Oddball late commercial

Had to twist this one out of Ty’s hands for my commercial fetish, just about all I’m collecting now. Many of these are oddball enough, but this one has a couple of interesting features worth mentioning. Numbering conventions in the commercial world aren’t as stringent as we see with the military, so it leads to some odd things. Some of these are typical on this rifle and some are not. The bottom metal is all numbered 24 internally and the whole rifle utilizes this assembly number, arbitrary to the apparent serial on the barrel. This is a salvaged prewar Sauer barrel, that had new sight bases installed. The front base is interesting, as it is late enough to have the simplified matting, but apparently due to its rejection they never bothered cutting the sight hood slots. Not a lot of 1945 rifles won’t accept a hood!

Weird numbering continues as you notice the barrel bands, this is the only rifle I’ve seen numbered like this, it’s just so odd to see compared to the norm. Admittedly, I haven’t broken the bolt down yet, but the only apparent serial so far is on the forward edge of the safety.

The stock is a 1940 Sauer unit and looks uncharacteristically nice for a Jan 1945 rifle. Also, like many of these late commercials, the metal is nicely polished. Given that the model designation and roll marks were carefully removed, this receiver undoubtedly was on its way to becoming a commercial hunting rifle before becoming a 98k. The bolt is early Sauer as well, with a tiny asterisk under the root.

Most late commercials appear unissued, but this one tells a bit of a story as you can see. There is a blood stain in the stock channel, and down the right side of the stock. There is also a finger print on the right receiver as well as some inside the TG bow itself.

There are lots of other tiny features here and there that are characteristic of commercial production, which make it interesting to study. Lastly it appears to be unit or rack number marked! Perhaps someone more studied on unit markings can chime in, where there is typically a prefix number, this one has a letter. None of the Gaue appear to start with A, so perhaps it is for specific town? Looking forward to any input there as I am at a loss.

More pictures

Damn, boy, you like the esoteric stuff...

Freaking cool rifle though...how many guys out there would pass this up as a bubba special or something?

Thanks for posting it up and edumacatin' me on some stuff to look for on these things...

Since you moved your a$$ back out to Ft Worth, I never get to see the cool new stuff you get...

Fantastic rifle! Thank you for sharing it.


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Very unconventional but I can't see any reason that it can't be legit. It's very interesting and I would love to see photos of all of the markings on the sides and bottom of the barrel and receiver and the wood in the barrel channel of the stock and handguard. Firing pin marks would be great also.
With photos of all markings, this one belongs in the Picture Reference Index.

Thanks guys, most of the features are fairly typical as far as commercials go, but the band numbering is a new one to me. The stock and HG have the same assembly number, as does the sight base etc. The stock is d/c and it was a Vet purchase long before I was born as well. I’ll see if I can break it down this week, to get pictures of the Suhl proof etc.

Awesome Clay, Thanks for sharing it.

That is cool I love the band numbering

Very cool! I like that little asterisk on the underside of the bolt flat. Really neat commercial!

She's a beaut, Clark!!!

Lol, thanks Danny and all. Proud to say I’ve got good friends that would help out with one like this, thanks again! I’m looking for a Hermann Schneider and a Langenhan now! I’m really at a loss with the keel marking, I’m hoping it has someone’s wheels turning.

Beautiful rifle and great pictures. Thanks for sharing!

Beautiful and crispy!

I like your 44 a lot Eric! Here’s another detail, the rear band groove is milled too deep. Also another close up of that finger print.

Jebsus that thing is sweet. Clay you get the all the best stuff TIME TO SHARE! I love the commercial Eagle / N proofs and that stock is super crisp. In the condition it's in it looks unissued... maybe someone cut the tip of their finger off with the pantograph who knows.

The safety serial location reminds me of early Simson and BSW DSM-34s which are also serialized on the front edge of the safety (as you would know Clay with your sweet Simson/BSW DSM-34/ IMHO, kind of an odd place to stamp when it's easier to stamp on the safety face especially since this rifle was most likely put together after the Totaler Krieg proclamation in late July 1944, or, am I wrong?--still learning. None-the-less, a really cool rifle.



Any stock markings under the buttplate?

Thanks Will, haven’t had the BP off and I typically don’t take them off anyway, but, being a Sauer stock it is dated in the channel. I have another late commercial stock which is definitely commensurate with one of the stock makers in Suhl/Z-M, by the contours, but it is completely unmarked inside and out, and also unfinished. Unmarked stocks like that show up on these here and there. The rifle went through the Suhl proof house in Jan 1945, you can just see that poking out from under the wood line. It’s definitely neat seeing all those small details that liken these to other commercial production.

That is a truly oddball rifle. Congratulations to the purchase! Maybe you should look at importing a rifle from Europe, I could sell you my commercially proofed bcd4 rifle..

Beautiful exotic temptress...I mean rifle....ya got there.

Spectacular Condition , surely a dream come true !!!!!!!!! . These Commercial K98`s seem to be in super cond. when they come to the surface

I remember you having quite the crispy example yourself Dave! Glad you and Mike got to check this one out, the pictures don’t do it justice.


Thanks everyone, and I appreciate the offer Georg!