably the most interesting, I still own a ar/43

Thanks Paul, very interesting as always. Vol IIa says early 1941 but does not indicate that the bolts were first used at MB.
I will pay more attention to MB rifles, the "ar" ones look cool indeed but rarely surface.

 

[mauser202]

Beautiful rifle, love the crispness of the bolt cut out. Overall patina, puts over the top . Congratulations.

 

[pzjgr]

Thanks for all the nice comments guys, I appreciate it, like I said, was super happy to add this to the collection. I don't have a huge number of what I like to call "No excuses" all matching really nice 98k's in the collection, so its always great to add another.

I did notice on this one compared to sone other examples in the Sticky's that the roll mark is fairly light...and the final is poorly struck in general...Loewe or anyone else, is this a trend in these later AR's or just a bad day on the roll mark machine? Were the roll marks done at Borsigwalde, or in this case at Astrawerk (ie were the receivers delivered completely marked to Borsigwalde)?

It is amazing how clean the stock is inside, like fresh off the factory floor. I noticed too the suffix in the barrel channel has a script "k" to match the receiver serial...

While I do like battered war horse for reason (since they were likely battlefield carried) there is also a lot to be said for the nearly untouched rifles, even if they were rack queens. They sure are pretty!

 

[MaxBerlin]

Unbelievable how clear the detail is in this Borsigwalde.
From 41 it was no longer a pure Borsigwalde production, but the Eagle/26 can still often be seen.
On my ar41, however, there are considerably more.

Congratulations on this piece of history!

 

[pzjgr]

And just for comparison, here is a link to my ar41 I had posted. It must have been a rescued sporter I am guessing as it was a stock/bands mismatch. I was lucky enough to get a MB KM stock from Flynaked, so I dropped it into that stock...but its a good comparison on markings. The stock is apparently from a 1940 MB KM gun, and likely my gun was originally a KM gun anyway, so its a good fit. Thanks to all the knowledgeable guys who posted on it back then.

What Maker/Year for WaA 26 Marked KM Stock?

OK, so I am taking the easy way out...I am asking here for this...I have been on the road so much, I haven't had time to search the bibles... Thanks to my buddy FlyNaked, I came in possession of a beautiful Norwegian take off set, all matching stock, bands, TG, floorplate...everything but the...

www.k98kforum.com

 

[Loewe]

Thanks Paul, very interesting as always. Vol IIa says early 1941 but does not indicate that the bolts were first used at MB.
I will pay more attention to MB rifles, the "ar" ones look cool indeed but rarely surface.

Trends are scanty on bolts to be sure, but FN is increasing relied on for bolt bodies by WMO/MB and this seems to be near complete by 1943 (much of 1942 is hard to judge because the guidelines minimizing acceptance, which MB took as serious as any other maker, some seem void of waffenamts which suggest in-house, with a good number of FN scattered about - not many take pictures of parts without markings...)

Really, while my trends work is significantly "populated" enough to give a broad or general read in patterns (still a miniscule sample of what is out there and mere blink of what was made), only SDP is mostly complete (except 1945)