bcd 4 stock markings

[M1903A3]

Hi all,

From what I have been able to find, the only stocks usually devoid of exterior markings are "dou" made stocks. This stock is on my bcd 4. No markings at all inside except for those shown below. The stock is laminated, and seems very dry, with a few old cracks lengthwise in the laminate near the butt. Some old looking dents on it too, but no evidence of any of the expected markings. What might it be? You can also see what might be a captured country's rack number or something on the right side of the butt, I enhanced it so you can read "KST 747" or something like that.

 

[mto7464]

Hi all,

From what I have been able to find, the only stocks usually devoid of exterior markings are "dou" made stocks. This stock is on my bcd 4. No markings at all inside except for those shown below. The stock is laminated, and seems very dry, with a few old cracks lengthwise in the laminate near the butt. Some old looking dents on it too, but no evidence of any of the expected markings. What might it be? You can also see what might be a captured country's rack number or something on the right side of the butt, I enhanced it so you can read "KST 747" or something like that.

Not enough info on the stock. Does it have a bayo lug, drilled for cleaning rod? I am guessing from what you have posted a post war stock. I think I have seen yugo stocks marked like this.

 

[mrfarb]

I think the marking on the right side is Czech military.

 

[mto7464]

Czech, yugo, I figured one of them.

 

[mrfarb]

Czech, yugo, I figured one of them.

Both are a good bet, but I think Yugo is on the left side, Czech on the right? Of course that's assuming a lot on my part that they always did it one way.

 

[M1903A3]

Yes the stock seems to have the correct style late war features like no takedown disk, etc. It has a bayonet lug and is drilled for a cleaning rod. Also the late butt plate with hole for bolt disassembly.

If its not the correct stock for this action I still think that all the other parts warrant restoration, or at least an attempt at it!! And the bore is good too!

Thank you all for your ideas and replies!

 

[mto7464]

looks like a late bcd stock. Any letter C on it. Evidence of the EH stamp?

 

[M1903A3]

Other than the marking on the right side of the stock, there aren't any other marks at all. I should also add that there are no import marks on it, like if it were imported by Blue Sky or anyone else.

From what I have been able to see poring through the excellent pictures here, it LOOKS like a late "bcd" stock. Maybe it was sanded at some point? I don't have any history on it.

If the stock IS "correct" I will keep it even though it was stamped by someone else. But that brings a question? Could another country who captured it have stamped the butt that way?

I don't yet have a copy of "Kriegsmodell" but I am after one! My rifle I guess will really be best covered in the "middle" book, assuming that this bcd4 was assembled in 1944 and NOT 1945. Hopefully the book will answer some of my questions about this particular rifle.

 

[mto7464]

bcd 4's are covered in KM. What is the serial number of yours? Better yet a pic of the serial number esp. if its in the 5 digit series.
Here is a thread with my restored bcd from my great uncle.

 

[Vergeltung]

my BCD 4 stock is also devoid of exterior markings. I was only able to identify it by the barrel channel markings (letters, IIRC, pmr or phr, phn , something like that. (I forget, not at home now). researched that and found a thread about BCD 4 stocks.

also, it was not drilled for a cleaning rod. DID have a take down disc though.

 

[mto7464]

my BCD 4 stock is also devoid of exterior markings. I was only able to identify it by the barrel channel markings (letters, IIRC, pmr or phr, phn , something like that. (I forget, not at home now). researched that and found a thread about BCD 4 stocks.

also, it was not drilled for a cleaning rod. DID have a take down disc though.

bcd stocks should be drilled for cleaning rod. Late dou stocks were not drilled for cleaning rod yet still had the take down disc till the end. They went to the screw on bands next after eliminating the cleaning rod hole. Plus dou stock are void of stock markings, except some small stamped letters like an x or something.

 

[M1903A3]

Thanks again mto7464 for your input! I will get a good pic of the serial number up tomorrow and we can see what that might determine.

 

[M1903A3]

More pictures

Hi everyone,

Here are a few more pictures. From what I have learned on the forum and by viewing pictures and threads, these parts are correct for a bcd4 rifle. The follower, which I didn't get a picture of, is stamped "lxr". The bands are unmarked. The bolt, though apparently parkerized, may have old oil dried onto it which kind of looks mottled, but I do not want to clean this too aggressively after what I have read!! Suffice to say though that the action works fine. The barrel is stamped "C E" which should be Sauer supplied? The style of proof mark and the 5 digit serial number should make it before the serial numbers rolled over. (Please tell me if I am wrong on any of this!) I can't prove this is the original stock, but my feeling is that it may very well be, and was stamped on the butt after capture? The Yugo and Czech stocks I can find pics of don't match these numbers in style though. I have also been told that the number on the bolt looked suspicious to someone, BUT as the rifle was NOT sold to me as an "all matching" gun and was NOT bought for a premium price, I wonder if that is not true. I paid a little over 500 for it, so for a late war rifle that is almost all matching AND in good shape I don't think thats too bad at all!

David

 

[Vergeltung]

bcd stocks should be drilled for cleaning rod. Late dou stocks were not drilled for cleaning rod yet still had the take down disc till the end. They went to the screw on bands next after eliminating the cleaning rod hole. Plus dou stock are void of stock markings, except some small stamped letters like an x or something.

Hmmm, interesting. Perhaps I have a DOU then.

 

[mto7464]

The rear band has been replaced. Should not have the screw hole. Take some pics of the bolt.

 

[M1903A3]

Bolt pics

Okay here is the bolt, disassembled. Now, at one point one person thought that the serial number on the bolt handle looked suspicious. I do not agree and here is why! In viewing other rifles on this forum, I have found more than a few where that surface on the bolt handle is not as rough as others, exactly like the ones I am about to show you. All three of these bolts are very similar in their font style, stamping depth, and especially in the surfaces of the bolts. Thus, I believe this to be the original bolt. Besides, MrFarb, owner of one of the rifles I will show you, has also stated elsewhere that it is very hard to exactly recreate phosphating after grinding and restamping. My bolt has the same sort of mottled (dried grease) appearance seen on many other phosphated bcd4's. The other two rifles belong to MrFarb and Gerard, both members of this forum and whose excellent pictures and descriptions of THEIR bcd4's I have looked to for comparison. The first pic is MrFarb's beautiful dual-tone blued/parkerized bcd4, the second a fantastic bcd4 owned by forum member Gerald. Last is a (dark) picture of my bcd4 bolt, disassembled.