Rare Königberg depot build rifle

[mrfarb]

This thing is so neat I had to post it, can't keep it to myself. This is a newly built rifle made at Königsberg for the Heer, built completely from new depot parts. Finding matching depot builds is terribly difficult, ever rare I dare say, and this one has to be pretty tough to find as it's the highest serial I've seen. I have pics of another that appears to be matching, but? Anyway, a few pics to whet the appetite for what it is. It's very well worn, but completely original/untouched. Check out the war eagles!

 

[Slowburn]

Wow!!!

Built in the '41-'42 range??

 

[ugafx4]

This is beyond cool.


What year would this have been produced? I see 39 on the barrel assuming that is a date...other early features.... 1940?

 

[CanadianAR]

Wow very cool. All early features, and a Geco barrel. And a proprietary firing
Proof? I mean war eagle, that's a cool rifle. Good find Mike.

 

[mdarnell19]

Pretty cool rifle. This is the one you told me about the other day. You got it from Ben at Classic Firearms latest batch for sale correct? Good pick up considering all the war eagles.

 

[RyanE]

Magnificient! How is the wrist marked?

What year would this have been produced? I see 39 on the barrel assuming that is a date...other early features.... 1940?

Almost certainly the 1941-1942 time frame.

 

[PAD141]

Pretty cool rifle. This is the one you told me about the other day. You got it from Ben at Classic Firearms latest batch for sale correct? Good pick up considering all the war eagles.

I don't know - it doesn't have that cool cupped butt plate or indications that it was captured by the Czechs or Israelis to use against the Nazis. How can we trust that Farb guy?

 

[DaveDavis]

It needs at least 6 more "war eagles" to be rare......

 

[PAD141]

It needs at least 6 more "war eagles" to be rare......

I'm disappointed in the lack of runes and/or Totenkopfs.

In all seriousness, though, that is a beautiful unicorn.

 

[mrfarb]

Wrist is marked just like a Königsberg depot gun, Eagle/69. It's not really that often you find something so unique.

As to time frame, most depot builds were done in 41-42, I suspect these were done 42 only because I have pics of a byf42 version of this exact gun, a reclaimed receiver. Pics attached.

 

[Warrior1354]

Nice rifle Mike where on earth did you find such a rare beauty congrats too a great find buddy.

Let me guess it was in Ben's last crate wasn't it.

 

[mrfarb]

This came from a farmers auction, he told me it came from Old Ben and the war eagles were legit.

 

[Bigdibbs88]

Super neat rifle. Interesting to note the difference in bluing on the bolt parts.

 

[Warrior1354]

It did hope that poor farmer didn't get Ben'd over then lol! You know looking at this rifle it was probably priced far less then the other ones. For one not enough war eagles, no rare black butt plate, no special X mark, etc! Most likely sold at discount.

 

[ugafx4]

1940.....I was way off.


I love the 5 winged thunder chicken on the reciever too.

 

[mrfarb]

The thing about depot guns and the blue wear is an interesting point. Each component on this rifle is a depot spare, some components were supplied already blued, some may have been in the white. In this case, the gas shield has no inspections anywhere so I suspect it's some foreign part or WW1 part. Safety is e/37 inspected. So, the weak blue on some parts faded faster, while the better quality blue on the safety remained. It does not look replaced, but it's possible it was replaced later- that's the thing with depot builds over factory built rifles, you just never know. It also makes them more difficult to authenticate over factory rifles. Having one like this to compare later finds to helps.

 

[jbmauser]

Without a doubt the best war eagles I've seen.

What bolt is in it?

 

[RyanE]

Wrist is marked just like a Königsberg depot gun, Eagle/69. It's not really that often you find something so unique.

So the Weimar-style Kg69 on the wrist and Kg11 on the metal. Interesting! One wonders why they would still be using an earlier style acceptance. Can't say I've ever seen any other Kg part with an 11 inspection, either.

 

[D-K]

If the rifle was completely built from new parts, why would they use "0,2" on the barrel collar? I thought they only did that when they replaced a barrel. I have no doubt about the rifle's authenticity-- I just find that marking odd.

 

[RyanE]

If the rifle was completely built from new parts, why would they use "0,2" on the barrel collar? I thought they only did that when they replaced a barrel. I have no doubt about the rifle's authenticity-- I just find that marking odd.

I think the spare barrels came into the depot system marked '0,2'. Had an e block LZa build that had it ground off, but at least on this one, the HZa simply didn't bother removing it.

Checked my XX depot build (which uses a spare K98b receiver) and it has the 0,2 also.