Sight Hood identification

[Aaron]

I suspect only the second from left and possibly furthest left is wartime, and the right 3 are the slightly taller norwegian? However I see some odd features.

The furthest left has a rounded, finished edge which I have never seen on a k98 hood.

The second from right has the flaking reminiscent of rolling hot metal you see in originals, so maybe just an odd shape but original hood?

Let me know your thoughts

 

[bruce98k]

I vote for the 2 on the far left.
That rounded profile to me is a known feature.
I will snap a few pics of a few of them that are mounted on guns in the collection.

 

[bruce98k]

Here are 2 images - one of a group shot and the other off a byf45.
I consider all of these hoods legitimate wartime.

 

[Aaron]

Here are 2 images - one of a group shot and the other off a byf45.
I consider all of these hoods legitimate wartime.

Thanks for the pictures! I figured the springs are cut from stock so they'd never both to finish the edges but looks like they did.

 

[Peter S]

Thanks for the pictures! I figured the springs are cut from stock so they'd never both to finish the edges but looks like they did.

They could have been punched out of strips with finished edges that had the correct width.

 

[Fal Grunt]

They could have been punched out of strips with finished edges that had the correct width.

A blanking die with 100% shear would be excessively expensive. Being a high carbon steel, adds to the fun. Even if they used a pre sized strip, they would need to post finish the ends.

 

[Muncher 1953]

In Bruce’s 1st photo, the center hood in the top row has really nice radiused edges, except the edges that grip the sight base, where it was punched out of a strip. If all edges were radiused, I’d vote for vibratory finishing, but to me, those ends are clearly die cut. I think perhaps the parent strip was drawn through a series of rollers to smooth the edges, then the hood blanks cut to length, then formed into hoods in a subsequent operation. All of the other hoods have cut/punched edges on all sides.

I worked in a ball bearing factory for 30 years, have seen a lot of turned/milled/stamped/ground finish marks on parts. the edges on most of the hoods look like the ball retainer cages we stamped out of “strip stock”, our largest press was only 60 tons, many Perkins 22 tonners, fewer 15 ton, all flywheel presses. One Waterbury Farrell hydraulic press, used for retainers & shields over 6”. Most flat springs are formed by stamping. (meaning not a coil of round wire kind of spring)

 

[Hambone]

This is a good thread we'll sticky and then move it to Faqs. Or maybe merge this thread into this one:

Sight hoods, repros and original

Thought it may be good to start a library of repro and original sight hoods. Guys, please add to the pics with known originals and known repros. I'll start with REPRODUCTIONS:

www.k98kforum.com

 

[Fal Grunt]

our largest press was only 60 tons, many Perkins 22 tonners, fewer 15 ton, all flywheel presses. One Waterbury Farrell hydraulic press, used for retainers & shields over 6”. Most flat springs are formed by stamping.

I don't have any experience with presses that small, or low volume. I've had the displeasure of building, maintaining, and rebuilding a few dies that made millions of flat springs, but out of already hardened high carbon steel. (typically 48-50Rc) These were a pierce, form, cut profile, trim, 3 out progressive that ran 120 - 180 spm, in a Minster, but I can't remember the tonnage at the moment (200t?).

I would agree though the top two left hoods had the edges beautifully prepped. There are a couple that were filed/post finish most likely filed by the marks. The remainder have break away from being stamped, likely from coils (strip stock). I would imagine this would be a heavily out sourced, sub contracted, part. The variance is distinct enough that it is obvious to me there were a multitude of manufacturers going about the same part different ways.

Interestingly there are a couple that have the inside edges beautifully finished, which from a functional standpoint is far more important, while the exterior edge is the coarse break away from stamping.

I don't know when vibratory tumblers came about, I do know DWM was using vibratory feed bowls for cartridge components prior to WWII.