Third Party Press

An East German military re-build?

I picked-up a really nice K98k about 20 years ago, from a gun-dealer acquaintance. It had obviously been re-built by someone. Over the years I was able to gather some information about it, which I think was "accurate"; but, I've never been completely sure of it. I'm creating this as my 2nd post and don't have details or pictures handy at the moment, but in a day or two, I hope to come back and share what I have and ask all of the questions that I've been looking to answer.
 
Hello delta papa, I just found out that my mp44 is a DDR rebuild so it will be interesting to see your rifle and it's markings.
 
East German re-build pictures No. 1

Here's the first installment of what I think I know and some pictures. I bought this in 1996 from a small gun/militaria shop in Anaheim, when I was living in Calif. As far as I know it IS NOT an MM rifle. It has all matching numbers except on the follower; and, I can see one number that is an over-stamp. The butt-stock is a bit larger than the butt plate. The swastikas have all been obliterated (punched out). The sling leather has a criss-cross or checkerd pattern on it. There is an import stamp on the left side, just below the sight mount. I'm really looking forward to hearing everything you folks can tell me about this - good and bad.
 

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whats under the wood???? specifically under the barrel??? is there a serial number on the buttplate?

peened out swastikas, what does the top of the receiver look like

crowned U on receiver and barrel inspection proof, the eagle is a final proof . yes east german

parts should be and usually are mis matching looks real nice and refinished usually don't see them that nice

need more pictures
 
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East German re-build pictures No. 2

Here's the next set. I'll have to strip it to get pictures beneath the wood; so, I'll be back later...
 

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East German re-build No. 3

Okay, here's the final edition, unless specific requests are received. Oh, yes, I added the sling & front sight cover later on - also found an all-matching, rebuilt, bayonet with the same year date as the rifle.
 

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It looks like an interesting piece in nice condition. The trigger guard and rear sight parts are not original to the gun. Serials and acceptance not correct.

For the experts... Is the stock post-war manufactured using captured KM machinery? That would be my guess.

Thanks for posting. :thumbsup:
 
Okay, here's the final edition, unless specific requests are received. Oh, yes, I added the sling & front sight cover later on - also found an all-matching, rebuilt, bayonet with the same year date as the rifle.

ok sunburst on top of the receiver and the Crown N under the barrel yep she is east german rework also the serial number across the buttplate, I also like the rectangle with the numbers inside sling mount. if possible with a magnifying glass see if you can make out the number in the sunburst. the sunburst is associated with police firearms or in their inventory. I was hoping to see 1001 under the barrel. I am not a K-98 expert the others can help you there.

as a east german firearms collector, she is in nice condition and would look nice in my collection
 
East German rebuild pictures No. 4

The number inside the sunburst looks like a "4" to me, and I've included a picture of the import stamp and of a couple waffenampts that are on the right side of the barrel, just below the rear sight mount. I would also like to know about the sling and, if possible, an estimate of the rifle's value. I certainly appreciate everyone's input.
 

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...a couple waffenampts that are on the right side of the barrel, just below the rear sight mount..

That would be a late '37, maybe '38 Mauser Oberndorf rear sight base judging by the font and eagle style I believe. The value would best be told by someone who really knows these refurbs.
 
Nice VoPo. These post-war DDR reworks are worth $600 or so in really nice shape.
 
I buy and collect east german firearms depends on if you go by Gunbroker, gunshow prices, dealer buy prices and collector prices.also if the finish on the refurb is indeed east german.
The rifle ( that means not including the sight hood, sling. which I do not know to be orig WW2 or of EG manufacture) rifle alone, low end would be $ 400 high end not over $ 600 to 700
if refinished with repro accessories under $ 400..oh and dependent on how it is import marked and its location, that s me that's what I would pay

its definitely a east german police inventory rifle, probably made it to the Kampfgruppen used up to circa 1960-62 then sold to the surplus market or kept in inventory till the wall fell
 
East German rebuild preservative removal

Even though I've had this rifle for a relatively long time, every time I clean it, I keep getting a brown "stuff" coming off on my cleaning rags/patches - not from the bore - but mostly the exterior surfaces, which I assume is a preservative that was put on it after the rebuild. (The rifle does not appear to have been fired much, if at all, after the rebuild proofing.) Can anyone suggest a good process/cleaner to remove it completely?
 
