Hello so I don't have a picture or anything just looking for information. I was told SS contract rifles don't have a letter suffix. I was also told the SS contracts have large BNZ on the receiver. Did any SS contracts use the small bnz. 43 rifle without a letter suffix in the serial number? Or was it strictly only large BNZ guns. Just wondering i have someone telling me a rifle is SS but im not 100% sure.I seen it but didn't have a chance to take a picture it's a small bnz. With a 43 on the receiver and I don't remember the serial number but I do remember it was only on the receiver not on the barrel and it did NOT have a letter suffix. Would this be right for a SS contract. Also from what I remember all numbers were matching bolt receiver magazine plate
Information on a bnz rifle without letter prefix
- Thread starter Alex14
- Start date
There are several variants of SS contracts, our best way to help you verify it is a SS contract and not a army contract is getting pictures and posting them here. (Use messenger app camera, they are automatically sized correctly) The easiest way to tell a SS contract from a army contract is lack of a firing proof on the receiver and the bolt shroud and cocking piece will be unnumbered.
I'm waiting for some pictures. I wish I could have taken them when I saw the rifle. I just remember it had no waffenampts on receiver and the serial number was on the receiver safety and the beginning of the bolt handle and mag plate all matching.and it did have the bnz shield on barrel and only one 623 waffenampt next to it. But no waffenampt stamps on the receiver like the normal small bnz rifles im seeing on the forum that have the 623 above the small bnz. I have a photographic memory especially when it's something I'm looking for. Like I said im waiting for pictures but that's exactly what I remember. Im hoping he comes through. I was told that SS was always large BNZ so I was just curious since this one isn't and it doesn't have a letter suffix. Thank you for your replies im just waiting for pictures
Small bnz rifles should have a single rune on the receiver, keep it mind these rifles are heavily faked so once you get those pictures we can verify what it actually is. Barrel bands also matter as well and the barrel steel lot code as well.
Hopefully he will, if you can, grab the karabiner 98K book sets, volume 2a & 2b. Do a Google search and you should find some for sale, those two books being in your library will save you from making a 2 too 3 thousand dollar oops. Those two books cover the majority of K98K production rifles from 1938 to late 1944/very early 1945.
We've all had those happen, there are more out there tho. That dual code is far to much tho for a heavily sanded stock and bolt mismatch. Patience pays off.
There's levels to collecting honestly, I seen a SS contract BNZ 43 rifle that was matching and factory fresh condition sell for either right at 5K or just over. SS contract stuff is not cheap by no means especially 1943 single rune rifles.
Honestly that wasn't luck and more just wanting something from my POV. I seen a large font BNZ 44 SS contract that was matching and in very good condition with a sling sell for 2500 in June of last year, only thing wrong was it was missing the cupped buttplate and two screws. I have a BNZ 44 SS contract and if I had been patient I coulda snagged that one for possibly less. After taxes n shipping costs mine was just over 3K and it wasn't near as nice.
The one I'm sure you bidded on has a stock that had been cleaned/sanded, mismatched barrel band and a probably reblued based on the buttplate. 2350 was either market value or a little bit high.
Quick edit: action wise it looks fine so not a total reblue.
Thanks I needed that kinda down about it but yea band were not numbered and the stock was sanded receiver and everything matching just wish I could've gotten it. Just feel kinda cheated a little bit since it was literally the last 10 minutes but whatever you win some lose some maybe something better will come by. I've been looking at a large bnz 43 but I'm kinda confused on it. Guys asking 2600 but bolt don't match. Has all matching besides the bolt beimg from jp sauer and that matches to itself. He says it's an early 44 rifle,dated 43 receiver. And 44 dated barrel. This gun has been sitting on gun broker for awhile now. The starting bid is 2600 he's asking buy now price of 3200 which I think for a non matching rifle is alot even if the parts were manufactured at gusen well v7 circle stamp as some say
