I rediscovered this one on the attic lately when looking for stuff,
but is it normal that there isn't a Mod.98 marking on the side of the receiver?
I think Stan has it nailed. More photos would sure confirm things. I can see some kind of acceptance on the left side recoil lug face but can't make it out no matter how much I zoom in.
Until 1940 the Gustloff production had blank side rails (without Mod.98). The 1941 production was mixed, some had the Mod.98 marking and some still had blank side rails.
An excellent evaluation!
A g-block would almost have to be a 337/1940, the intermingling didn't go that far into 1941; the barrel could be Rurhstahl or possibly Geco. It would also be rare (not impossible) for this barrel to be on a bcd/41 g-block.
..nevertheless a bcd 41 is still possible. Until late "e" block you still find a lot bcd 41 with blank side rails. Personally I just know one "h" and one "k" block with blank side rail.
Does this speak to the 'bin' theory? I've often thought if you as an assembler have a/several bins in front of you with parts regarding your task. Possibly you haven't used all your particular parts and someone comes by and dumps a new pile of those parts on top of the few left. I doubt many would dig to the bottom to use the older ones first so naturally you can get some skips. I've also subscribed to the thought that parts fell under or behind the workbench, were discovered later on a cleanup day and throw on top of the particular bin.
Learning as I go. what was the giveaway?
I'll stop short of that but offer this. It sure seems to me nearly every K98k he offers looks exactly the same. Metal finish has the same color, tint, consistency and depth of blue. All the wood looks exactly the same. The stain/color is nearly identical. If you look at very many rifles you know this just doesn't happen. Maybe it's just my mind playing tricks on me but I don't think so.