Nazi 1943 Danish Krag...

[Len S]

A friend brought this rifle in to show me today. It's a Danish m.89 carbine type made in 1943 and marked on the barrel and the wrist with an illegible waffenamt. The piece is matching except for the bolt. The bore is pristine and the The stock is duffle bag cut. Asking price is $850. Is this rifle the real thing or a turd??
Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Len

 

[Pat]

Hi Len S,
The WaA on the left receiver is bad, simply for the reason that there is no evidence for there being an assigned WaA team in Denmark for small arms production. These were also produced for the Danish Police and Army in 1944, and are accordingly marked. The stamp I've seen on fakes has always been WaA84, which was active in Kongsberg, Norway and not Denmark. As you noted, it's a bolt mis-match. The Model 1889 should have a straight bolt.

On the other hand, I believe the wrist markings are good. I have an all-matching example that has the same markings. That depot is Mainz 8, and the circled 'H1' below that is also seen in conjunction with the depot stamp, although mine has a circled 'H2.'

Best,
Pat

 

[RyanE]

As mentioned, the HZa inspection is right as rain, but I would not be so quick to dismiss the WaA. You would really need to trend these rifles to know for sure since there are at least technically "new" production rifles and the WaA could have been involved.

Bolt is right for a carbine and the first four digits (1244) I can see match. Just off by a few, I guess?

 

[Len S]

Hi Pat,
Thanks for your input! I was mistaken about the bolt , it is matching. I was looking at a number stamped on the underside of the bolt. The serial # is actually stamped along the length of the bolt.

Len

 

[Pat]

As mentioned, the HZa inspection is right as rain, but I would not be so quick to dismiss the WaA. You would really need to trend these rifles to know for sure since there are at least technically "new" production rifles and the WaA could have been involved.

Bolt is right for a carbine and the first four digits (1244) I can see match. Just off by a few, I guess?

Correct, they were definitely new production in those years (1943-44), but there's just not any evidence for German teams active at these facilities in any supervisory, manufacturing or inspecting capacity. It's just not there. My 'Stomperud' Krag (pic below) is WaA84 marked, but with a completely different style of stamp than what Len S showed, more consistent with what's seen at other facilities and completely unlike the 'stick' style above.

Hi Pat,
Thanks for your input! I was mistaken about the bolt , it is matching. I was looking at a number stamped on the underside of the bolt. The serial # is actually stamped along the length of the bolt.

Len

Glad I could help. That's great that the bolt matches after all! Question for you: My bolt is marked with the last three numbers of the serial number in two places on the bolt. Is yours marked anywhere else on the bolt besides the length of the bolt?

Best,
Pat

 

[RyanE]

Correct, they were definitely new production in those years (1943-44), but there's just not any evidence for German teams active at these facilities in any supervisory, manufacturing or inspecting capacity. It's just not there. My 'Stomperud' Krag (pic below) is WaA84 marked, but with a completely different style of stamp than what Len S showed, more consistent with what's seen at other facilities and completely unlike the 'stick' style above.

Pic of another carbine. Note the SN. Not saying its legit, but I don't know enough to draw any conclusions.

 

[Pat]

Are you able to make out the number of the WaA? Even stranger to have that on a 1929 dated rifle.

 

[Len S]

Hi Pat,
The last three digits of the serial number are on the cocking piece as well.

Len

 

[RyanE]

Are you able to make out the number of the WaA? Even stranger to have that on a 1929 dated rifle.

Unfortunately, no.

Given that Danish Krags were numbered sequentially from the start of production, I think the one pictured is simply a leftover 1929 marked receiver used in 1943 production. Note the SN is a few hundred higher than the 1943 dated example.

 

[Pat]

Hi Pat,
The last three digits of the serial number are on the cocking piece as well.

Len

Mine too, and above that on another part. Very cool!

Unfortunately, no.

Given that Danish Krags were numbered sequentially from the start of production, I think the one pictured is simply a leftover 1929 marked receiver used in 1943 production. Note the SN is a few hundred higher than the 1943 dated example.

If so, I'm surprised that one wasn't used up in 1939-1940, when most countries saw the writing on the wall and were arming up.