I buy and collect east german firearms depends on if you go by Gunbroker, gunshow prices, dealer buy prices and collector prices.also if the finish on the refurb is indeed east german.
The rifle ( that means not including the sight hood, sling. which I do not know to be orig WW2 or of EG manufacture) rifle alone, low end would be $ 400 high end not over $ 600 to 700 if refinished with repro accessories under $ 400..oh and dependent on how it is import marked and its location, that s me that's what I would pay

its definitely a east german police inventory rifle, probably made it to the Kampfgruppen used up to circa 1960-62 then sold to the surplus market or kept in inventory till the wall fell

Thanks Sprat (and everybody) for all of the help. Did the number in the sunburst tell you anything, and if so, what? I posted a photo of the import stamp in (I think ) the 3rd batch, and described its location - left side, below the rear sight. In your comment about the finish, what do you mean by "repro accessories" and how can I tell? I don't want to beat this to death, but obviously, I need all of the help I can get.
 
Thanks Sprat (and everybody) for all of the help. Did the number in the sunburst tell you anything, and if so, what? I posted a photo of the import stamp in (I think ) the 3rd batch, and described its location - left side, below the rear sight. In your comment about the finish, what do you mean by "repro accessories" and how can I tell? I don't want to beat this to death, but obviously, I need all of the help I can get.

lots of folks buy post war reproduction sight hoods and pass them off, heck even if you bought it that way the sight hood could be a repro. I would not be able to tell unless I saw it in person, even then the fakes are good as noted in many a post found on this sight. The sling there are folks here much more qualified to address whether the sling is original or re production if the sling is real that would add to the value about $100 that seems to be the average price maybe a hair less

try spraying some WD-40 down the barrel let it sit for a few minutes then run a brass brush down the barrel from the chamber end first, then spray it again do the same, then run a few patches through a few times, if its cosmoline it should break down.

the number inside the sunburst is suppose to tell you the police district/inventory so I was told, usually the sunburst was peened out on lots of imports in the 70-80's, but not all. when I am looking at east german handguns I usually see peened sunburst all the time. I look for the unpeened examples, also some examples will have several different sunburst. also most MP-44's and G-43's I have seen have sunburst

to clarify I have seen east german handguns and rifles without sunburst as they were not police inventoried firearms. but have EG firing and test proofs or replace barrels
 
1001 stamp

ok sunburst on top of the receiver and the Crown N under the barrel yep she is east german rework also the serial number across the buttplate, I also like the rectangle with the numbers inside sling mount. if possible with a magnifying glass see if you can make out the number in the sunburst. the sunburst is associated with police firearms or in their inventory. I was hoping to see 1001 under the barrel. I am not a K-98 expert the others can help you there.

as a east german firearms collector, she is in nice condition and would look nice in my collection

Sprat: I assume that your reference to the number 1001 meant that you were expecting it to be a police rifle and that this number was typically found on police items. Is that correct? The reason that I ask is that that number shows up on the rear of the frog on the rebuilt bayonet the I told you I had picked up for this rifle. I'll include a photo of it.
 

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no its not a east german marking its a WW2 late war german RB number others here know more about these then me. late in the war the germans switched from letter and number codes to straight number code. I do have a late war P-38 police holster with a similar number

1001 does not signify police its a east german code found on everything from eg made flare, PP's, lugers & P-38
s guns, luger & P-38 mags . mp-44 mags. under k-98 barrels, bayonets stamped usually in metal the list is endless
 
Sprat: I assume that your reference to the number 1001 meant that you were expecting it to be a police rifle and that this number was typically found on police items. Is that correct? The reason that I ask is that that number shows up on the rear of the frog on the rebuilt bayonet the I told you I had picked up for this rifle. I'll include a photo of it.

Delta,
As sprat said, that's an RB Nr. on the back of the frog, it's an original WW2 German frog and accordingly worth more than just a regular frog. There was a huge amount of German WW2 gear used postwar by many countries.
Regards,
HB
 

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