HJ kid with a Zf.41
- Thread starter Hambone
- Start date
I've told this story before, but this pics reminds me of it. I knew an SS Wiking member, and years ago (he's still alive) my reenactment group would meet with him once a year and talk about WW2. We would bring items to show him and ask questions about them, etc. For the record, he was in the Signals Battalion in Wiking, escaped Cherkassy, etc. Anyway, we asked him about sniper rifles once, and he didn't really know much about them. We showed him a ZF41- he laughed, and said (paraphased) "This is no sniper rifle. This is the rifle you give to the worst shot in the squad so at least in a pinch he can be somewhat useful". Even signals guys didn't consider them snipers! I know you guys didn't call it a sniper, I just think of him saying that every time I look at my ZF41 rifle.
johnmac
Well-known member
Thank you! I cant tell you how many "heated discussions" i have gotten into over my zf rig. lots of folks try to explain to me, "well it has optics so it a sniper"... i have gotten to the point where i just smile and agree to save face... ha...
I cannot remember exactly where I read this, but I think the book Sturmgewehr! cites an order from the OKW to the Armees/Divisions to stop reporting ZF41 as snipers and to report them as simple carbines. The German army didn't even consider the ZF41 a sniper. I'll see if I can find the quote this evening...
Edit: Oh, and cool pic Hambone.
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Someone who tells you a k98k with a ZF41 is a sniper rifle has never tried to see a target through this scope.
Tks guys. One sees them used quite a bit in period combat photographs. They were a "sharpshooter" rifle, much like our DMR concept, to provide more accurate sharpshooting at the local unit level. The "scout" concept, i.e. a forward mounted low power scope, gained a great deal of popularity and the Germans were ahead of their time. The problem is the "scout" rifle is not a "sniper rifle" and was not intended to be. For what it is, a 1.5x German post reticle, local sharpshooting rifle (out to 300m) it worked OK, and a little better than open sights. Certainly it wasn't much worse than the M1903A4. But it wasn't a "sniper" and did not compare to 3x, 4x, and 6x Zf.39s, No.4 Mk.I(T)s, or even Soviet M.91/30 PUs. Different purpose and use. It's almost like my little HP DMZ 11" screen netbook; it gets bad reviews because it is rated with NOTEbook PCs when it really is a badass netbook 
As for the byf 45 Zf.41, they were clearly and absolutely made at the factory. The question is whether they left with matching optics or whether this was MO's use of components to finish rifles. If the latter, why was the stock cut out to take a scope mount? Then again, does anyone have access to pics of an original byf 45 Zf.41 rig with matching mount?
As for the byf 45 Zf.41, they were clearly and absolutely made at the factory. The question is whether they left with matching optics or whether this was MO's use of components to finish rifles. If the latter, why was the stock cut out to take a scope mount? Then again, does anyone have access to pics of an original byf 45 Zf.41 rig with matching mount?
Winchester Cowboy
Senior Member
Cool pic and a cool rifle to have in the collection.
johnmac
Well-known member
I cannot remember exactly where I read this, but I think the book Sturmgewehr! cites an order from the OKW to the Armees/Divisions to stop reporting ZF41 as snipers and to report them as simple carbines. The German army didn't even consider the ZF41 a sniper. I'll see if I can find the quote this evening...
Edit: Oh, and cool pic Hambone.
Its in BBOTW. I have read this, and you are correct.
