BCD 4 Mismatch Font

[Venny]

Hey Everyone! I'm new to the forum and new to collecting WW2 Rifles. I just purchased an all numbers matching K98 BCD 4 out of impulse, soon after it was put on the market. I was lucky enough to be able to put a down payment on it so that I could do a little bit of research on it first. I was satisfied with what I found, so I bought it. I guess you guys can prove me wrong on my assumption that it's authentic. The only issue I have that might make it a fraud is that the font is different on the barrel and upper hand guard than it is on the bolt and stock, although the bolt is phosphate like the rest of the metal on the rifle,as you can see in the pics. Would it be because the barrel is manufactured by JP Sauer and the bolt is manufactured by Gustloff Werk? Looking forward to seeing what you guys have to say.

 

[Cyrano4747]

I'm not going to comment too strongly because these aren't my focus and I don't want to get too ahead of myself, but a quick glance through the picture index shows at least one other BCD4 with both font types for the "3."

Phosphate bcd4 Late 5 Digit SN

After looking around locally for quite a long time, I finally found and own my first matching K98k! This one came out of a collection that was being auctioned off locally, apparently this collection consisted of 450-500 guns stored in 55 gallon drums in the collector's basement and it wasn't...

www.k98kforum.com

In that case it's cocking piece and bolt shroud for the curved 3 and bolt root and safety for the straight 3.

Just a data point, I leave it to others to make a solid statement on the bolt.

 

[Muncher 1953]

a factor in this is that the number stamps are of different heights throughout 1 rifle, even when all fonts are the same. for example, the numbers on a safety are often taller than those on the bolt shroud or bolt root. so, these are different SETS of stamps. That the font might change over time or maker to maker doesn’t seem surprising, but certainly worth observation & discussion.

 

[Fal Grunt]

When you have a certain level of Autism or OCD, things like this catch your eye.

In the process of assembly the parts would be initially fit to gauges and work pieces. They went "up" the supply chain and were progressively assembled into sub assemblies. An actioner would assemble the action to a certain point. "Barrel and receiver selected and screwed on" at some point an assembly of parts was numbered. In this example, the barrel, receiver, bolt, bolt stop assembly, trigger assembly. Quite some time later the stock and buttplate were numbered.

A quick skim give 6 different times that the K98k was numbered.

From my experience working in manufacturing, each one of those locations would have a their own set of stamps. Each of those stamp sets would be unique for a number of reasons.

 

[Muncher 1953]

When you have a certain level of Autism or OCD, things like this catch your eye.

In the process of assembly the parts would be initially fit to gauges and work pieces. They went "up" the supply chain and were progressively assembled into sub assemblies. An actioner would assemble the action to a certain point. "Barrel and receiver selected and screwed on" at some point an assembly of parts was numbered. In this example, the barrel, receiver, bolt, bolt stop assembly, trigger assembly. Quite some time later the stock and buttplate were numbered.

A quick skim give 6 different times that the K98k was numbered.

From my experience working in manufacturing, each one of those locations would have a their own set of stamps. Each of those stamp sets would be unique for a number of reasons.

oops, busted! & once a factory rat, always a factory rat.

 

[Venny]

Thanks for all your replies gents! I'll take it as to not worry about it and that I bought myself a beautiful piece of history. I was focused on the font due to this article...

bcd fakes

 

[biggymu]

The metal and stamps looks fine to me. It’s hard to tell about the stock. From what little is shown, it may have had an oil applied.

 

[Turbo Archie]

When you have a certain level of Autism or OCD, things like this catch your eye.

In the process of assembly the parts would be initially fit to gauges and work pieces. They went "up" the supply chain and were progressively assembled into sub assemblies. An actioner would assemble the action to a certain point. "Barrel and receiver selected and screwed on" at some point an assembly of parts was numbered. In this example, the barrel, receiver, bolt, bolt stop assembly, trigger assembly. Quite some time later the stock and buttplate were numbered.

A quick skim give 6 different times that the K98k was numbered.

From my experience working in manufacturing, each one of those locations would have a their own set of stamps. Each of those stamp sets would be unique for a number of reasons.

I will say that I observed this on a bnz43 rifle
Both bands and the hand guard had two numbers reversed, but nothing else on the rifle did.