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bsw 1938 late 'b' block

bruce98k

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Staff member
They don't come any nicer that this considering the code rarity.
What is interesting is that this rifle has the later type 'squared profile' safety, and is cut for the longer 320mm cleaning rod.
Been awhile since I posted any gun of consequence so here you go.
 

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Last edited:
They don't come any nicer that this considering the code rarity.
What is interesting is that this rifle has the later type 'squared profile' safety, and is cut for the longer 320mm cleaning rod.
Been awhile since I posted any gun of consequence so here you go.
Gorgeous rifle. I'm super jealous.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using Tapatalk
 
Geez that's nice, incredible detail on the rifle. Floor plate release is even stamped.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
 
They don't come any nicer that this considering the code rarity.
What is interesting is that this rifle has the later type 'squared profile' safety, and is cut for the longer 320mm cleaning rod.
Been awhile since I posted any gun of consequence so here you go.

Thank you for posting these pictures. I would love to see this in person. You don’t get to see examples like this very often anymore. Very nice!


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The stock is in great condition and the bolt cutout look so crisp. I agree, they don't come any nicer and this is a truly beautiful rifle, congrats to it!

It's nice to have an example with "squared profile" safety, BSW was the first manufacturer who used it.
 
Good grief that's nice....and rare. Nicest BSW I've ever seen. Pic sticky ref.
 
Great rifle with beautiful woodwork. Very interesting to me from several angles. I'm amazed at the amount of 'in house' produced components and how quickly that model would change.

Any consideration to the C in the first position possibly being Astrawerke when they first supplied unfinished receiver blanks? Just spit-balling here. Acceptance changed quickly here '37-'40.
 
That is a fantastic rifle Bruce where on Earth did you get that piece! Have to say there has been some fantastic pieces coming out of the woodwork.
 
This late b-block could also be the highest discovered to date. While there are c-blocks reported (3 of them), none are confirmed and there is a not a single rifle between this rather low serial (2650) and those c-blocks. Further there are half a dozen lower b-blocks known, but this is actually the highest b-block recorded in 20 years of research.. one would think that at least one rifle from the latter 7000 rifles in the b-block would have been discovered if half a dozen in the first 3000 of the b-block have been recorded.

I suspect this is not the highest made, but I really doubt 1938 goes much higher, - and I doubly doubt the c-blocks reported (2 KCN's and one auction rifle with crappy pictures). The d-blocks for 1938 known are Weimar assemblies and unrelated to Suhl production.

Bruce, what is the bolt bottom flat looking like? B e/4 / E/4? Not many bolt acceptances are known.
 
What a magnificent find and rifle. Thanks for taking the time to let us all take a look at her. Stunning simply stunning.
 
Great info, we don't discuss them enough. I have (4) 38 bSw's, oddly enough all no suffix blocks from #289, 1182, 1485 and 7549. I do have a b suffix 1937 though.
 
..I really doubt 1938 goes much higher... the d-blocks for 1938 known are Weimar assemblies and unrelated to Suhl production.

Thanks for that extra info Paul. I've never seen an example and they are not in the bible. So the last 20,000+ rifles show characteristics of Gustloff? Including subcontract parts and not B e/4? Is this correct? If so that certainly reinforces the soft move with Suhl winding down rifle production as Gustloff got geared up.

What became of the machine tools for 98k production? I know some parts production continued. Mothballed? Transferred?
 

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