byf44 L block broken proof restored!

[jbmauser]

I bought this a while ago sitting in a post war Czech stock. I had all matching metal in great shape and the very hard to find broken firing proof so I bought it as a project. I was then able to pick up this fantastic untouched KM stock with raw wood in the cutouts and stampings.

So a little info on the broken firing proof variation for those not familiar:

During late 44/early 45, MO used a proof stamp with the swastika broken off the bottom. Only a hand full of guns are recorded but it could have been as many as a few hundred to a few thousand that were made. Earliest known example is a L block in the 10k serial range and the latest is a byf45 no letter block. This serial range is useless for determining the number of guns proofed with this stamp though because production at MO during this time was extremely non-linear. You also have to factor things in like defects that had to be corrected before a gun was proofed causing it to be held up at the line, which is probably what happened to the 10k range L block.

So even though this is just a resto it is now 100% "correct" and it's a very hard to find variation so I'm very pleased to own it.

 

[JasonGTA]

Nice rifle! Good job on finding the stock too!

 

[jbmauser]

Nice rifle! Good job on finding the stock too!

Thanks. Finding untouched, unnumbered Kriegsmodell stocks (or any unnumbered late war stock) is very difficult. The stock cost twice what the metal did.

 

[Nabs]

Very cool, I would never have known and simply concluded that the proof marks were poor strikes.

 

[mxzx440]

interesting rifle, want to add a late war K98 to the collection one day, thanks for the pictures

 

[The Kurgan]

That is very nice! Well done

 

[Mike Webb]

Very lucky to find a proper stock at any price.

 

[CanadianAR]

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Nice job on the China white Jeremy

It looks as it should though for sure! Nice repair.

 

[Desert_Fox]

Nice job on the China white Jeremy

Of course! Jeremy knows that white inside the markings is how all the cool kids roll!

Blame BBOTW for my White crayon fetish....

 

[jbmauser]

Of course! Jeremy knows that white inside the markings is how all the cool kids roll!

Blame BBOTW for my White crayon fetish....

Like I said on the other forum, I didn't put it on but I also didn't take it off......................

 

[RememberTheSomme]

Good to see it brought back to original configuration and cool story on the firing proofs. So much to know, so little time, I just scratch the surface on so many different rifles over the years, but am thankful for those who devote their time to know what is correct and not for the historical benefit of all.

 

[gaff]

very nice.

 

[Remembering]

Pretty cool. Gustloff was dealing with their broken proof in early '45 too. I'm not sure if there were any broken proofs before '44??

 

[jbmauser]

Pretty cool. Gustloff was dealing with their broken proof in early '45 too. I'm not sure if there were any broken proofs before '44??

They would never let something like that slide earlier on. This is a late war desperate measures sort of thing. Even though these broken proof L blocks are 44 dated they would have been proofed in 45 during the no letter production of byf45. Very early 45 though.

 

[Remembering]

Later in '43 Steyr had a proof so worn that all detail was lost and was really only the basic shape. Good ol Steyr quality.

 

[jbmauser]

Later in '43 Steyr had a proof so worn that all detail was lost and was really only the basic shape. Good ol Steyr quality.

Well there you go.

I should have said any reasonable maker wouldn't have let that slide. lol.

 

[Remembering]

Ha! Well said.

 

[Coyote Ugly]

A Real Nice Restoration on that K98! Looking Good.

 

[kjohn]

Hah! Another one of "them old army rifles". If guys like you didn't share your knowledge and your good stuff, guys like me would still be stumbling around in the dark.

Thanks for posting that info and the pics. I'll need to be a bit more careful of which ones in my pile get made into lamp stands.