Matching BYF 45 Kriegsmodell

[MightyJakeus]

Thought you guys might like this one, my matching BYF 45 Kriegsmodell.

Obviously you can really notice the late war features on this one. Chatter marks on the stock, no cleaning rod or bayonet lug and the welded & screwed in place front and rear barrel band.

 

[RUSH2022]

Very nice rifle! thanks for sharing.

 

[Mauserguy85]

Unless it’s the lighting, looks like this rifle’s stock took a heavy dose of modern BLO a few years back….

Thanks for sharing. Can we get some more close ups of the stock chatter?

 

[MightyJakeus]

Unless it’s the lighting, looks like this rifle’s stock took a heavy dose of modern BLO a few years back….

Thanks for sharing. Can we get some more close ups of the stock chatter?

I took these photos in my dark laundry so that probably explains it. The stock is solid walnut and there is no signs of sanding. I'll try and get some more close ups of the chatter marks on the stock. I bought this rifle from a reputable source so I'm pretty confident he would've mentioned something pretty significant as a BLO coat on the stock. I've posted this in several forums and you seem to be the only one to suggest this. Obviously not having a dig at you. Just curious if there is any other indication it might have had a coat of BLO over it?

 

[Mauserguy85]

I mean, the stock literally looks black in the photos. As far as “several forums”, 90% of top k98k experts live here on this forum. Many exclusively just on this forum. For example, some forums to this day still have senior members who believe a Mitchell’s Mauser with its certificate is an original all matching k98k. I wish I was joking, but I’m not.

Again, if the lack of lighting is misrepresenting the appearance of the stock pics… Could you please take some new ones? The right side of the buttstock should have an Eagle/H if it truly wasn’t sanded. Walnut stocks usually retain the markings really well unless messed with.

The reason I suggest modern BLO may have been used is based solely on the very dark appearance of the stock. Modern BLO is an incorrect finish. The Germans never used it, but many, many years ago a rumor began due to some bad information and the practice began. This led to countless people slathering their stocks with local hardware store BLO and subsequently due to the driers, accelerants, etc… it tended to really darken the stock in time, sometimes almost turning it very dark brown/black.

Below is a link to a A block very close to yours in a laminate stock.

byf 45 a block

byf 45 a block

www.k98kforum.com

One in walnut…

BYF 45 in walnut

My byf 45 just came in from the post. As promised, here are some pictures. The rifle is sitting in a nice walnut stock. 47000, no block. Bore is surprising nice, strong lands and groves with good shine. Guess the solider didn't have too much time to abuse the rifle. The weight always shocks me...

www.k98kforum.com

 

[MightyJakeus]

I mean, the stock literally looks black in the photos. As far as “several forums”, 90% of top k98k experts live here on this forum. Many exclusively just on this forum. For example, some forums to this day still have senior members who believe a Mitchell’s Mauser with its certificate is an original all matching k98k. I wish I was joking, but I’m not.

Again, if the lack of lighting is misrepresenting the appearance of the stock pics… Could you please take some new ones? The right side of the buttstock should have an Eagle/H if it truly wasn’t sanded. Walnut stocks usually retain the markings really well unless messed with.

The reason I suggest modern BLO may have been used is based solely on the very dark appearance of the stock. Modern BLO is an incorrect finish. The Germans never used it, but many, many years ago a rumor began due to some bad information and the practice began. This led to countless people slathering their stocks with local hardware store BLO and subsequently due to the driers, accelerants, etc… it tended to really darken the stock in time, sometimes almost turning it very dark brown/black.

Below is a link to a A block very close to yours in a laminate stock.

byf 45 a block

byf 45 a block

www.k98kforum.com

One in walnut…

BYF 45 in walnut

My byf 45 just came in from the post. As promised, here are some pictures. The rifle is sitting in a nice walnut stock. 47000, no block. Bore is surprising nice, strong lands and groves with good shine. Guess the solider didn't have too much time to abuse the rifle. The weight always shocks me...

www.k98kforum.com

Hey man, thanks for the insight. I did quickly take it out into sunlight before I went to work and it did look a lighter compared to the photos I posted. I'll double check when I finish up and send through some more photos.

 

[MightyJakeus]

Hey man, thanks for the insight. I did quickly take it out into sunlight before I went to work and it did look a lighter compared to the photos I posted. I'll double check when I finish up and send through some more photos.

Sorry for the delay here are some more photos. I contacted Mike Steves who runs the latewar.com website to get his insight on it. So the stock has not been sanded but yes, has seen a lot of oil which explains the dark appearance of the wood and the absence of proof marks. Whether this was done with baked Linseed oil postwar or not is debatable. Essentially no real way of telling if it 100% was or not.

I got in contact with the seller who I bought it from and he said when he purchased 2 of them they both came in wrapped paper that was coated with oil which might explain the appearance of the stock. I'm still happy with the rifle as everything else is correct & genuine for a full Kriegsmodell rifle besides the stock being heavily coated in oil which I'm happy to leave as is. These rifles are still pretty hard to come by, especially here in Australia where the market isn't as expansive. In the end it's a good start to my byf collection & I'm glad I have it in my possession.

 

[bigwagon]

That's a laminate stock, not solid walnut and definitely has been darkened significantly over time.