Matching ftd RG34

[KroniK]

One of my newest additions to the collection.
A full matching ftd kit, small font.

The only WaA is on the chain: ftd WaA925

 

[pwcosol]

Nice score! The other thing is never recalling any ftd marked component bearing a associated WaA acceptance marking. The E/WaA925 acceptance is unique in my limited experience. Hard to tell, but do you also notice a number of poorly crimped, damaged beads on the RGK as well? It is believed these kits were not contracted for the Heer and issues with components like the RGK would never be accepted.

 

[CanadianAR]

Great find!! The waa seems to be unreported on most lists. I guess this doesn’t solve who ftd is but another piece of the puzzle.

 

[pwcosol]

Found this post with trixnet in post #2 also reporting a WaA925 accepted RGK:

https://www.k98kforum.com/threads/my-complete-or-rare-rg34-kits.30610/#post-227106

 

[Mauserken]

Fantastic! I’ve never come across a complete one.

 

[mrfarb]

I just picked up an interesting kit that has a connection to this, I’ll post it.

 

[KroniK]

Does anyone have an idea if there's a possibility that some kits were issued like this? With all parts marked ftd?

 

[SVW1945]

Nice find. Super hard to find these Ftd kits. especially matching components .

 

[pwcosol]

Does anyone have an idea if there's a possibility that some kits were issued like this? With all parts marked ftd?

I believe this to be true. However, of the few ftd kits I or fellow collectors have found that I could examine physically, the vast majority are not 100% ftd marked components. I attribute this to two reasons... one is having observed some components found in ftd coded tins completely devoid of markings, but appearing to be of their manufacture. The other is, more often than not, observing various ftd coded components in other kits... oiler here, RGK or HKW there (and of course mixed manufacturer components in a ftd behalter as well). However, I believe Slash has the most extensive assortment of these kits than anyone else on the planet and will be looking forward to his commentary...

 

[pzjgr]

Just got a call from my buddy back in NY, he picked this up for me...says it has 2 brushes and the chain, no oiler or spoon it sounds like, but hey, I don't have an ftd, so I'll take it! It'll be on its way, I'll post it up when it comes in...

 

[pzjgr]

My ftd partial kit came yesterday, super happy with it. Sadly not complete, but behalter is beautiful, really nice paint, good marking. The chain is marked kcy, no WaA, and the brushes look unused...I have some spare oilers (no ftd's of course) in my gun show totes, so I can at least throw one in there...and I'll keep my eyes open for another spoon...now I really need a tan kit, lol!

 

[pwcosol]

Very nice, larger font size "ftd" marked behalter. The lite colored brushes look typical as well. Pictures below show a ftd oiler, HKW & RGK for comparison purposes. Oiler has very nice, refined components and polish to hull. Also note crudity of grind on underside of bottom oiler cap. HKW has long, thin neck and patch loop. Wide rear and nicely made. RGK has 67 grayish (zinc) beads (excluding bead attached to swivel-link). Note crude nicks around patch loop retaining pin. Member Slash reported that ftd RGKs are observed with poorly crimped beads. These can be somewhat out of round to flattened and exhibiting stress cracks. Damaged beads are seen with other manufacturers, but this is from service use/abuse, rather than a factory assembly issue...