Research assistance requested ........

[jmoore]

The following isn't So much damage as wear and possible finish degradation due to exposure in "battlefield" conditions. Worn wood at the toe seems to show up w/ some degree of regularity on "experienced" weapons.

The areas normally protected by the "dust covers" on the two rifles shown demonstrate that they protect the weapon from more than "dust":

A matching "mum'ed" Type 38 rifle:




Note the very uneven wear of the wood on the toe of this rifle. Buttplates themselves seem to be little worn. Interesting, no?


Whilst on Type 38s, here's some uglies on a carbine fore stock. Nothing earth shaking, but Maybe from field use?:



Und now, a Gew98 previously photo'd in a small thread in the Mauser Forum (it's "feeling less lonely", now!):


Significant wood is gone from the toe, but in a more even manner than the above Type 38 rifle.


Note the lovely sheen of the metal protected by the cover.

Note the bluing that's still on the underside of the cover.