bcd4 f-block blued & with knots

[Absolut]

Went to visit a friend, on the way to his place thought I may try to see if the dealers on the road to his place have some stuff .. got disappointed by the first one which had closed for holidays, second was same level with only having around 20 rifles, only for hunting and only brand new .. called another friend in this area, he told me to try a particular dealer because that one from time to time used to have single items. He was right, in his display was a near NOS bcd4 in the f-block, all matching numbers, complete down to the cleaning rod, front sight cover and sling.

Note it has a non welded front barrel band, but stamped rear barrel band. The laminate stock has some pretty cool knots on the right side of the butt. Also a detail worth noting, the firing proof on the receiver is over the serial (or the serial over the firing proof, don't know what was first). For whatever reason there is another (lightly struck) f under the f on the receiver, maybe even a third one right of the last digit. Maybe the guy doing the numbering had a tough day?

 

[Absolut]

Last picture.

 

[RavenOps]

Good for you for being proactive and doing the leg work. Very handsome rifle.

 

[Jdt]

That is a awesome example! Don't see BCD's that nice anymore. Most seem to be sanded and refinished in some manner or another.

 

[joryfreeburg]

Nice rifle….. congrats

 

[moconfed]

Very unique rifle. I like it!

 

[Mauserguy85]

How much gold and silver did you produce to acquire this fine example?

 

[Absolut]

Actually it was priced very reasonable, a price one would ask in a private sale.

 

[MrB]

Very nice find. You don't see many bcd 4's with white laminate stocks in that condition.

 

[heavy_mech]

Very nice example and those knots in the laminate on the butt are a wonderful feature.

 

[1984Landcruiser]

Nice find!

 

[mauser99]

very nice.. handsome rifle you grabbed. Love the way the receiver # is stamped and the f stamped twice.

 

[Stephan98k]

Also a detail worth noting, the firing proof on the receiver is over the serial (or the serial over the firing proof, don't know what was first). For whatever reason there is another (lightly struck) f under the f on the receiver, maybe even a third one right of the last digit. Maybe the guy doing the numbering had a tough day?

It's a nice bcd4, assembled in the Spring of 1944 by Concentration Camp inmates at the Gustloff-Werke Werk II Buchenwald.

It was not just a tough day, but tough months at Werk II. The assembly of K98k's was already underway on a large scale, while at the same time a certain amount of these Concentration Camp inmates were being trained in a barrel workshop. Then the switch was made to the assembly of G43 rifles and they stopped the inmate training in the workshop. The amount of G43's assembled was to increase monthly, while the assembly of K98k's was to be reduced - at least that was the plan.

During this period some of these K98k's have this little flaws flaws like light or double struck serial numbers etc. Many inmates who had previously worked in other professions worked in the K98k assembly line. One inmate for example, a Dutch painter, was a foreman at Werk II Buchenwald and his brother was also imprisoned and worked with him in the K98k assembly line, this younger brother was originally a shipbuilder. Here are some more examples: a Polish dentist, a French pilot, a Czech police officer, a Russian farmer etc. assembled these K98k's.

The work performance of the inmates in the K98k assembly line was high, which can be seen from the bonus payments made. The inmates of one of these shifts received a total of more than 950 Reichsmarks in May 1944.

Regards,
Stephan

 

[Absolut]

Can't believe I ended up with another one of those which have a real dark story on where they were made. Thank you for telling me Stephan! I guess now I'll need to do the full professional picture set for you?

 

[Stephan98k]

Can't believe I ended up with another one of those which have a real dark story on where they were made. Thank you for telling me Stephan! I guess now I'll need to do the full professional picture set for you?

You are very welcome Georg! Not this bcd4, but thank you for the kind offer. You have another one, a bcd4 Gustloff "Commercial", which I wanted to suggest to Bruce for another topic in the Addendum book.

 

[Absolut]

OK, then that one!