1935 S/42G K98k 'Reconditioned' Rifle (Mfg by Mauser Werke AG, Oberndorf a/N)

[Badger]

With thanks to SimsonSuhl and mrfarb, a new entry has been added to the Germany - Milsurp Knowledge Library (click here), complete with a detailed 265 pic photo montage.

(Click PIC to Enlarge)

1935 S/42G K98k 'Reconditioned' Rifle (Mfg by Mauser Werke AG, Oberndorf a/N) (click here)

This new Knowledge Library entry provides fascinating updated information and incite into an old supposition, previously accepted as factual. According to page 281 of the 1996 second edition of "Backbone of the Wehrmacht (The German K98k Rifle, 1934 - 1945) by Richard D Law", he refers to these rifles as "Factory Reconditioned". He says that the S42/G's were recalled in 1940 and completely gone over with the wood and barrels being definitely replaced, as were any small parts that were also worn. They made every effort to make these like "new" again before leaving the factory the second time. This wasn't a quick "arsenal redo" as seen on many US WWII firearms. The barrels, wood, etc were all stamped to match.

With new research information provided by SimsonSuhl and mrfarb from the The K98k Forum), it's now believed that these rifles "were most probably a depot reworked rifle where the stock and barrel were replaced with ordnance spares (many- not all - commercial firms supplied new, spare parts for the ordnance system/depots.) The discussion of depots is long and rather complicated, however basically Germany (later in the occupied countries ordnance staffs were created) was broken into districts, called Wehrkreis or military disctricts, and within these areas depots existed to support the units assigned. To assist these depots (HZa) numerous branch depots (HNZa’s, HMa’s, HNMa’s etc..), were created and this process evolved over time and many variations exist. These depots reworked every thing from rifles to vehicles, many had a specialty, and some a very focused purpose. A great many reworked rifles and a good many actually “built” rifles from scraps of damaged rifles combined with ordnance spare parts."

(continued) ..... read the balance of the article for more discussion, plus an interesting picture of a typical waffenmeister repair shop for a Waffen SS unit.

Regards,
Badger

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.