SWP45 98k

[mike webb]

Here are the photos. I showed them to a few Mauser guys and the consensus seem to be as follows: The rifle is WW2 production as S/N range and barrel code is correct, however the stock is not a kriegsmodell as it has a bayonet lug and cleaning rod and milled barrel bands, the bolt may be renumbered. Floorplate and trigger guard are German and they told me it has Nazi final acceptance marks but no Nazi firing proofs. So both guys figure it is WW2 production but refurbished in Czechoslovakia for export or maybe refurbed later in East Germany? Again there are no Czech lions on it which I have been told were present on all exported Mausers. So it's kind of a mystery rifle, too bad it can't talk. Anybody else have any opinions?

Information

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[Calif-Steve]

It doesn't look re-blued to me. Very late war production and perhaps finished in March 1945 and not issued to German Army. Highest serial number reported is 87,685a. So you are in the middle of 1945 production. One would expect to see more German Army stampings, but it was near the end and stuff moved out fast. They had a mix of Kreigsmodell wood on hand, so your wood could be correct. Nice find.

[mike webb]

Thanks, according to what I've been able to learn production of SWP45's went from around 43000a to around 87000a or that is the number of recorded examples found. There is not a lot of information available on Czech late war production probably due to the chaos of the last days fouling up the German tendency to keep precise records. It's kind of frustrating when you have an oddball rifle. Either way I figure it's a keeper. If the serials are accurate my rifle would have been manufactured in early 45 but like I say, who would know for sure.

[Calif-Steve]

Yes, a keeper for sure. The Germans kept records on everything. Sadly many German records were destroyed at war's end by locals who wanted to be rid of the Germans. Hang on to this one.

[Sarge]

Everything looks correkt to me except the bolt & bbl bands. By 45 a lot of rejected parts were being dug out and used so the bbl bands could be right.
The bolt looks to have been renumbered, which I don't like. It is also not an end of the war bolt - gas holes should be drilled round holes and there should not be a guide rib in the bolt body. What are the proofs on the underside of the bolt handle?
Stock could well be right. Are there any markings on the stock - inside or outside?
Sarge

[mike webb]

Everything looks correkt to me except the bolt & bbl bands. By 45 a lot of rejected parts were being dug out and used so the bbl bands could be right.
The bolt looks to have been renumbered, which I don't like. It is also not an end of the war bolt - gas holes should be drilled round holes and there should not be a guide rib in the bolt body. What are the proofs on the underside of the bolt handle?
Stock could well be right. Are there any markings on the stock - inside or outside?
Sarge

Hi, Sarge
Maybe it was the flash but the gas vents are round, the countersink makes them look oval but the guide rib is present. There are two WaA 63 on the underside of the bolt and a larger Nazi eagle on the rear of the bolt handle. There is also a tiny eagle on the extractor collar. The stock has no marks apart from the S/N except what could be an H stamp where the sling keeper sits in the stock, I will get a magnifying glass and look further tonight. I haven't had the steel out of the stock so I may have to to that also. I think the bolt may be re-numbered because there is no S/N suffix on the bolt root by the S/N and there are only the last two digits on the bolt sleeve when I've read there should be four, the last two S/N digits are also on the cocking piece. Thanks for looking.
Mike
Pulled stock off rifle, no marks inside wood except blurry s/n in ink on inside of handguard. WaA63 on sling band and below wood line on barrel beside the KF barrel code there is a shield with a 13 in the bottom and some letters or numbers (3 of them) in the top part of the shield that I can't make out, either struck badly or worn out die. Rifle was never disassembled to clean as steel was well coated with cosmoline or some such grease.

[Calif-Steve]

The late 1945 bolts are very obvious. Very rough with no rib guide. This is not a late bolt, that much is certain. But, again, that doesn't make it wrong. Reject parts were being used up. You must understand the factories were making new rifles and re-building worn out rifles at the same time. So a constant supply of parts were being used up and being returned for repair. Late war guns are their own breed.

[mike webb]

Hey Steve
I guess a friend of mine may be right. He was talking about late war guns and said some things look wrong but no one can say with 100% certainty that it didn't leave the factory that way.

[Calif-Steve]

My Uncle was in the Airborne and was at the Battle of the Bulge. He told me he never saw rifles laying on the ground after a fight. Only time he saw anything was in May 1945 when the Germans surendered. He got his rifle and pistols at a weapons collection site. I guess many of the 1945 rifles remained in arsenals and became the property of their respective governments. My Uncle brought back a 1944 Kar98k. You just don't see Vets selling off 1945 rifles. Of the many Russian captures that came in 1996-1999 I saw only one 1945 and I bought it! I did also buy a 1936 and plenty 1938-1939's. But the 1945's just haven't turned up. You have a rare rifle, hold on to it.

[mike webb]

Don't have any intention of selling it,it's a very clean old rifle. I am getting a 42 code 1938 next week unfortunately it's been sportered but only the wood was butchered. All the numbers match and I am amazed at the workmanship especially for a service rifle. Just getting into the Mauser illness, I thought Winchesters were habit forming. The only upside is from an investment standpoint I can pick up nice Mausers more easily and cheaply than nice Winchesters, too many people looking for Winnies.