So which K98 receiver to use? Pics added!

[drache]

So now that I got a replacement rifle for my sniper rifle build I'm wondering what receiver to use. One is stamped 1940, the other 1945.

The 1940 rifle has a mismatch of parts, nothing has matching numbers.

The 1945 rifle has at least a matching bolt.

Now the 1940 rifle seems to have been made slight better. More clean lines, little extra details, slightly better finishing, compared to the 1945 rifle. I also noticed the 1945 rifle has a winter trigger guard and a different bottom plate for the magazine well compared to the 1940.

So do I keep the entire receiver for the 1945 and throw it into my wood stock, just use the barrel, swap trigger groups, etc?

I'll post pictures of both later.

I also need to find someone in Canada that thinks they can do this sniper rifle build for me as quickly as possible as no one local has the time until next year! What I'd need is the swapping of these parts, the tapping of a receiver for the rings, and the mounting of the special scope.

 

[jbmauser]

I'd like to see pics first but the fact is that early and prewar examples will be better made. I would also take into consideration wear to the working surfaces when selecting a receiver.

What codes are the receivers? Who made them?

Also the winter trigger guard is a post war Czech made piece. If you're looking to build a WW2 clone then don't use that part as it won't be "correct"

 

[drache]

Also the winter trigger guard is a post war Czech made piece. If you're looking to build a WW2 clone then don't use that part as it won't be "correct"

I'm not that big onto making it all 100% correct clone. This rifle is chambered in 7.62. But then I probably won't use the winter guard (mostly because it looks way too big).

I'll take pics asap.

 

[drache]

There is NO RUST on these rifles! For some reason my phone decided to turn the color of black or silver into brown rust

Bolts (1940 of left, 1945 on right) - The '45 Bolt has more of the original "black" which turned out brown in my camera, but is rougher built.

1940 K98:

1945 K98:

 

[jbmauser]

Ok. The 1940 receiver is a Walther made and assembled by Sauer unit and the 1945 dou is actually post war Czech made. Both bolts are either post war Czech or late war German. What kind of proof mark is on them? German would be the eagle/swastika on the rear of the bolt root, Czech post war proof could be on the underside of the bolt handle root or possibly not proofed at all.

They're a mix and match of parts and either one would be fine for what you're building really. If it were me, I'd pick the best bore (assuming the receivers are both in similar condition) and use that receiver/barrel. Make sure the bolt you like headspaces correctly and then select the best parts from there to complete the build. Sell off the rest to offset the cost of the build.

One thing to keep in mind is that there should be a spacer in the trigger guard for the shorter 7.62 round. Mine has it in the front of the mag well. If one tg has it and the other doesn't, that might be something to factor in.

 

[drache]

The barrel on the 1940 receiver is the bad one. I bought the other just for the barrel alone.

Here are the markings on the bolt that came with the 1940 K98:

 

[jbmauser]

That's a post war Czech bolt. I suspect they both are.

If the barrel is bad on the 1940, then use the dou 45 barrel/receiver. The post war Czech stuff isn't finished very nicely but they are made with quality steels and it will be perfectly fine for your project. I wouldn't spend the money switching barrels around. You said that the bolt matches the receiver on the dou45? That would definitely be the way I would go.