ZF41 Study
- Thread starter kentomon
- Start date
I have some newbie questions. I read the 10 pages of this thread but have not viewed all the videos linked to in the threads.
The Zf40 scopes that have the 40 lined thru and remarked 41/1 are not early made scopes that are reworked, however they are remarked. So why were they marked Zf40 to start with?
Also on many of the mounts in the threads, the screws appear to have been removed/replaced. Is this correct or are the dings to the screw slots there from the original installation of the scope into the mount?
Is my conclusion that assemblies that do not have a rifle s/n marked on the scope strut, were never issued on a rifle, even late era rifles?
Concerning the scope assembly i posted pictures of just prior to this post. Based on the manufacturer, s/n, model markings, and grease type markings, this scope would/could be correct for a “c” code BYF 44 sharp shooter rifle ?
The Zf40 scopes that have the 40 lined thru and remarked 41/1 are not early made scopes that are reworked, however they are remarked. So why were they marked Zf40 to start with?
Also on many of the mounts in the threads, the screws appear to have been removed/replaced. Is this correct or are the dings to the screw slots there from the original installation of the scope into the mount?
Is my conclusion that assemblies that do not have a rifle s/n marked on the scope strut, were never issued on a rifle, even late era rifles?
Concerning the scope assembly i posted pictures of just prior to this post. Based on the manufacturer, s/n, model markings, and grease type markings, this scope would/could be correct for a “c” code BYF 44 sharp shooter rifle ?
Last edited:
kentomon
Senior Member
Thank you for the photos. I have seen another boxed dym some time ago. Its serial was 2142. I guess this is the way dym factory had sent their scopes out. I am thinking to add these data in my database. If there is any problem, please let me know.
kentomon
Senior Member
Thank you for the photos. I will answer your questions one by one, if I can.
kentomon
Senior Member
The designation "ZF40" was originally intended to use with the next coming German self-loading rifles. This decision was made much earlier than when the G41 was officially introduced in Dec. 1942. When the G41 rifles were ready, some were ordered to equip mount rails, and cxn was ordered to produce some Type2 scopes as "ZF40*". And when the Type3 was ready, cxn and some other makers (cag, dow, dym and eso) began to produce the "ZF40" following some commands, although the mount itself was not ready. So, all the scopes were suspended at each factory, until when the G41+ZF40 project was abandoned in 1943, with the new order to re-designate them into ZF41(Type2) or ZF41/1(Type3) to use with the K98ks.
I must admit I do not have enough evidence (original documents) for my explanation, but this is the conclusion I have made from nearly two decades of observation and study on this subject.
kentomon
Senior Member
Unlike the other German scopes (4-power or so), it is easy to take the scope and the mount of the ZF41 apart if you have an appropriate screwdriver. So, it is natural to think many were tempted to take them apart if one has any reason. I don’t think the Germans have made any damages to the screw during the original wartime installation of the scope.
kentomon
Senior Member
It is believed the late mounts, ones issued after the middle of 1944, are not numbered to the rifle serial#. One reason for this theory is that no mounts with 5-digit L-block are found, although several byf44 L-block K98k-Zf41 exist. I also have the rifle 63105 L in my possession, and I must confess I have never seen such a mount and thus none in my database. Still, I just want to know how and when the scope was zeroed to the gun, and how it was thrown into the field without showing which scope mated with which gun.
kentomon
Senior Member
I think it is possible.
