RC BCD 42 -- FN Barrel?

[nc8mm]

New forum user, just registered. I did not see much reference to the FN barrel mark so thought I would ask.

I picked up an RC BCD 42 K98 at a gun show for $225.00 about 4 years ago. The stock had shellac on it and was peeling off. I removed the shellac and put on a couple of coats of oil to preserve the stock. I removed the military two stage trigger, marked it and stored it. A gunsmith friend gave me a commercial FN trigger which works great. That is the only changes I have made.

The action/barrel are in excellent condition. No pitting/rusting of any kind and the rifling in the barrel is crisp. No pitting in the barrel. I saw some discussion about Gustloff-Werke and their practice of using barrels from all over but no specifics so thought I would post and ask.

The rifle: BCD 42 740 5xxx n Mod.98 (All of the German proof/Waffen marks are still there, they were not defiled)

The markings on the barrel are as follows: FN 16/49 1941 ?aA14r * W?A14? W?A14?
The stamps (eagle/Waffen) are not clear. Could not read them clearly with a good light and magnifying glass.

Would be interested in any information.

 

[mrfarb]

Yes, probably a barrel made by FN in 1941. The markings are WaA140 most likely. FN made a lot of 98k parts.

 

[3371940]

Agreed. If you could post pics of the serial and barrel code I know that Paul will add it to the database. As mrfarb indicated fn was a huge subcontractor of 98k parts with barrels and bolts being the most common.

 

[Loewe]

And we would like to see your rifle, especially any matching parts and how they are coded-acceptanced.

FN made 6 parts for the Kar.98k, barrels and bolt bodies the main ones (as John states), they were operated during the occupation by DWM, who was the parent firm of Mauser Oberndorf (and once held majority stock in FN before 1919- when seized by the Belgian government). Much of the German management of the firm came from Mauser, one assumes because Mauser was operating the small arms branch of the concern after the 1929-1930 reorganization of the company.

The first barrels were sent out sometime in 1941 apparently as they first show up that year, mostly on Gustloff Werke Weimar assembly, but also MB, they are rare this year, and very uncommon. By 1942 they are rocking along pumping out a lot of barrels, mostly for Gustloff Werke Weimar, but still less common than Ruhrstahl for this maker. In 1942 FN barrels can be found on several makers, Gustloff, MB, BLM.

They (FN) used three waffenamts and all are known on the barrels, though e/613 is by far the rarest. Waffenamt e/140 is by far the most common, and is certainly what your barrel has.

(just for clarity, by "used" I mean that FN production was inspected-acceptanced under authority of three different inspectors, at different times, so they can be found with three different waffenamts)

New forum user, just registered. I did not see much reference to the FN barrel mark so thought I would ask....Would be interested in any information.

 

[Guntoter]

And we would like to see your rifle, especially any matching parts and how they are coded-acceptanced.

FN made 6 parts for the Kar.98k, barrels and bolt bodies the main ones (as John states), they were operated during the occupation by DWM, who was the parent firm of Mauser Oberndorf (and once held majority stock in FN before 1919- when seized by the Belgian government). Much of the German management of the firm came from Mauser, one assumes because Mauser was operating the small arms branch of the concern after the 1929-1930 reorganization of the company.

The first barrels were sent out sometime in 1941 apparently as they first show up that year, mostly on Gustloff Werke Weimar assembly, but also MB, they are rare this year, and very uncommon. By 1942 they are rocking along pumping out a lot of barrels, mostly for Gustloff Werke Weimar, but still less common than Ruhrstahl for this maker. In 1942 FN barrels can be found on several makers, Gustloff, MB, BLM.

They (FN) used three waffenamts and all are known on the barrels, though e/613 is by far the rarest. Waffenamt e/140 is by far the most common, and is certainly what your barrel has.

(just for clarity, by "used" I mean that FN production was inspected-acceptanced under authority of three different inspectors, at different times, so they can be found with three different waffenamts)

What are the other 4 parts made by FN for the K98k? I am intrigued by the German Occupation of FN and try to study all I can find out about the company and it's products from that time period. I have a K98k that is coded ar43 and it, of course, has the FN made Eagle/140 acceptable bolt body. Years ago I had a byf44 L block K98k that had an Eagle/140 marked rear sight leaf. I am curious as to what exact parts they did produce for the K98k.

 

[Loewe]

They made cocking pieces, followers, front sights, sears, plus pistols most notably. They might have made a few barrels for the LW, some are marked "Lü" which possibly could be German for Liege, but as LW acceptance is what it is, hard to say (they did make parts for the MK108); MAC in France made MG barrels too, so there is much not known with certainty.

I am curious as to how your rifle is marked? Serial and acceptance-code pattern would be nice?

