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Byf 43, need repair recommendations

Fobbs54

Member
Hello everybody. I recently bought a 1943 Byf K98, numbers match on every part I have found to have a number including the stock. Kinda stumbled into this rifle by accident I was definitely not in the market for it (regardless of the fact God knows I love about any kind of milsurp) I just didn't expect to find one at the price I happened to find this and could absolutely not turn it down.
That said, it is duffel cut under the band and although its not the worst its still pretty unsightly. I know some may argue that it should be left alone to preserve the history etc and I understand and feel that sentiment but in the same regard I do not even know if this was the original repair of the cut. I would like to get it done correctly so I don't have to worry about it and can shoot it occasionally without worry of it coming apart or the hump in the barrel channel throwing off my shots.
So, I would greatly appreciate recommendations for someone that is familiar with the repair work and does it well..
Will upload pics soon
Thanks!
 
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If it's tight, I'd leave it alone. Duffel cuts aren't wartime repaired, so if it's loose fix it - if not, leave it. With the band on you shouldn't be able to see it so it won't affect anything aesthetically, right? I guess I don't understand the question about fixing it.
 
I saw this yesterday and refrained from comment as I wasn't really sure what was being asked. But thinking on it again to a newer collector it may seem unsightly. I'd leave it alone as Farb said. If you shoot it and it loosens up, deal with it then. If there is a "hump" against the barrel use a dremmel to work the glue fix down a tad if accuracy suffers. See how it shoots. I was a rifle range coach in the Corps, I'll bet it won't hamper accuracy.
 
i prefer a duffle cut because i know then it is a true GI bringback

Not sure about this. There have been reports a few years ago of hardware store Mauser bought in the 60's having been duffle cut by someone 40+ years later to add some "provenance" and pass them off as G.I. bringbacks, at a premium, of course.
 
If it isn’t coming apart when handling or shooting it I wouldn’t do a thing to it. It’s a beauty just as it is. I have a few duffel-cut German rifles and the only one I’ve done anything to (others had already been repaired some point) was one that was cut under the band. I “repaired” it myself and the repair is still hidden under the band. In my case it wasn’t a matching rifle and, second, it serves as my favorite 98k to shoot—the repair was needed but I did keep it simple. All is hidden under the band (2 wooden dowels) plus I put a brass tube thru the cleaning rod hole to aid in alignment and that tube is just large enough to accommodate the installation of the cleaning rod. Turned out great!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Ok I expected to get some suggestions to leave it be, which I understand. Its not loose but the filler has dried and cracked on one side it just doesn't look very stable to me at all. I've found some examples online where duffel cuts have been redone and blended in well so there's just a dark spot in that area of the wood. It doesn't have to be invisible necessarily I would just prefer that it be redone more professionally and sturdily by someone that's done it before otherewise ill prob just resell it..
 
What is the full barrel code, I see 43D1** curious if there are additional numeric characters. It is early for a 43 blank to show up (on a c-block), wondering if its lot is "1" or in the teens.
 
Loewe its just 43D1 actually. Does that make this the first or one of first few in a new barrel blank code or something?
 
Yes, it is Döhlen's first lot for 1943. C-block is pretty early for a 1943 lot, they do start in the d-block, but typically in the 5-digit range like your rifle. Of course we only have a snapshot, a mere "blink" of what was produced, so it might not be unusual at all (just so far it is a little, especially lot "1" which is rarely seen for any maker/supplier or date, especially from the large steel mills).

Interesting to me anyway (probably no one else...)
 
Well that's kinda cool. Thanks for that! Still looking for some help on this stock, I feel like it deserves to look better! To me its like this 1. How do we know this was even the original repair or not anyway 2. Either way it was done post war so its not a nearly as meaningful part of the history (IMO anyway). I'm just not up to the task myself I don't have the time or masterful woodworking skills/tools to trust myself with this kind of thing.
 
I tried to figure out how to PM ya Bruce, just let me know where to send it and how much $$ it would be.. 6202181923
 
Not sure about this. There have been reports a few years ago of hardware store Mauser bought in the 60's having been duffle cut by someone 40+ years later to add some "provenance" and pass them off as G.I. bringbacks, at a premium, of course.

dufle cuts usually make a rifle worth less if it was all original from what i've seen unless it's a very scarce variation, but then i'm not an expert.:happy0180:
 

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