Mauser Oberndorf byf 44 'h' block - attic find

Holy Molly ! I did not expect so many reactions. Thank you very much guys. I'm glad you liked it.
I have a question for you : is the front sight base with the small eagle and no WaA team number a common sight on byf44 ? (or perhaps there's a number, but it is so small that I can't read it).
 
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Yes, very common. I'd have to dig through the safe to be certain but pretty sure it's on every byf44 I have. I don't always photograph that area directly so it's hard to tell in some of my albums. Here's my "h" block with it.

 
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Yes, very common. I'd have to dig through the safe to be certain but pretty sure it's on every byf44 I have. I don't always photograph that area directly so it's hard to tell in some of my albums. Here's my "h" block with it.

Cool, thanks for the link to your post.
I looked up old posts about late byf 44 recently but missed this one. The barrel code of your rifle appears on p.261 of Vol IIa.
I only found one 'h' block owned by @Hambone (in excellent condition):
 
If you add the totals for the 'h' block and the 20,000 run for Croatia during that period, it puts total production at near the monthly average for Oberndorf.
By the serial number studies, the 'h' block was the smallest letter block block run in 1944, not including the 'n' block and the other hand-stamped series.
 
Beautiful gun for an attic find. Well beauty regardless of where it was found. That metal is really great. I’d be tempted to leave it as it exactly.
 
If you add the totals for the 'h' block and the 20,000 run for Croatia during that period, it puts total production at near the monthly average for Oberndorf.
By the serial number studies, the 'h' block was the smallest letter block block run in 1944, not including the 'n' block and the other hand-stamped series.
I'm almost done with my calcs, but need to read closely the extracts of period documents in the Vol IIa chapter before I post in the other thread:
Depending on how long it took them to produce the hand-stamp series, I still see a shortfall compared to the average monthly rate of 50-55k (net output) achieved the first half of 1944.
Beautiful gun for an attic find. Well beauty regardless of where it was found. That metal is really great. I’d be tempted to leave it as it exactly.
Thanks, I will. Before I bought it, I asked myself if it could still be nice with minimal cleaning (a wipe of bronze wool on blued parts). Answer was yes and here it is.
 
I will also add to the other thread.
I just got additional factory data from 1945 which will help fill in the late war data.
I also have accurate monthly production numbers for all of 1945.

The only issue I see is in Jan. 1945 but the new March 45 numbers help sort that anomaly out.

Let me dig my 'h' block out - in this case a rifle assembled with an 'ar 44' coded receiver.
The 'h' block also being the first production block in 1944 using newly made Mauser Berlin receivers.

B.
 
I've still got it. I got it from you dirt cheap too. :)

Ah, that was when you were new ;) I remember now. You did get it cheap, even by then standards I think. The good thing is we all take care of each other here, that one has come around and helped me too. Glad you got it.....and cheap ;)
 
Here is the 'h' block ar44. The barrel code is 44E35 with the blank supplied by Edelstahlwerke.
I also have data on ar44 3rd handstamped series with barrel code 44E32.
Last the SN puts this as close to a new high SN for this block.
 

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Here is the 'h' block ar44. The barrel code is 44E35 with the blank supplied by Edelstahlwerke.
I also have data on ar44 3rd handstamped series with barrel code 44E32.
Last the SN puts this as close to a new high SN for this block.
That's cool ! I guess it was hidden in your capture pile(s) :LOL:
Hambone's/Ryan's rifle also has a 44 E 35 code (but no ar44 receiver).
Maybe more 'h' block/early 'i' block with Edelstahlwerke barrels will show up in the future (problem with supply/quality of the ones from Döhlen ?)

I have 42022h recorded. I found it on a European auction site I think.
Have you saved pics of this one ? Such a high would almost fill the gap.
 
Unfortunately I did not save a pic of it. At the time I remember being surprised by it but didn't think it was that important or unusual, they were making close to 60k a month of other blocks so it seemed totally plausible. I was discussing this with Bruce last night and from what I remember it was either a complete m/m or very limited pics. I'm pretty confident I recorded correct and good data but it's possible I made a mistake.
 
This is what I wrote Jeremy last night:

Jeremy, I remember now why I did not put that 42xxx in the totals.
The nearest number is almost 7000 numbers away.
I have numerous 'h' block serial numbers, and the biggest differential is about 3k.

By my book, that difference of nearly 7000 was an anomaly and questionable.
That was my reasoning behind the deletion.


With my Sn.36714, the difference is down to 5308 rifles, a closer number.

I would now lean toward the new high Sn as being legititmate.
 
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