Pics will take a few days. I am busy at work.. However, my description is accurate. The numbers read from left to right under the barrel except for the 28. The number 28 is written in a smaller font size in between this list of numbers and the serial number. The number 28 is also written perpendicular to this line of numbers. 1940 would not necessarily fit the profile. There is a 42 in the list of numbers as well. The C coded stocks were made by a subcontractor according to my info. Also, the 40 is not stamped on top of receiver. It is stamped on the receiver below the stock line. The top of receiver is covered with a scope mount. Standby for pictures.
Dave,
I really enjoyed the pictures of your rifle. It looks like an excellent example that has not been tampered with. My rifle is all original/matching including: front/rear bands, stock, scope mounts attached to rifle, bolt, safety, cocking piece, floor plate, and receiver. The only thing that is not original/matching is the scope rings. The scope rings are a reproduction of the originals. The reproduction scope rings look just like the originals. If I could find originals even with a different serial number I would put them on the scope. The original scope rings were not available. My bmj scope is original with a serial number of 85229 with a recoil ring installed. The rifle serial number of 3995d is close to yours. My rifle does not have a checkered butt plate. The rifle I have has about the same over all patina that yours has. When I get a chance I will put the pictures on here if you want to see them. Thanks.
Dave,
It sounds like you have been studying these rifles for a while so I am sure that I am not bringing up new information. It seems that there are a lot of different variations in these rifles. If you look in Senich's book, The German Sniper, there are a couple single claw sniper rifles that have recoil rings on the scopes. It seems appropriate to me since the scope rings are a friction fit (like the long side rail) and not soldered on like the turret mount. I know there is differing opinions on this matter. It seems to me that if a scope was available and you were building a rifle for utility use (like war time production) you would pick a scope that does the job disregarding a variation in production. I am not saying you are wrong, but I think that recoil ring or not, does not matter. Unfortunately there is not a whole lot of official German documentation concerning this. There are only pictures in the Senich book. The scope I have does look like those pictures in the Senich book and seems correct for the gun. Thanks.
Dave,
I will talk to my friend in May about the scope numbers on his rifle. Pictures will be up to him. As far as period pics of a single claw, I will keep looking. I understand the need to categorize and look for similiarities, but I do not think it is possible in all cases to narrow the possibilities to such a narrow range. Talk to you later. Thanks.
Is that stock correct on Hercules rifle?
It looks like a JPS stock with the wrong Heer stamp..
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The stock serial number does match the serial number on the gun.