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    Legacy Member tlsher's Avatar
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    K98 "ff" in serial number?

    I would like to ask some help from the more experienced guys on this board. I've run across a "DOU 44" rifle with a 4-digit serial number and "ff" underneath it. Does anyone have any idea what the "ff" means?

    From the pictures, I don't see any "X"s on the receiver to indicate a Russianicon capture gun. Any other methods of assuring I wouldn't be paying a premium for a Russian capture forcematch?

    Thanks in advance.
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    Contributing Member Singer B's Avatar
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    Pictures of the rifle, if possible, would really help out the experts here. Things to look for to confirm a RC would include:

    1. Serial numbers etched or electro-pencilled into the gun components
    2. Red shellac finish on the stock
    3. Sight hood removed
    4. Top of the rear sight colored black
    5. Bolt take-down disc in the stock colored black
    6. 1944 action dropped into an earlier year flat-buttplate stock
    7. A milled H-style front barrel band/end piece on a 1944 rifle
    8. Serial number from the barrel/receiver stamped into the left side of the stock just behind the sling slot

    All of these are possible indicators that a rifle is a Russianicon capture. Some of the true experts on this site can look at pictures of the rifle and provide you more detail. Hope that helps!

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    Legacy Member bob q's Avatar
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    The ff is part of the serial number . 1234ff

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    Legacy Member GeeRam's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by tlsher View Post
    I would like to ask some help from the more experienced guys on this board. I've run across a "DOU 44" rifle with a 4-digit serial number and "ff" underneath it. Does anyone have any idea what the "ff" means?
    Its just the seral block.

    Serial numbers went from 1 to 9999, and then the numbers repeated with a letter suffix 'a', then again with 'b' etc., until reaching z, and then 'aa', 'bb' etc.

    'ff' block was towards the end of 1944 year production, with a full 'gg' and full 'hh' block serial and only about 1000 in the 'ii' block before start of 1945 production. So, likely it was made late Nov 1944 approximately.
    Just the thing for putting round holes in square heads.

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