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T-Block BNZ 45 - Correct Kriegsmodell?

keninga

Member
Howdy-

New member here. I've got a rifle that came out of a collection I liquidated a few years ago, and I finally am getting around to making sure I know exactly what I've got. It's a BNZ 45 K98k, no. 5489T I'm 99% sure it's a correct, full Kriegsmodell, and all matching. The only parts I'm not sure about are the stock and the handguard. The stock looks to be correct, but I don't see a serial number on it anywhere. The handguard is stamped with a serial number, but it doesn't appear to match the rifle itself.

The rifle was missing the front sight hood and the rear site base screw when it came to me. Looking at the amount of wear-and-tear on the front sight, as well as the undamaged phosphate coating in the sight hood mounting grooves, is it possible that a rifle in this later block of production would have left the factory without a front sight hood? I haven't seen enough examples of T-block and later rifles from Steyr in 1945 to have a good feel for that. I'm still slowly but surely combing through the huge amount of information on the board here.

Here's the full album of all of the photos I have taken of this rifle, in much higher resolution: https://imgur.com/a/4H6mlsu
 

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Last edited:
More pictures.
 

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...aaaand some more pictures.
 

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Looks good to me. Stock is steyr. Handguard?? Wonder what happened there.
 
Last edited:
Guess what? More pictures!
 

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Looks like a steyr bolt cutout on the stock. Is there remains of a eagle over H on the stock, and a eagle over 623 in the stock channel under the barrel? I've attached an example of the eagle over H below
a79b6b4ec76f345bd50edc09fc65d14c.jpg


Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk
 
Looks like a steyr bolt cutout on the stock. Is there remains of a eagle over H on the stock, and a eagle over 623 in the stock channel under the barrel? I've attached an example of the eagle over H below

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

Yes, there's the eagle over 623 in the stock channel under the barrel. I'll try and get a better picture of that. I haven't been able to find any markings on the outside of the stock.

Attached are a couple of overall pictures. I should've put them in the first post.
 

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What's the serial inside the handgaurd? Usually they aren't serialized but it looks like there's a "0" in there but hard to tell as I'm on my phone. Looks the match the stock from the pictures though. I'd say you're good on all fronts

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk
 
What's the serial inside the handgaurd? Usually they aren't serialized but it looks like there's a "0" in there but hard to tell as I'm on my phone. Looks the match the stock from the pictures though. I'd say you're good on all fronts

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

It has the numbers "3902" stamped in the channel of the handguard, with the numbers "222" very messily written in pencil over the stamped numbers.
 
It has the numbers "3902" stamped in the channel of the handguard, with the numbers "222" very messily written in pencil over the stamped numbers.
Maybe the original handgaurd was misplaced then? Does look to match from the pictures but of course that doesn't mean much

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk
 
Random guess but I’m betting this rifle had a laminate HG and someone along the way thought it didn’t “look” correct and so they stuck a walnut one on.
 
Random guess but I’m betting this rifle had a laminate HG and someone along the way thought it didn’t “look” correct and so they stuck a walnut one on.
Would be a very unfortunate but extremely likely scenario. It's a great rifle despite that minor flaw though! Haven't said it yet, but great pick up keninga!

So it seems the consensus is: stock is correct, along with everything else but the handgaurd has been replaced at some point

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk
 
Last edited:
Funny nobody has noticed - it’s not pressure test proofed. It was an unfinished/untested gun when the war ended, very late serial. I had a similar one I sold years and years ago, 4898 T.

a08316b123f3bc0d947ac5c1839ee307.jpg


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Funny nobody has noticed - it’s not pressure test proofed. It was an unfinished/untested gun when the war ended, very late serial. I had a similar one I sold years and years ago, I think it was 5800 T range.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

What does that proof mark look like? (Just curious for my own education--not second-guessing you.)

Also, thank you everybody that has chimed in so far. I appreciate the sheer force of knowledge and attention to detail that is on this forum!
 

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