Standard Modell Bent Bolt in K98k stock (new stock photos up for review)

So I bought this rifle from Chuck threw GB action:
http://www.k98kforum.com/showthread.php?42450-Stander-Modell-Banner-w-Bent-Bolt
I am looking to get a little more information on what you guys think happened to this Standard Modell by providing more photos of the stock particularly. Don’t worry about hurting my feelings.... I just want some unvarnished thoughts. Was this a sporter rescue put into a K98 stock? The stock has the last 4 digits of the serial number stamped in the stock. The inside of the stock seems void of sanding to me as well as the inside of the unnumbered Handguard? Do you think the stock channel numbering is period or post war to enhance? I took the butt plate off and it seems someone put their SS number in it? Please ask for any other photos That you guys want to see. No markings anywhere in the stock to indicate an armorers spare. I will appreciate any comments.

Jory,
First of all this rifle is mentioned in the Bruce Karem "Karabiner 98k" book Volume 1, pg. 157 with the description "Bent bolt, replaced stock (circa 1941-42), barrel code 37 Do 37. If he didn't find anything else that was remarkable, there probably isn't much more to find out. The stock is interesting in that it appears to have never been sanded and yet appears to be almost entirely devoid of markings except for the "Ha" laminate suppliers code and March 3, 1942 date, at least you can date the stock. It seems the origin of the stock could be Mauser Oberndorf. There are other "Ha" marked stocks on byf 43 & 44 rifles. At first When I saw that the recoil bolt was marked "135" I thought for sure that the stock was from MO, but when I searched the Picture reference index for 42 & 43 rifles I found that by this time period the recoil bolts were blank, leading me to believe that this was perhaps a replacement part provided to Armorers. Add that to the VZ 24 bayonet bar which could have been salvaged and used by a Armorer, it could be believable that the stock was matched to the rifle by a front line Waffenmeister. I believe that it never went back to a Depot for repair because they normally would have marked the stock and by 42 or 43 I think they would have cut the front sight base for a hood. So, I guess everything hinges on the serial number in the barrel channel. The font of the numbers look to be of a correct style and it even looks like the bottoms of the punches were radiused like they should be for stamping a rounded surface. This is hard to be certain of from a just looking at photo, but also this style of punch is still lurking out there. I can sometimes tell if a previous number was sanded out of the channel by running my little finger along it and feeling for a low spot, or you could use a straight edge and see if you can slip a piece of paper under it. From the photos there's no way to tell if the bolt was bent down postwar or not. It's just not that hard to do. All that said, the best case scenario is that it's a legit armorers replacement and at worst, I think that it's a great rifle and I wouldn't mind owning it myself.

Channel number photos

Thanks for the comments swjXE. I did notice that this rifle was referenced in book prior to deciding to place a bid on the rifle. Between it being referenced in the book and the condition of the metal, and also the way that the stock looked, ie undsaned were the factors that made my decision to bid. Both the inside of the stock channel and hand guard feel unsanded with no low areas. I also took a metal ruler to the inside of both wood pieces, and there is no way a piece of paper would slide under the straight edge. I took a couple more photos of the channel number to see if that would help anyone with any other thoughts on this rifle. I only have been at collecting these rifles for just over a year. Many of you guys have handled much more of these rifles than me. The level of knowledge here and the amount of things witnessed by members here amazes me every day.

This is a very interesting rifle, I have followed its threads, and the gun broker auction with interest. My feeling is this rifle did not leave the factory as configured. My reasons as follows.

Bruce ID's the stock as 42-43 vintage. We know that in 1941 unused Standard Modell receivers were cycled into K98k production and had normal military markings. SO if this rifle was
still in the factory inventory in 1942, it was probably a completed unsold Standard Modell intended for commercial or export sale. As such I would expect it to have a
walnut stock. Also the lower band appears to be from a Banner Model rifle. It is the early curved bar style that I believe was replaced by the straight bar type in 1938 at Mauser and it is unmarked. If Mauser had stocked this rifle in the 1942 time period, I would think the straight bar rear band would have been used. Or if Mauser was using up old K98k parts, the band would have a waffenampt on it.

That brings up the question of who and when replaced the original stock. If done in the field by a unit armourer, I would expect the stock to be marked as an armourer spare, but I admit to not knowing if all
stocks intended as spares were marked by the maker. And if it was a field replacement using a legit armourer stock, why wouldn't they reuse the bayonet lug and rear band and even the recoil lug from the original broken stock? ( I think replacement stocks were void of all metal parts).

My "opinion" is this is a restored sporter that someone took pains to make look period, i.e. tracking down the un-numbered early band as an "armourer's" part.

Having said all that, here are three good reasons, ( I am sure their are many more) that I may be totally wrong.
1) I am not sure when Standard Modell production stopped, I thought 1937, (Bruce help out here) I know sales continued after that, but I always assumed they were from rifles in stock with the last of the receivers being used up in K98k production in 1941. I don't recall seeing a Standard Modell with a barrel date later than 1937, although that is not hard evidence. And when China got their last big delivery from Mauser in 1937, they got regular K98k rifles with Chinese proofs, and not Standard models, another indication SMs were no longer in production. But if I am wrong about the end of factory production of Standard Modells, the longer the run, the higher probably of a factory laminate stock.
2) I have a later Standard Modell, sn B83073. This rifle is in a Standard K98k walnut stock, numbered in the barrel channel to the rifle. The stock has the side sling stock cut and is cut for a turned down bolt. It is not converted from a regular bottom sling SM stock. Unfortunately, the rifle is sportered, so the validity of the SN is the only thing matching that stock to the rifle. When I am not half asleep, I will that pictures of the SN in my stock so the font and placement can be compared. So if some of the last SM left the factory in K98k stocks, why not the one under discussion, if it had an early laminate stock with flat buttplate I would think it a possibility.
3) If the SN in the barrel channel is fake, it was well done.

In any case a very handsome rifle and I think the OP got a good deal on it.

Edit: for my own edification,
Is it documented when Mauser ended production of Standard Modells?
What markings would one expect to see on an armourers replacement stock?

Current thread

Is there any evidence of the sling hook on the front band being ground off?
Image does not show it clearly. This one bit of information would help greatly.

B.

bruce98k said:

Is there any evidence of the sling hook on the front band being ground off?
Image does not show it clearly. This one bit of information would help greatly.

B.

Click to expand...

I do not feel the grinding or see it in the finish. I am a rookie though. I took some more photos.... I hope it helps?

Two more of the possible grind area: