K98 stock question

[summerside sniper]

I recieved my K98 yesterday to my great joy and my wife's displeasure. As I was pulling it out of the box, I noticed something. Forgive the brutness of this as I don't know what its called. There's a circle piece of metal that is on both sides of the stock aft of the sling hole. It has a round hole that runs between the two of them. I know that this is supposed to be there, but I don't know what its for. I'm guessing they used it for something, maybe storage?
When I looked at it, it has a black paint or soot or something on it, and its a kind of dull silver under the black. I took the very tip of the knife I was using to try and scrap at the black stuff. It easily fell away and luckily I didn't scratch anything. Should I consider cleaning this up or leave it the way it is? I think that over time and cleaning, it may just clean itself up, but should I try and leave it??

 

[Claven2]

I'd just hit it with some steel wool until it's silver again and then forget about it. The crappy preservative paint was put on over oily parts and NEVER stays put past initial handling IMHO.

 

[C96]

k98 stock question

Summerside,

This is the stock disc, or bolt takedown disc. This is used for taking apart the bolt when cleaning or when repairs are required.
Clean her up and post some pictures.

 

[BadgerDog]

Forgive the brutness of this as I don't know what its called. There's a circle piece of metal that is on both sides of the stock aft of the sling hole. It has a round hole that runs between the two of them. I know that this is supposed to be there, but I don't know what its for. I'm guessing they used it for something, maybe storage?

Are you referring to the piece in these pics?

(Click PIC to Enlarge)

If so, it was desiigned to be used by the soldier to dissassemble his bolt and remover the firing pin, without having the spring and parts go flying into the next trench.

Regards,
Badger

 

[MauserMike]

Your K98 is a Russian capture?

As was said, they put black paint on the takedown disks. BTW, I would not scratch the heck out of your takedown disks - use a block of wood to disassemble your firing pin and take care as that is quite a strong spring.

The Russians also added blue to a number of places it should be - butt plate, bayonet lug, reinforcing lug. If you're stripping the entire rifle down, the blue will come off if you soak the parts in a mild acid solution. Vinegar works well. Rub with 0000 steel wool, put in the vinegar, rub again every few minutes. Don't leave it in the vinegar any longer than necessary and wash the parts with clean hot water thoroughly when done, and oil them as soon as you can get them dry.

The Russians also removed the so-called capture screws, cleaning rod and sight hood. I have a spare 10" cleaning rod that I can sell for cheap if your rifle is an early model. Shove a stick into your bayonet lug and it will be obvious if you need the short 10" or long 12" cleaning rod. I got my odds and ends parts for my RC K98k from ebay but I don't know if ebay will allow them to sell this stuff anymore.

 

[ebruder]

Your K98 is a Russian capture?
I got my odds and ends parts for my RC K98k from ebay but I don't know if ebay will allow them to sell this stuff anymore.

I started with a sporterized K98... and in the last year... have gotten everything I needed to replace genuine parts on EBay... have bought a cleaning kit, stock complete, cleaning rod, front and rear sights, trigger, sight hood, sling...

You shouldn't have any trouble.

EB