Absolut
Senior Member
Just recently on an European auction site a ground dug K98k action caught my interest. While usually I absolutely dislike those rusted pieces and just take a look at those to feel pity for the guys who collect them, this one was special. Special, because the receiver had a scope base attached what I identified as the Russian side scope base for the PE(M) scope. The description anyway was frightening off people, by mentioning that "the barrel was welded and when buyer is in Germany the bolt face will be cut off" (to demill everything according to the law). But when getting in touch with the seller I soon found out that he had only (tried, what I found out by now) filled the barrel with lead, was is rather easily removeable. Though I do not plan to shoot it, it's still nice to know that "it could shoot".
Two weeks later now I finally received everything, still thickly covered with dried mud. I then started to carefully try to clean with a plastic brush, what I soon gave up due to the really heavily stuck mud. I continued and was successful with a brass brush, and after 45 minutes of cleaning I was able to remove the bolt. At some places is the mud such heavily stuck to the metal that I need to carefully knock it off, but in general I was really astonished how good the metal is after being covered with water and mud for more than 60 years. Nearly all serials and WaA's are still visible and present, as the pictures show. And of course are all serials matching, including bayonet lug, rear sight, magazine and magazine screws.
But to get to the interesting point, the scope rail. It is attached to the left side of the receiver with what appears to be K98k magazine guard front screws. The small offset in the receiver was filled with what appears to be silver solder, or shims. I'm still not sure, but the blank colour lets me believe it's something softer than the steel of the receiver.
I hope to somewhen come across a PE(M) scope with mount in matching condition, to recomplete the rifle to "former glory" (and if someone here has one, please let me know!). So far I have only heard and seen original pictures of such a combination, but this piece now finally clearly shows how these field-assembled rifles were originally done. Maybe Dave can post those pictures, he was the only one who I've told about this rifle before.
First the pictures showing the rifle as it was before cleaning, later the pictures as it's now. And I'm still not finished yet.
ATB,
Georg
PS: I originally inteded to first try to ask whether someone here would say if there was a BNZ41 sniper. Up to that rifle, I'd have 100% agreed that there isn't one..
Two weeks later now I finally received everything, still thickly covered with dried mud. I then started to carefully try to clean with a plastic brush, what I soon gave up due to the really heavily stuck mud. I continued and was successful with a brass brush, and after 45 minutes of cleaning I was able to remove the bolt. At some places is the mud such heavily stuck to the metal that I need to carefully knock it off, but in general I was really astonished how good the metal is after being covered with water and mud for more than 60 years. Nearly all serials and WaA's are still visible and present, as the pictures show. And of course are all serials matching, including bayonet lug, rear sight, magazine and magazine screws.
But to get to the interesting point, the scope rail. It is attached to the left side of the receiver with what appears to be K98k magazine guard front screws. The small offset in the receiver was filled with what appears to be silver solder, or shims. I'm still not sure, but the blank colour lets me believe it's something softer than the steel of the receiver.
I hope to somewhen come across a PE(M) scope with mount in matching condition, to recomplete the rifle to "former glory" (and if someone here has one, please let me know!). So far I have only heard and seen original pictures of such a combination, but this piece now finally clearly shows how these field-assembled rifles were originally done. Maybe Dave can post those pictures, he was the only one who I've told about this rifle before.
First the pictures showing the rifle as it was before cleaning, later the pictures as it's now. And I'm still not finished yet.
ATB,
Georg
PS: I originally inteded to first try to ask whether someone here would say if there was a BNZ41 sniper. Up to that rifle, I'd have 100% agreed that there isn't one..
