Question about Wilhelm-Gustloff-Werke K98k...

[Skippy]

I'm going to be buying a K98k that is marked bcd 43.
I take this to mean that is was made at Wilhelm-Gustloff-Werke, Weimar, in 1943.

However, soemone told me that no bcd's were made there in 1943 and that this rifle was actually made in 1944. Is this correct? It won't affect my descision to buy but I'd like to know as much about the rifle as possible.

I think ther person who told me this might be thinking about the K43 rifles marked bcd. Anyone know for sure or have any information about the Wilhelm-Gustloff-Werke factory?

 

[Coyote Ugly]

Gustloff Werke was code '337' in 1939 and 1940, 1941 and up to 1945 was code 'bcd'.

 

[steve1973]

Bcd rifles made in 1944 would be marked Bcd 4 on the reciever. Your rifle could perhaps be made in the first part of 1944 if they had some surplus 1943 recievers but it was likely made in 1943 like it is marked.

 

[Forty4Forty]

My ref book

1941 - 1945 (1 bcd)
? (18 bcd)
1943 (134 bcd)
? (218 bcd)
1941-1944 (749 bcd)


The number is an inspectors mark, there are no complete records, so this could be quite OK. If you can photo the markings can help more.

Ref book, Mauser Military Rifle Markings 2nd Edition

 

[Skippy]

Any idea when they started K43 production there? I think it was 44, and maybe this is what my friend was thinking.

 

[Coyote Ugly]

Any idea when they started K43 production there? I think it was 44, and maybe this is what my friend was thinking.

(1) Your k98 bcd 43 was made in 1943. What letter block in the SN?
For what reasons do you think it was made in 1944?

(2) Any idea when they started K43 production there?
But for which maker for K43? - ac, bcd, qve, duv, that will determine the month and year. Gustloff Werke (bcd) only made G43's, no K43's.