Another S28

More details, the stock is indeed matching like I thought the worn numbers on the keel looked to indicate, also an S28 stamped behind the serial. This receiver does not have the Oberndorf script M, whatever marking it does have on the lower flat I’ve seen identical on other S28’s. I’m sure if I further disassembled this I would find other S28 markings but I’m not going to pull stuff like the cross lug etc, but so many parts are S28 marked. Even the rear band spring and the mag spring are!

You can see the depot assembly number “1” in various locations, and in areas that were evidently apart for work. The TG and FP both have 1’s and the FP catch looks to have been replaced, I’m guessing that may have occurred later at Hannover judging from the rough turned FP catch. There is also an asterisk in the stock on the forward TG flat that looks fresh as compared to the numbers and such stamped there.

Very nice job, original barrel and stock, depots did that (re-serial/overstrike) for some reason. Possibly refresh the serial? I agree Hannover was the later work, - Spandau the earliest for obvious reasons, I would think Spandau's early work was much earlier and involved the bolt, but who can say.. the quality of the bolt work gives it credibility, that and who in their right mind would risk a Simson bolt for a modest increase in value? It would be a pretty bold (and confident) man to use such a bolt to "improve" a bolt mismatcher.

I wouldn't totally discard the possibility though, if we learn anything from the P08 collectors, with rarity and price appreciation comes skilled practitioners... not the type of men we are more accustom to seeing on the auction sites, the fly by their pants amateur who make it up as they go along, typically without studying their subject. There are artists out there, that know as much as we do, - indeed, they probably lurk the forums to keep abreast of advances.

Paul, it’s interesting to speculate when and why a bolt would be replaced that early but it’s certainly possible. Need to compare other early Spandau fonts when I get some time to do so. I won’t throw out the possibility that it’s bad, but at the price point there was certainly no benefit

flynaked said:

Need to compare other early Spandau fonts when I get some time to do so. I won’t throw out the possibility that it’s bad, but at the price point there was certainly no benefit

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I'm here to tell you that trying to compare fonts with other Spandau (or even other depots) is a fools errand. The dies seem to change even on reworks that should be done close to each other timewise, even parts on the same gun. I'll just say of someone sent me a photo of that bolt and asked if it could be a legit depot numbered bolt, I would guess it was Spandau just because the letter suffix is added. In nearly every case on Spandau and a few of the other "old" depots actually used letter suffix on renumbered bolts (for instance Königsburg did too). Bolt looks legit to me, but the reason depot numbered stuff isn't as expensive as high end, a good faker can nail it so you have to look for other clues to authenticate them (like other period work on the rifle, along with depot marks in the correct spots).

Thanks for the info Mike and thanks for saving me valuable weekend time! Haha.

Clay, I am not overly suspicious of the bolt, it is probably legit, the early style of the HZa/Su acceptance lends credibility I think, if it were more "nazi" I would be more suspicious.

Really though, I am typically suspicious of any rework (or factory mismatchers), the more they deviate from what I (subjectively) regard as normal or "acceptable", the more my suspicion grows, but that is the nature of reworks, the "why" they are discounted by "almost" everyone. They are often the most interesting rifles, the most "historic", but they are also the most open to subjective interpretation.

Besides, people come here to be told the truth or our version of it, no one in obliged to accept it, - if we all agreed on everything the forum would serve no purpose; I happen to think bolt is authentic work, but I would welcome other opinions, though I do think it is important for those that do give a reason why (like why it doesn't have a new FP, - another theory, but typically re-barrels and re-bolts should, "theoretically", have a new FP. It doesn't seem to be a hard and fast rule, plenty exceptions, but early you would expect this to be more prevalent)

Well said Mike!

mrfarb said:

I'm here to tell you that trying to compare fonts with other Spandau (or even other depots) is a fools errand. The dies seem to change even on reworks that should be done close to each other timewise, even parts on the same gun. I'll just say of someone sent me a photo of that bolt and asked if it could be a legit depot numbered bolt, I would guess it was Spandau just because the letter suffix is added. In nearly every case on Spandau and a few of the other "old" depots actually used letter suffix on renumbered bolts (for instance Königsburg did too). Bolt looks legit to me, but the reason depot numbered stuff isn't as expensive as high end, a good faker can nail it so you have to look for other clues to authenticate them (like other period work on the rifle, along with depot marks in the correct spots).

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Clay,

Did you get the PM I sent you,

thanks,