Mostly Matching BYF 41

zperkey2003

zperkey2003

Well-known member
Hello, recently I had posted in the trader forum that I was looking for a bolt mismatch k98. A fellow member offered me this and after a bit of discussion we agreed on 800 shipped. The rifle is almost all matching, with the exception being the stock, butt plate, and barrel bands. Despite this they are still the correct code and match themselves minus the butt plate. I was told the stock is most likely a Norwegian capture? Not sure how to tell. I also believe the front sight blade is Norwegian as it’s more of a squared off post than a barley corn. Excellent bore on it. Only real issue with the rifle is the worn finish, which I knew going into it. I’ve debated doing a rust bluing on it to preserve the rifle but fear that may obscure markings. I believe this is a vet bringback that was restored from being sporterized, but whoever did it did a good job. Is a walnut stock proper for a BYF 41? If anybody has anymore helpful information on the rifle it would be much appreciated! Thanks again!

https://imgur.com/a/kktANIe
 
In this day and age, I'd say $800 shipped is very fair for a mismatched M/O with an excellent bore. I could only imagine what that would've realized on 'broker, and the war story that might've accompanied it.
 
I’ve always said it, a matching barreled action in a decent replacement k98k stock is miles better than some RC mixmaster. For that price, a very fair deal. Byf41’s in general are pretty scarce. How is the bore on it?

The stock does appear to be a Norwegian rework stock. The buttplate is dead giveaway as the Norwegians performed that serial number line out. It’s a hardwood stock and it is a Mauser Oberndorf, so it is “correct” for the barreled action. Honestly, can’t really improve on the “restoration” besides maybe swapping out the buttplate for an original German one without the serial line out, but what’s the point?

I would strongly recommend not rebluing the gun. Nobody and I mean nobody has a period correct German WW2 rust blue or hot blue recipe. This is mainly because the chemicals/salts used in those days are illegal nowadays. Im not saying you can’t get close but it’s extremely hard to replicate that 80+ year wartime finish.

Then we get into the fact that rebluing destroys the collector value, period. Collectors value original finish, even when worn. I would recommend not entertaining the idea, but it’s your rifle to do as you please, of course.
 
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Seconding not to reblue that gun. You're also going to have to polish it at least a little bit, which means the markings frequently get a bit soft.

Plus, as was already said, it destroys the value, both collector and otherwise. You'll find it much harder to get a buyer down the road if you end up moving it along (say to fund a nicer rifle). A gun with 5% finish isn't as attractive as a gun with 95% finish, but it's still better than a refinished gun which by definition is 0% finish.
 
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