Steyr Code 660 from 1940
- Thread starter Absolut
- Start date
It is a very nice rifle, they are usually expensive in this condition too... I like the buttplate, not sure how common that is, typically they are SDP (e/623) buttplates, not sure if I have ever seen it before or I neglected to note it in my trends sheets. Have you a picture of the right side of the receiver? I assume e/623 x4, as it is a little too early for a Radom receiver to pop up, but if I learned anything about studying SDP, it is that nothing is certain about the way their rifles were made.
It is also pretty early use of a Radom barrel, earliest known is a "j" block and scattered through the "k" block, but only a handful so far.
It is also pretty early use of a Radom barrel, earliest known is a "j" block and scattered through the "k" block, but only a handful so far.
Bigdibbs88
"Ach du lieber!"
looks like a keeper to me. Not an easy find 
mike radford
Senior Member
Very impressive rifle. I like.
Yes, early SDP production was quite decent, comparable to many of the other makers, but they seem to have lost their Imperial era reputation. Steyr was once the equal of Mauser Oberndorf, a great company with men of great insight and skill, after the 1930s that seems to have been lost, - part of this was the reality of a lost war, which hit Austria as dearly as it did Germany. Gone were the days of large scale arms manufacture, so they developed their automobile line and made vehicles primarily. Small arms taking a predictable decline though maintaining high quality (small numbers though, only a few thousand a year). The decline was also more profound because of the nature of the new company, after Austria's great economic collapse in 1931, the companies small arms business largely evaporated. Quickly its past was swept away and it became a modern corporation, government owned essentially, through a bank that was state owned after it collapsed, merging with two other companies, rationalized and naturally small arms weren't a significant part of their production. Had it not been for Rheinmetalls projects working around arms restrictions (Solothurn) SDP probably would have given up arms altogether. As it was in 1937 it was a miniscule aspect of their production and probably kept only because of tradition.
Seeing as we have you in a photographic mood, can you do one of the underside of the bolt handle, the bottom flat, it should have acceptance there also. It should be e/623 x2, but early in 1941 SDP started to use Radom bolts and you never know.
Seeing as we have you in a photographic mood, can you do one of the underside of the bolt handle, the bottom flat, it should have acceptance there also. It should be e/623 x2, but early in 1941 SDP started to use Radom bolts and you never know.
Absolut
Senior Member
Just because I was sure you would request further WaA-pictures I've took several more, showing those at the right side of the rear sight, at the front sling swivel and the H-style front Band aswell. And it seems like this rifle would perfectly fit your description, as it should be...
Yes, my wife says I am the most predictable person she's ever met...
It is exactly as it should be, the buttplate the only unusual thing, though absolutely correct. While I have never recorded an Astrawerke BP on such an early SDP rifle, that suffix would be damn difficult to replicate and it is perfect. Your rifle is about as nice as these come and would be worth a good deal if sold, - with pictures this good.
It is exactly as it should be, the buttplate the only unusual thing, though absolutely correct. While I have never recorded an Astrawerke BP on such an early SDP rifle, that suffix would be damn difficult to replicate and it is perfect. Your rifle is about as nice as these come and would be worth a good deal if sold, - with pictures this good.
mauser99
Senior Member
A 660 code 29/40 marked rifle with a slightly sanded stock with the proofs helped back to life just sold on g.b. with a B.I.N. for just over 2800.00 so there is an idea of value. This blank receiver 660 40 is the start of k98 production @ steyr. Not that they aren't basically the same rifle other than markings and the bolt stop.
Absolut
Senior Member
Well, if someone was highly interested and offered a good price or something to trade which I'd be interested, I would let that rifle go. However, getting it into the US from here in Europe would be the bigger issue. I do also have two nearly as-mint BNZ43 and a BNZ4 rifle in my collection, but keep wondering why I bought those ..
€dit: anyway, thanks for the information and price guidance, that has helped a lot!
€dit: anyway, thanks for the information and price guidance, that has helped a lot!