K98 Barrel band slips when hot

M

martinb123

Member
Hello,

I have purchased a 1937 all matching k98 in decent condition. I was trying it out today and after maybe 30 rounds in a 15 minute span, I noticed the front barrel band was coming off (see the picture). Also, as the barrel got really hot, there was thick oil coming from under the barell, so I am assuming someone oiled the wood? Or is it something that should happen? I have no experience with old guns.

Anyway, I had to hammer it back and basically it would come off after several more rounds. Is that an inssue that I can solve? Or the metal has just degraded? I am not interested in shooting the gun as I want to preserve it, but this is getting me worried. Any ideas? Thanks. :) Also, as I am looking at the picture, it still needs to be pushed back a little.
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The band spring (long thin steel piece between the 2 bands) should butt up against the bayonet lug (which is pinned to the end of the stock) and not allow forward movement. Is the stock cut under the rear band (common)? Or as above mentioned, lug not pinned?
 
See the hole on the side (not the hole for the cleaning rod) The stock should fit up inside the base,(opposite of where you would install bayonet) and be pinned through the wood. This piece is a cap on the stock
 

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To see the entire bayonet lug as I have pictured you must remove the band. By depressing the front of the band spring (blue line) you will make the pin go down inside the front band ( yellow line) and allow you to slide the front h band off. Sometimes you my have to tap it with a non marring tool to get it to move. Most likely not in your case if it’s loose.

Attached are photos of pieces disassembled
 

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The upper band is held in place due to tension on the band spring as well as the bayonet lug. The band spring has a curve or arch to it. When the spring is placed in the band spring channel it should take some effort to hold it down low enough to engage the upper band. Once the upper band is in place, the band spring is “loaded” and that pressure bites into the wood in the channel which holds the upper band in place. Unless your rifle has an unrepaired duffle cut, I’d say you may need to re temper the band spring or get another with a more pronounced arch.
 
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yes, & sometimes the spring channel has been ‘dug out’ either through wear or mischief, which can reduce tension on an OK spring & give same problem. I had an unpinned bayo lug come loose along w/bands spring & hand guard. It had a nicely repaired duffle, but never drilled, no pin!
 
You might try adding some thin wooden shims in the band spring channel to increase tension. Oil can cause wood to become soft and compress under the spring and then you could loss the compression needed, or it does look like someone removed some material there but not really where the band spring compressed on the stock.

does it have a duffel cut repair?
 
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Thank you all for your advice. I will soon take it out for another shooting and inspect it closely. It could have had a worse defect, I assume this is just a minor thing. I am going to bring a hammer with me :)
 
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