JP Sauer ce43 - Battlefied casualty

[bruce98k]

This came out of my local shop today. All matched as picked up. Evident blood staining
on the stock with numerous dried tracks. With this much spattering, metal is in exc. shape.
I have seen some of these rifles with bad metal pitting. Most of the affected area is on the handguard and left side with nearly the complete right side of the stock untouched.

Also, the rear sling band was mounted with the sling loop on the right side. Not the first
instance of this method of mounting of the rear band that I have seen.

Ed: Changed title in deference to this gun, its past and its previous owner

 

[Bigdibbs88]

Wow Bruce!!! What a find!!

 

[mauser202]

Very interesting rifle, kind of a grim reminder of the actual use of the things we collect.

 

[bob32268]

Ce 43

Awesome rifle Bruce!! A real piece of untouched history.
Bob

 

[History]

WOW!! I missed this one until a new thread brought it back. No question that rifle was in some serious stuff. Bruce what is in the take down disk?

I just picked up a rifle that has a few similarities to this but no running, I'll bring it to the SOS and let you have a look.

 

[Kammerjaeger]

Hauntingly beautiful.


KJ

 

[BSW 1937]

Very nice piece of history and a great find.

 

[bjarne]

is the spring band numbered?

Hi,really nice rifle,,looking forward to get my own,,is the spring band marked,and is the stock,and handguard marked inside?
Thanks

 

[mauser99]

nice...

great find Bruce.. Too bad its not a byf43.....To anyone but bruce this woud be a keeper... But, his twin brother is a sauer nut !!

 

[Pisgah]

Hi,really nice rifle,,looking forward to get my own,,is the spring band marked,and is the stock,and handguard marked inside?
Thanks

All 1943-assembled Kar.98k's have internally numbered stocks and handguards. I hate to use strong words like all or none, but I can't think of any exception.

 

[bjarne]

All 1943-assembled Kar.98k's have internally numbered stocks and handguards. I hate to use strong words like all or none, but I can't think of any exception.

Okay thanks

 

[Turbo Archie]

There is something odd about the zig-zag pattern of the blood.

My first thought was that it followed the grain of the laminated wood but its more like from wind blowing on it like it was transported right after.
Look at how water runs off your side windows in your car while driving in the rain.. Kind of the same thing.


..

 

[bjarne]

There is something odd about the zig-zag pattern of the blood.

My first thought was that it followed the grain of the laminated wood but its more like from wind blowing on it like it was transported right after.
Look at how water runs off your side windows in your car while driving in the rain.. Kind of the same thing.


..

Mayby the german soldier was running after he was hit carrying the weapon?

 

[tsmgguy]

I have a 98k identical to this one in every respect except the serial number, which is 7515j. Yes, the stock and handguard are numbered to the rifle inside. There's another marking right next to the serial in the barrel channel, which appears to be a date. As it's in the same font and to the same depth as the serial, I assume it's the date in 1943 that the rifle was built up. (Don't remember the date right off hand.) Will be curious to hear if your rifle has this marking.

(Assuming that the stains on the stock are blood is kinda morbid, don't you guys think? Blood is an organic and normally will not deeply stain wood. These stains look more like oil, which will readily soak into and stain wood pores that are not sealed, like those in most original 98k stocks. I've noticed that any area of staining or corrosion on any period piece today is almost invariably referred to as a blood stain. This drives up the drama factor, but is likely inaccurate unless tested and proven to be such.)

 

[Turbo Archie]

Mayby the german soldier was running after he was hit carrying the weapon?

Or shock waves from bomb blast near by.


We will never know but I would think all lines would have the same pattern but some are in a straight line.


..

 

[Winchester Cowboy]

Or running behind the engine/propeller of a German Transport plane trying to get on the plane and out of Stalingrad!

 

[Turbo Archie]

I have a blood stock I'll have to pull out to see if its got any zig or zag.

...

 

[don w]

Yummy yummy.

 

[mto7464]

i think it is funny that you guys are trying to guess how the blood pattern came about almost 70 years post war. Who knows? Do we know for sure it is blood?

 

[Winchester Cowboy]

No, but maybe someone clubbed a Deer with it after they shot, or spilled a ATF on it?