Grandfathers Mauser ID!

[Hibbs]

I would think that would be at least a $2500 rifle. Maybe spend $650 on a russian capture k98 if you have the urge to see what it feels like.

[hale1940]

Parts were made at the Gusen subcamp as mentioned but assembly was carried out at a Steyr plant, not in Steyr but rather Molln. Here's some info from MRJ written by Loewe that I believe is pretty accurate. https://militaryriflejournal.wordpre...le-production/

Hey heavy_mech,

I was looking into the books and it appears that assembly didn't move to Molln until after the February '44 bombing, where as that article from Loewe says it moved in '42. However it seems that bnz 43 Gusen receivers were used on rifles assembled both at Steyr and Molln. This rifle as the barrel code 'bnz shield - ay' and my ignorance really comes out here as I haven't quite figured out where this barrel code would place this rifle in SS contract production. So this rifle could be Molln or it could be Steyr assembled.... perhaps someone far more knowledgable than I will chime in.

[mrfarb]

As a general guide, a serial on the receiver indicates Steyr assembly, and a barrel serial indicates Molln assembly (for early 1944 Steyr made rifles). The serial was moved at the time the production was moved. It’s not exact but close enough. With an ay barrel code I’d say late 43 assembly.


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[hale1940]

As a general guide, a serial on the receiver indicates Steyr assembly, and a barrel serial indicates Molln assembly (for early 1944 Steyr made rifles). The serial was moved at the time the production was moved. It’s not exact but close enough. With an ay barrel code I’d say late 43 assembly.


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Thanks! Thats a good rule of thumb and a lot of help.

What barrel codes start to indicate '44 assembly?

[heavy_mech]

As a general guide, a serial on the receiver indicates Steyr assembly, and a barrel serial indicates Molln assembly (for early 1944 Steyr made rifles). The serial was moved at the time the production was moved. It’s not exact but close enough. With an ay barrel code I’d say late 43 assembly.

Hmm. I was under the impression they were out of Steyr proper much earlier than that. Higher production priorites forced the move. Is that now considered wrong? We're going with after the bombing? For certain? I'm not trying to be arguementative, just looking for some clarity on the subject.

[mrfarb]

The move of 98k production from the Steyr factory to Molln was an emergency move directly related to the bombing, not for increased capacity. The building in Molln was essentially a hastily built shack - I read after the war they just burned it down, wasn’t even worth repurposing. I’ve never seen it suggested the move was for increased capacity, if anything it cut production substantially, especially short term.

Barrel code info can be found here: SS Contract and Single Rune serial study
https://r.tapatalk.com/shareLink/top...ink_source=app

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[heavy_mech]

..I’ve never seen it suggested the move was for increased capacity, if anything it cut production substantially, especially short term.

I was unclear. I didn't mean for increased small arms production but rather other higher priorities of products. Ball bearings, aircraft engines, etc. I was always under the impression that what ran small arms out of Steyr.

Yes I agree the move to Molln reduced the rate of production. I did NOT know it was a 'shack'.

[mrfarb]

Oh, I see. No, barrel production was moved from Letten to Steyr (then to Gusen) to free up space for other products to be made at Letten, and I’m sure some things were moved here and there at the main plant- maybe that’s what you are thinking of. The Molln move may have been thought of as a future site but the bombing made it immediate.


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