The ar/43 would be interesting too as ar/43 are not especially common and have some interesting variations.

 

[Guntoter]

They made cocking pieces, followers, front sights, sears, plus pistols most notably. They might have made a few barrels for the LW, some are marked "Lü" which possibly could be German for Liege, but as LW acceptance is what it is, hard to say (they did make parts for the MK108); MAC in France made MG barrels too, so there is much not known with certainty.

I am curious as to how your rifle is marked? Serial and acceptance-code pattern would be nice?

The ar/43 would be interesting too as ar/43 are not especially common and have some interesting variations.

I posted some info about the rifle in the Borsigwalde sticky but here is the text:

ar43 3539L, all matching. Has a WaA140/MI marked bolt and stamped trigger guard with machined floorplate and machined and closed upper band. Trigger guard is Eagle/214 marked and cleaning rod is "i" coded.

The rifle has very few WaA type acceptance marks. There is the one on top of the receiver, one on the barrel under the stock line, a E/140 on the bottom of bolt handle, E/214 on trigger guard above the serial number and an E/280 on the extractor collar. I am guessing that WaA is also a Borsigwalde marking but a left over part. Stock is unmarked externally, numbered internally. Bayonet lug is also unmarked.

Here is a photo of the receiver top

 

[Loewe]

I see you are a different poster, thought you were the same OP, yes I have this one, and the BC, so I assume you detailed your rifle already. No pictures, besides this one (thanks), but the data is what I really want. (answers, good ones, can only come through examining as many rifles as possible...)

Yes, MB was one of the most sterile makers in the midwar period, while "dou" often gets a bad reputation for this practice, the reality is Sauer and MB were at least as bad. Actually I think "dou" made a better rifle than either Sauer or MB later in the war, but of course you can give both a pass, in the sense, as they were making more important things than the Kar98k at the time.

Looks like a nice rifle!

I posted some info about the rifle in the Borsigwalde sticky but here is the text:

ar43 3539L, all matching. Has a WaA140/MI marked bolt and stamped trigger guard with machined floorplate and machined and closed upper band. Trigger guard is Eagle/214 marked and cleaning rod is "i" coded.

The rifle has very few WaA type acceptance marks. There is the one on top of the receiver, one on the barrel under the stock line, a E/140 on the bottom of bolt handle, E/214 on trigger guard above the serial number and an E/280 on the extractor collar. I am guessing that WaA is also a Borsigwalde marking but a left over part. Stock is unmarked externally, numbered internally. Bayonet lug is also unmarked.

Here is a photo of the receiver top

View attachment 21871

 

[nc8mm]

And we would like to see your rifle, especially any matching parts and how they are coded-acceptanced.

FN made 6 parts for the Kar.98k, barrels and bolt bodies the main ones (as John states), they were operated during the occupation by DWM, who was the parent firm of Mauser Oberndorf (and once held majority stock in FN before 1919- when seized by the Belgian government). Much of the German management of the firm came from Mauser, one assumes because Mauser was operating the small arms branch of the concern after the 1929-1930 reorganization of the company.

The first barrels were sent out sometime in 1941 apparently as they first show up that year, mostly on Gustloff Werke Weimar assembly, but also MB, they are rare this year, and very uncommon. By 1942 they are rocking along pumping out a lot of barrels, mostly for Gustloff Werke Weimar, but still less common than Ruhrstahl for this maker. In 1942 FN barrels can be found on several makers, Gustloff, MB, BLM.

They (FN) used three waffenamts and all are known on the barrels, though e/613 is by far the rarest. Waffenamt e/140 is by far the most common, and is certainly what your barrel has.

(just for clarity, by "used" I mean that FN production was inspected-acceptanced under authority of three different inspectors, at different times, so they can be found with three different waffenamts)

I will try to get my son to take some pictures in the next few days. My digital camera quit working. Thanks everyone for the information. Will try to get some pics up soon.

The serial is 5169n. It is RC and non-matching.

 

[Loewe]

Thanks for the serial, that helps place the rifle in my database more accurately.

1941-1942 Gustloff Werke Weimar rifles are the most interesting of all for coding and acceptance patterns, they are the only ones known with some unique makers- like AI in the Netherlands, which made a very few barrels for them in this period. Probably the rarest of barrel makers. Also the sub-contracting is varied and so is the acceptance patterns.

This latter issue is most important because usually the code and waffenamt is only on these early parts, later they just coded, unless destine for the ordnance system to stand alone. I have a rather extensive project underway trying to determine waffenamt-location-period.

I will try to get my son to take some pictures in the next few days. My digital camera quit working. Thanks everyone for the information. Will try to get some pics up soon.

The serial is 5169n. It is RC and non-matching.