K98 sent home from Normandy in 1944

[Eaglelord17]

My only question is when did BYF go to the simplified nosecap? When I googled BYF 43 all the ones I saw had the milled nose caps, which makes me question this example. Not saying it isn't correct, only that leaves me with some questions.

[capt14k]

Russians didn't use cosmoline they used Commie Grease or whatever it is. I know an older collector that has most of his collection in Cosmoline that he put there. That's how he stores his rifles. Good Enough for Uncle Sam good enough for him. Nose Cap I'm not sure about.

[rum_runner]

What a nice rifle. The letter just ads that much more.

[Calif-Steve]

The stock appears to be walnut and I would expect to see a laminated stock. Possibly swapped out by the Germans? Possibly swapped by previous owner. Not sure. Milled upper barrel band might be right, but stamped is possible in that timeframe. Nice family keeper.

[Bruce McAskill]

I doubt that this is a RC or such. The date of 1943 could be deceiving in that it could have been made in very late 1943 and the stamped nose caps could have been in use by then. But the numbers are not all matching. All the major parts match but the floor plate for the magazine doesn't match. It's close but doesn't match.

[CanadianAR]

To address some of the speculations above.
Stamped front bands are common by this point in 43.
Walnut is also common enough is 1943

The bottom metal is mismatched....

Rear band has an earlier e/214 will also be a mismatch. Fairly mismatched for a bring back. Interesting.

Noce rifle overall though.