AX41 Luftwaffe contract

[Warrior1354]

Been wanting to rephotograph this rifle for quite some time bought it in the fall of 2014. When I posted it then I did not believe the pictures did the rifle justice. Alot of poor lighting and I did not show important characteristics of the rifle. Plus when you look at a certain rifle again after gathering more knowledge under your belt it pays off later. So what do we know well it is a Luftwaffe contract Feima rifle the only one listed in the vol II book. I have been studying Feima Luftwaffe contract rifles for quite a while even after this one was discovered. I have not seen another AX41 Luft contract since I purchased this one in 2014. I was curious if an AX 1940 Luftwaffe was out there as well and it turns out my hunch was correct. A very nice bolt mismatched rifle was sold last year and yes I tried to go after that one, but it sold for quite a bit.

But this rifle is special it has battle damage too which I find neat. Unfortunately not all matching the entire trigger guard assembly was replaced but it matches itself. Now some interesting details there is a stock proof on the stock I can't quite make out. Maybe others will chime in. It does no look like a Feima proof but something else could it be depot? Who knows? I have discovered some neat parts in a Feima made rifle. We know Feima/Erma made almost everything they had in shop and hardly subcontracted out much. What I have found barrel band spring e37 for Sauer matching, front sight base e/18 for Dresden a subcontractor for Gustloff also matching, wa4 BSW cleaning rod nut screw inside the stock channel, and e37 JP Sauer cupped buttplate. I have seen subcontracted cupped buttplates for JP Sauer in AX41 production. But not a straight up e37 cupped buttplate and no subcontracter markings.

Just some interesting details. And I'm hoping maybe others will surface in the future. Maybe then we can find out the productions numbers in this very small Luftwaffe contract.

 

[Warrior1354]

Rear sight components, Front sight, and Cleaning rod and parts.

 

[Warrior1354]

Bolt components

 

[Warrior1354]

Stock Components

 

[Warrior1354]

Stock marking and inside stock channel. The last picture in this thread is the proof I can't quite make out.

 

[Guillaume d'Orange]

I like it a lot, it makes me think about Claudia Schiffer with an eyepatch
Your observations of the tiny pieces matches those of Herk and jory:

AX 1940

Here’s my AX outdoors, I’ve been wanting to do this for a while now. Unfortunately I can’t upload full-size pictures anymore because I don’t know how to on this new forum, medium size will have to suffice. Enjoy, especially you Warrior1354

www.k98kforum.com

AX 1940 #2769 L block

Here is a rifle that I recently picked up on GB, it came out of that group of rifles out of Kentucky. Some look better that others, I thought from the photos it looked honest and worn. I believe it’s that... honest and worn. It’s all there and matching besides the hand guard which there is...

www.k98kforum.com

Have you look at the stamp on the bolt sleeve lock ? It is really tiny, bolt sleeve lock is not part of the data sheets in the books, but it could be another piece from a subcontractor.

The mysterious stamp looks like an eagle, maybe an additional Luftwaffe proof ???

 

[trinxet]

 

[Loewe]

Nice rifle, these are much better photographs!

The nut was probably made by Luck & Wagner, Suhl (K), they commonly did make these and supplied them widely, also eboxes on a wide scale, plus incidentals like springs.

E/L marked are far less common than E/H but the whole year has a high rc and Norge rate, there is another E/L f-block though, sold in 2013 by a flipper, 7937/f, the Army rifles carry the swept eagle whereas the LW have this stiff eagle that is more common by 1941.

Anyway, not an easy rifle to find in this condition, nearing the end for ERMA also.

 

[Warrior1354]

Thanks Paul and yes I'm happy with how these turned out much better from 7 years ago! And that's interesting the other AX41 Luft contract you mention also falls into the f block really close to my rifle Paul. I'll be honest I have been keeping track of these since 2014 and I have only seen this one and that AX 1940 bolt mismatched Paul. Glad to hear there are others. Would love to hear your other findings Paul when you get time.

Still I'm quite happy this is one of three AX rifles I own in my collection. I guess my nickname does fit the bill you can thank Mike for that.

 

[Herk1994]

That there is a nice one, a Luft contract of any condition is on my wish list. Of course, not a unicorn beauty like that! Sweet photos Warrior.

 

[heavy_mech]

What I have found barrel band spring e37 for Sauer matching, front sight base e/18 for Dresden a subcontractor for Gustloff also matching, wa4 BSW cleaning rod nut screw inside the stock channel, and e37 JP Sauer cupped buttplate. I have seen subcontracted cupped buttplates for JP Sauer in AX41 production. But not a straight up e37 cupped butt plate with no subcontractor markings.

My '41 c block has all these exact pieces marked exactly as yours. This is proving to be quite consistent.

 

[heavy_mech]

The nut was probably made by Luck & Wagner, Suhl (K), they commonly did make these and supplied them widely, also eboxes on a wide scale, plus incidentals like springs.

Agreed. I'll add I believe the e/18 FSB was made by Nähmatag in Dresden.

 

[heavy_mech]

Have you look at the stamp on the bolt sleeve lock ? It is really tiny, bolt sleeve lock is not part of the data sheets in the books, but it could be another piece from a subcontractor.

I had not thought to check the bolt sleeve lock.

Jordan if you get a chance check you ejector. Mine is e/4.

 

[Warrior1354]

I had not thought to check the bolt sleeve lock.

Jordan if you get a chance check you ejector. Mine is e/4. View attachment 272965

Guess I will have to get it out of the safe again luckily it's in the front and not in the very back! Need to post a few more pictures anyway

 

[Herk1994]

I had not thought to check the bolt sleeve lock.

Jordan if you get a chance check you ejector. Mine is e/4. View attachment 272965

Now I gotta pull my AX 40 out, totally overlooked the ejector proof

 

[Guillaume d'Orange]

I had not thought to check the bolt sleeve lock.

Jordan if you get a chance check you ejector. Mine is e/4.

Interesting find ! The search goes on
By the way, guys, I read yesterday the Erma's chapter and I noticed on the data sheet p 465 of a 27 1939 "a" block that the follower spring had an e/280.
If anyone of you owns a 27 1939 or 27 1940, it would be interesting to check when the Waffenamt stopped marking this overlooked part. If they continued marking it after the transition from "27" to "ax", it may be another non-Feima part (although I would bet the WaA stopped before).

 

[Benny65]

Interesting find ! The search goes on
By the way, guys, I read yesterday the Erma's chapter and I noticed on the data sheet p 465 of a 27 1939 "a" block that the follower spring had an e/280.
If any of you own a 27 1939 or 27 1940, it would be interesting to check when the Waffenamt stopped marking this overlooked part. If they continued marking it after the transition from "27" to "ax", it may be another non-Feima part (although I would bet the WaA stopped before).

27 1940 late c block (9123 c)

 

[Guillaume d'Orange]

27 1940 late c block (9123 c)

Thanks Benny, quite a great leap forward from '39 "a" block to '40 "c" block. We are almost in Erma/Feima transition territory. Anyone after "c" block ?

 

[ljoconnor]

Cool hard to find rifle!

 

[Wolfsburg]

Beeeeeautiful rifle Jordan!