Third Party Press

Rejected bcd, byf hand stamped serials

Bob in OHIO

Senior Member
Really happy with this example in walnut. Looks like E/1 inspection near the tang & side rail were early Gustloff issues. Appears to be assembled before the d-block in '44 as the sear and ejector box are serialed. Love the E/C10 in the handguard and the overall look.
 

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Sharp rifle, Bob. IMO, I think the receiver's issues would have been caught at the acceptance inspection at Astrawerke, so I doubt it ever made it Gustloff.

So are these handstamped byfs are a separate catch-all block like the n block?
 
So are these handstamped byfs are a separate catch-all block like the n block?

Absolutely. I have them separated in the byf 44/45 serial number sticky also.

Sharp rifle Bob. I am sure that more than a few of us would love to have it.
 
bcd MO assembled

I believe this run of handstamped rifles was a separate range as opposed to the later group of mainly ar44 coded examples.
There are 2 samples from this run, both using bcd43 receivers. My example has a high 1943 barrel code and was likely assembled
in the Jan-March time frame, given the full serial numbers on the TG/Floorplate.

Bob's example is just a tad higher but has the appended serial on the floorplate.

Eric, you may want to keep a separate serial number data base for this first handstamped series. Barrel codes and serials on the triggerguard
will differentiate the two runs.

B.
 

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Info on my rifle

I don't know if this helps but the similar one in my collection is a bcd 4 marked receiver/Mauser 135 proofed and is SN # 440 n
 
current thread

Jack thats a unique block with alot going on with 3 identified receiver codes - ar44, bcd 4, and byf 44.
Production likely into 1945 for that block.

Likely scenario for unusual serial number ranges at Mauser Oberndorf are 1. First hand stamped series, 2nd hand stamped series, and the 'n' block.
 
Just wondering why these Astrawerke receivers (bcd43) were sold to MO. Not like Gustloff was stopping assembly?
  • Maybe the end of '43 and Gustloff just didn't want them??
  • Maybe rejected at Astrawerke and Gustloff just didn't want them??
  • Hard to believe MO had a receiver shortage??
  • Did Brunn I snag some of the bcd43 marked receivers for their '44 production?
 
So, I am responding to my own question... I'm reading a tad bit in Karem and Steves' volume 2, apparently these bcd receivers went to Mauser Berlin- Borsigwalde.... and then to MO when MBB shut down K98 operations. These miscellaneous receivers were then placed in a separate line of production in Oberndorf.

Just wondering why these Astrawerke receivers (bcd43) were sold to MO. Not like Gustloff was stopping assembly?
  • Maybe the end of '43 and Gustloff just didn't want them??
  • Maybe rejected at Astrawerke and Gustloff just didn't want them??
  • Hard to believe MO had a receiver shortage??
  • Did Brunn I snag some of the bcd43 marked receivers for their '44 production?
 
So, I am responding to my own question... I'm reading a tad bit in Karem and Steves' volume 2, apparently these bcd receivers went to Mauser Berlin- Borsigwalde.... and then to MO when MBB shut down K98 operations. These miscellaneous receivers were then placed in a separate line of production in Oberndorf.

This makes perfect sense. Gustloff couldn't maintain any sort of high production tempo while this wasn't an issue at the Mauser works. When MB stops for increased MG production it's perfectly logical they'd be transferred to MO to be built out.
 

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