Question Regarding Handguard Wood Shrinkage

A

Armed Bear

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Question Regarding Handguard Shrinkage

So I just pulled the trigger on an all-matching K98 that looks really nice the only question that comes up is with the handguard and what seems to be shrinkage or some type of change in the wood which has led to a little bit of play and not quite as tight a fit as "factory fresh". Question is; is this common with rifles? I've handled a few non-mathcing/RC types and have a VZ24 whose wood is probably even older (but not matching) which doesn't seem to have this issue (if it is, in fact, an issue).

If this is shrinkage or some type of natural alteration to the wood is the condition or "collectability" of the rifle affected by something like this?

Thanks, in advance.
 
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Armed Bear said:
So I just pulled the trigger on an all-matching K98 that looks really nice the only question that comes up is with the handguard and what seems to be shrinkage or some type of change in the wood which has led to a little bit of play and not quite as tight a fit as "factory fresh". Question is; is this common with rifles? I've handled a few non-mathcing/RC types and have a VZ24 whose wood is probably even older (but not matching) which doesn't seem to have this issue (if it is, in fact, an issue).

If this is shrinkage or some type of natural alteration to the wood is the condition or "collectability" of the rifle affected by something like this?

Thanks, in advance.
Click to expand...

Anyone ever seen or experienced play in handguards due to wood changing size/shape? ("Wood Shrinkage" just doesn't sound right LOL)
 
I have a few that have that issue. I even have 1 that has a wartime fix done to it by the addition of a small metal strip attached to the lip of the handguard (two rifles I own have this actually). I'd take a photo of the strips but I don't recall which guns I have were like this, it's a pretty minor issue.
 
A lot has to do with how/where the rifle has been stored all these years. Very dry conditions can cause wood to decrease in length and girth.:biggrin1:
 
Another wood item, I suggest also looking how the HG marries to the stock right at the rear band.

I like to see the HG's inlet for the band to marry perfectly with the inlet for the band on the stock. Those inlets should align perfectly. I would expect dimension changes in HG and stock during drying and expansion, with this perfect alignment to be maintained over time.


Pics shows a metal shim as described by 'farb...
 

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Bob in OHIO said:
Another wood item, I suggest also looking how the HG marries to the stock right at the rear band.

I like to see the HG's inlet for the band to marry perfectly with the inlet for the band on the stock. Those inlets should align perfectly. I would expect dimension changes in HG and stock during drying and expansion, with this perfect alignment to be maintained over time.


Pics shows a metal shim as described by 'farb...
Click to expand...

Thanks, for the info, all. Good to hear that it is naturally occuring and acceptable.

I am now the proud owner of an all mathching DOU43 and she is a thing of beauty. Boy, you can just feel the course of 20th century history and these rifles place in it when you hold one of these, can't you?

I'll still be doing more lurking than chiming in, here, as I have much to learn and you all come highly recommended.

Thanks, again.
 
Yes Armed Bear, you might think you are done collecting 98k's since you have the elusive all matching one, but soon you will yearn for that euphoria again and before long your family will stage an intervention.
 
Am I the only one that thinks its not as easy to find a matching dou43 as it is say a dot43 or byf43??


:)

..
 
mrfarb said:
Yes Armed Bear, you might think you are done collecting 98k's since you have the elusive all matching one, but soon you will yearn for that euphoria again and before long your family will stage an intervention.
Click to expand...

LOL. Yeah Farb, it's already started. Now looking at an RC 98 to add as a "shooter", while trying to convince the wifey of same. Of course I have to have my answer to, "But isn't that the same as the one you just bought?" ready to go. Might be a bit easier explaining why I won't be shooting an "all-matching".

The non-matching Romanian VZ24 is probably going to have to serve as my Mauser shooter, for the time being. But I can feel something brewing and it ain't lunch!

Oh yeah thanks for the assist. I owe you one!
 
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