Depot build, blank receiver

Just got this one yesterday. Has the tiny bSw and stick e/4 on the right side. Couldn't find one in the pic references. This one is not matching but still very interesting. Have to wait for my son to break it down for me tomorrow for access below the wood line and other photos. Just a teaser until then.

***Update*** Tore it down with my son's help, my hands are getting worse. Figured I'd just photo and document what actually matches. The barrel puzzles me as it only has 3 waa623 proofs to indicate use by Steyr. It has Gustloff parts and an e/77 band as well as Imperial repurposed parts. Kind of a "mutt" for pedigree. Not much at all for bottom receiver markings. Has the 7,9 and 0.2 on the barrel shoulder. Hope these are ok for documentation. I dropped the camera 3 times in the process with this nerve damage and shaking hands.

Ooooh, nice, very interesting, looking forward to the breakdown!

Nice one Mow. Stock mismatched also?

moconfed said:

Nice one Mow. Stock mismatched also?

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Yeah unfortunately. Bolt too but its an early 211 bolt.

Very nice find!


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Still a very cool rifle. Looking forward to more pics!

Very cool find!! Can't wait to see the detailed pics!!

Nice one Dave I'll be interested to see what pictures you post up, great piece for your collection buddy.

Neat rifle Dave, perfect spare receiver build for you! I’m not sure which depot it is, but this appears to be the one connected to that firing proof I do believe.

Not happy about a mismatch bolt and stock but still possibly some good info on these uncommon builds. New pics added.

mowzerluvr said:

Not happy about a mismatch bolt and stock but still possibly some good info on these uncommon builds. New pics added.

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Thanks gents, and I see a resemblance there Clay.

There isn't a lot that can be said about one of these without the stock markings, - rc inspired "conversations" are driven by inane and fatuous comments that rarely rise to the level of a conversation or discussion - while these are interesting rifles, they are also simple builds by ordnance depots and few share enough similarities to form conclusions without the original stock.

Actually, so few have been found that are attributable (originally marked stocks with relevant ordnance markings) they generally defy classification or being placed into any firm context. Take this rifle for example, the barrel is an early SDP ordnance spare, - while SDP did supply barrels to other firms, Gustloff and Brno in particular, all that went to the ordnance system carry the ordnance code, so when you see "660" its not a factory barrel - its pretty early too, probably the earliest SDP barrel recorded. SDP started production with barrels, all these ordnance spares are 1938 or 1939 dated, this one is earlier than most due to the lot (6), which is the lowest recorded probably. The early use of the "S" marked barrel lends support to this early and newness to SDP involvement with the 98k, while such details might be lost on rc gurus (any cult needs a spiritual leader) just as it confounded shooterike, this was a product of SDP early entry into ordnance work for Germany. Prior to 1938, SDP was primarily a commercial concern, cars and bicycles, ball bearings, her past as a premier arms maker was over essentially and had to be revived, naturally Germany was short on skilled men to send, being amidst her own expansion. The only clue to a date lies in the RS and various components, which seems 1941-1942'ish to me, the rifle crises era, probably not too much earlier, or later, but who can say without the stock.

While these are neat, without the stock they are kind of a mystery to maker, you can't really tie them by FP alone, and even with a stock dating them is problematic, but you can be fairly sure 1941-1942 for most of them. Still a perfect fit for a BSW specialist.

1935 S147G 3458/e was re-barreled with 660 4 38 BÖ e/WaA623 x3, this is the second earliest SDP barrel recorded, this earlier barrel was used as they were intended originally, to re-barrel rifles at a HZa, only the demands of the war created the conditions that put this rifle together. This variation probably pre-dates the Russian campaign, as it was at least foreseen before it began, however most probably date to late 1941-early 1942. One would think they would start with the ordnance spare receivers, like they did with the Wehrkreis builds, and then work through the salvaged (G98-98k) last, most Wehrkreis XX/XXI start with the bcd/41 ordnance spares, then work through the salvaged receivers, seems probable this rifle followed that pattern, earlier rather than later assembly. Only a few thousand (XX-9300, XXI-rolled over to the a-block, but most are less than 5000) were made by these large facilities, so these being more elusive suggests they might be even small numbers and earlier.

I appreciate it. I know/knew little of SDP. Most barrels you see, no matter the supplier, have a final proof (usually)of who assembles the rifle. This has 3 from SDP which confused me into thinking it had been assembled by Steyr but also thinking not. Also having the 0.2 to indicate a replaced barrel. It had my brain all messed up. I had deleted my previous post as I meant it in a joking manner but reading it again it had sounded petty. I agree without the stock, so much info is lost. I neglected to photo them but the rear sight base is e/26 and the front base is e/37. Just no real way to get much of a grasp on this. I love the right side receiver. All else make little sense other than the depots used quite literally what ever parts were on hand. Different manufacturer proofs and reclaimed parts as well. Making me wonder if they did the same with stocks. The stock on it is a flat plate e/214 but not numbered anywhere near close to the rifle.

I read to me as a joke, - like all good jokes there is truth in them.

Regarding the stock, it probably had an ordnance spare on it, new like the other components, could be a Walther (e/359) or a Menzel (C-stock), they seem most common. Whatever it was, it was probably sparsely marked. Probably external serial, but possibly not.

I really look forward to the day one of these shows up "as built", we need one for reference badly. And thank you for the clarification of what is left of this one.

There are plenty of depot builds around to emulate, each one is different from the next. Plenty of odd armorers stocks but C stocks and Walther are the most common.

I have a rifle in my collection rebuilt using this exact same type of receiver. Mine is a bolt mismatch but the receiver/bbl are new and the rest of the parts are from an early Mauser and all match the original number of the rifle. It’s in Volume 2, not sure how much made it in the book since it was mismatched.


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No wehrkreis too so no telling who built it. I had, many moons ago, wehrkreis #30 with no suffix bcd41 receiver.

Loewe said:

Still a perfect fit for a BSW specialist.

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Exactly the reason I grabbed it. I have seen 3, maybe 4 tiny bsw marked receivers in the past but were either "not for sale" or worse off for m/m status or even RC rifles.

Glad to see you love her Dave! A great rifle that will indeed be worth the further research! I tried emailing you back it was being funky though! Glad you love her! Thank you Gage!