byf 41 assistance

Hello all,

I just recently became addicted to these 98k's. Needless to say, I already own 4 and looking to add another. I looked at a 41 byf. The gun has the original finish that has no wear at all. It is also all matching s/n on all of the appropriate metal components. The only thing is that the stock which is mint as well, has the e/359 twice on the spine of the buttstock. There are no s/n anywhere on that stock. I couldn't find any info in the books about it, so I though that I would try here.

thanks for the help.
Retdawg

Well, I collect K98k's so I can probably help, but I'd like some pics to see what you have ... ;)

Check our my "View Photos By: Badger" link (left panel) for a few Obies that I put on-line to test the new Photo Gallery section for members. :)

Regards,
Badger

I don't have pics of it. It isn't mine yet and when I looked at it, I didn't have a camera on me. It is a laminated stock with a cupped buttplate and the eagle 359 on the bottom spine of the buttstock twice, vertically.

thanks.

Well, based only on that, here's some basic info ...

byf 41 indicates an Oberndorf rifle ...

WaA359 = Carl Walther A.G., Waffenfabrik, Zella-Mehlis, Thüringen (ac) : (K98k, P 38, PPK : 1939 - 40)?

A full list of German codes and most WaA's can be referenced in the following Milsurps Knowledge Library entry:

"Das Heereswaffenamt" (Detailed Listing of German WaA Markings and Codes)

Here's an old post by Pigsah from last Novemember 2008 on the G/K 43 forums that I thought offered a good explanation on the WaA359 stamps.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Pigsah

There wasn't really an overlap with the 359 Waffenamt at Sauer because the 359 Waffenamt inspection team was never located at the Sauer facility. The Walther facility was located in Zella-Mehlis, Thuringia. The Sauer & Sohn plant was (and is) located in Suhl, Thuringia. The distance between the two is about 7 km. If you see a 359 Waffenamt on a part that means it was produced and initially inspected at Walther. If you see a 37 inspection marking on a part also inspected by the 359 inspection team, that means that the part was initially produced and inspected at Walther before being sent to Sauer where it was used in the assembly of a rifle and given final inspection. It has been debated whether Walther actually produced any complete Kar.98k's. An example of a rifle possibly manufactured by Walther would be the blank receiver type with the 359 inspection marking on the receiver shown in BOTW. Our understanding of the German manufacturing of Kar.98k's as being rigidly setup around the 10 basic manufacturers is likely a gross over-simplification. The district-marked rifles, Luftamt marked late bSw's, Steyr camp rifles, and commercially-proofed rifles are other examples that do not fit into the simplistic Kar.98k by specific manufacturer philosophy.

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Regards,
Badger

Thank you, Badger. Thats fantastic. Looks like a mismatched stock then.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by RETDAWG

Hello all,

I just recently became addicted to these 98k's. Needless to say, I already own 4 and looking to add another. I looked at a 41 byf. The gun has the original finish that has no wear at all. It is also all matching s/n on all of the appropriate metal components. The only thing is that the stock which is mint as well, has the e/359 twice on the spine of the buttstock. There are no s/n anywhere on that stock. I couldn't find any info in the books about it, so I though that I would try here.

thanks for the help.
Retdawg

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The serial number could be inside the stock and handguard. Ask the seller to take it apart so you can check the numbers.

Stamping of fake "matching numbers", especially on the bolt and stock bands, is unfortunately common. Take some close-up pictures of the numbers on the metal and post them here and/or at The K98 Mauser Forum - Gunboard's Forums to have them checked out before you buy.

There are no serial numbers anywhere on either.
thanks