Thoughts on possible SS BNZ 4 hand stamped 98k

[lthilsdorf]

Saw this posted on some social media and figured I'd share it to see if people thought it was legit. The rifle is in a heavily sportered stock, and these were the only photos provided.

I feel like I've seen another G98 receiver before with the BNZ 4 and single rune stamped on it.

Curious what you folks think.


on

 

[swjXE]

I'll stick my neck out and say that I like the barreled action, I'd love to see the details of all the remaining parts and stock. There could well be more to the story.

 

[Bigdibbs88]

Barreled action looks fine. Recycled receivers used in production. Receiver serial is post war addition

 

[heavy_mech]

I also like a fair bit of this. Barrel code is right in the sweet spot for what I'd expect.

 

[lthilsdorf]

I forgot to include these photos of the sporter stock.

I did not know the receiver serial was added later. Looking closer now I see the stamps aren't quite the same.

 

[Jdt]

I forgot to include these photos of the sporter stock.

I did not know the receiver serial was added later. Looking closer now I see the stamps aren't quite the same.

View attachment 428567View attachment 428568View attachment 428569

Interesting stock work, may have been where whoever had gotten it and sporterized the stock or got a new one to commemorate or something.

 

[lthilsdorf]

A few more photos of the other serials

 

[Absolut]

Yes, legit Single Rune. Receiver was from that period where they had used up various receiver codes and years, due to evacuation of Radom factory where receivers were made, if my memory serves me right. bnz handstamp by themselves are hard to find, ones with Single Rune even worse. Someone once played with this rifle though and added the serial to the receiver and the bolt.

 

[mauser99]

interesting job. normally I dont like sporter jobs but, this one is fairly interesting. If the barrel hasn't been shortened it may be able to be restored. The added ser #'s look old so maybe the vet did this ?
I don't think the gew98 stype stock is original to the build they just recycled the gew receiver during this period when they ran out of new ones.

 

[heavy_mech]

I knew this gun seemed familiar. Afterall it's not every day you see a 1914 Spandau, single rune handstamped piece.

BNZ single rune G98 conversion?

Spotted at a local pawn shop. I've seen G98 to 98k conversions, and I've seen single runes, but never seen them together. Are these legit? Fantasy? Possible grind marks under the BNZ? Waffenapt'ed barrel? Obviously this one has some glaring issues, but I thought it was interesting nonetheless...

www.k98kforum.com

 

[lthilsdorf]

That's wild that's it's been in that same shop for almost 5 years! And the price the guy said it was when he looked at it was $700, haha!

 

[nirvana]

That's wild that's it's been in that same shop for almost 5 years! And the price the guy said it was when he looked at it was $700, haha!

If it was near me for $700 I’d probably walk in with $500 in cash and see what could be done. That’s got restoration potential.

 

[heavy_mech]

If you've got or got a line on the parts, yes. It will still be a bolt mismatch, but could be way better.

 

[Cyrano4747]

I'd absolutely grab that as a restoration project if the price was right. Heck, even at $700 I'd probably bite.

It's a pitty the gun has gone though so many hands, I'd be curious how it ended up in the US. Mostly because of the "Heilbronn 1945" carved into the side. There was a very, very nasty fight there right at the end of the war involving stuff like building a pontoon bridge across the Neckar under artillery fire and HJ being shot by SS officers as they tried to surrender. Real end of days stuff.

The rifle might even be right for an SS Panzergrendier, which is what the non-Volkssturm units engaged were.

Honestly I'd be tempted to keep it in the carved up stock, now that I think about it. I'm not a fan of SS stuff normally ,but having one that was carved up by the GI with the when and the where of how he took it from the previous owner tickles something in me.

 

[Jdt]

I'd absolutely grab that as a restoration project if the price was right. Heck, even at $700 I'd probably bite.

It's a pitty the gun has gone though so many hands, I'd be curious how it ended up in the US. Mostly because of the "Heilbronn 1945" carved into the side. There was a very, very nasty fight there right at the end of the war involving stuff like building a pontoon bridge across the Neckar under artillery fire and HJ being shot by SS officers as they tried to surrender. Real end of days stuff.

The rifle might even be right for an SS Panzergrendier, which is what the non-Volkssturm units engaged were.

Honestly I'd be tempted to keep it in the carved up stock, now that I think about it. I'm not a fan of SS stuff normally ,but having one that was carved up by the GI with the when and the where of how he took it from the previous owner tickles something in me.

I don't recall the German name but the YouTube series world war 2 week by week, war against humanity covered the end of the war very well. And it included incidents such as what you described.

 

[heavy_mech]

I don't recall the German name but the YouTube series world war 2 week by week, war against humanity covered the end of the war very well. And it included incidents such as what you described.

I'd say probably 'Die Deutsche Wochenschau'. Excellent series for the view from their perspective. Propaganda of course, but still an interesting look into the war.

 

[heavy_mech]

The rifle might even be right for an SS Panzergrendier, which is what the non-Volkssturm units engaged were.

Honestly I'd be tempted to keep it in the carved up stock, now that I think about it. I'm not a fan of SS stuff normally ,but having one that was carved up by the GI with the when and the where of how he took it from the previous owner tickles something in me.

I also wondered about that connection. Totally fits the situation on the ground at the time. Too bad about the bolt as that's honestly the worst part to me.