Unserialized Gustloff bcd4

[Mike2994]

I've been looking for one of these for a bit and Bruce helped me score this unserialized Gustloff this past weekend. These rifles are believed to be assembled by Gustloff factory workers for the GIs that liberated the factory.

This is one of the most interesting variations of late Gustloff rifles to me as they feature a mix of blued, phosphate, and parts with no finish. This rifle features a few interesting characteristics:

• Unfinished floorplate/trigger guard, bolt body, bolt shroud, and rear sight base.
• The front & rear sight are so loose that I can rotate them with a low amount of pressure from my hand.
• No final, no firing, and no e/H proof.
• No external parts are serialized, I have not disassembled the rifle to check the UHG.

The Menzel 'c' marking is circled as it is extremely faint as the stock looks to have been possibly cleaned in the past. In all this is a great example of a very crude and rough near postwar rifle.

 

[Brunomauser44]

Very nice rifle mike ! I like those late bcd !!

 

[Zeppelin5000]

Very cool rifle. If the handguard is indeed unnumbered, it's an armorers replacement.

 

[biggymu]

These are very cool. The first of its kind I have seen posted. I have an unserialized B/R which never had either sight mounted or drilled. The sights are both present but spin (were held on by tape). Nice to see a complete example.

 

[Mike2994]

These are very cool. The first of its kind I have seen posted. I have an unserialized B/R which never had either sight mounted or drilled. The sights are both present but spin (were held on by tape). Nice to see a complete example.

Very neat, I’d love to see photos of the B/R.

It’s interesting that the sights weren’t set, I wonder if any examples have had their sights set/mounted.

 

[biggymu]

Very neat, I’d love to see photos of the B/R.

It’s interesting that the sights weren’t set, I wonder if any examples have had their sights set/mounted.

Once set and soldered I believe they were drilled and pinned in place. I got a couple of screws and ground them down just to keep enough tension to hold the sights in place. It sounds like what you have going on. Most likely yours were never drilled. I’ll have to dig mine out. I mocked up a complete rifle. I can’t remember if the stock is post war or not.

 

[Aaron]

Remarkable piece. Do we assume these never left the factory?

 

[Mike2994]

Remarkable piece. Do we assume these never left the factory?

Thank you! These are assumed to have never left the factory.

 

[AN-94]

Very cool rifle and the first time I've seen one posted here (not that it counts for much). How many of these are estimated to even exist given there's no serial number records to go off of?

 

[Mike2994]

Very cool rifle and the first time I've seen one posted here (not that it counts for much). How many of these are estimated to even exist given there's no serial number records to go off of?

I’ve been told there’s 12 that have been reported counting this one.

 

[AN-94]

I’ve been told there’s 12 that have been reported counting this one.

Damn, talk about a rare piece. I think there's more registered FG42s in the states than there are of these! Thanks for sharing with us!

 

[heavy_mech]

I have to admit it looks really odd without serial numbers and no finish. Never saw one of these before so thanks for sharing this and congrats on snagging what's apparently a very rare example.

 

[Caesar1]

Really interesting! I have a bcd45 that has no serial numbers. I’ll have to post

 

[Mike2994]

Really interesting! I have a bcd45 that has no serial numbers. I’ll have to post

I'd love to see photos! It would be interesting to see if most/all of these share some common features like a lack of solder/pinning of the sights.

 

[mrfarb]

I’ve had a bcd45 without serial, sold it to a buddy. Most show signs of no finish, loose sights, random parts, etc. Clearly GI’s or others picked up parts and put them together to make what appeared to be a complete rifle. I’ve even seen individual components semi assembled sold but clearly from the same hoard. After all, American forces went through the Gustloff factory areas. I have some capture papers listing individual parts that may have been Gustloff parts, not clear.

 

[biggymu]

Mike,
Looking through all my boxes I actually have a complete example like yours and the barreled receiver resto I mentioned. Both front bands have countersunk holes for screws but that’s how I got it.
This one is a BCD 45, has the C stock (has some hole repairs).
Notice how far the front sight is set back. Both of the sights on this example appear solid.
Sorry for the crap photos. My camera is having issues.
I will try and get some of the barreled receiver later, it is a BCD 45 also.
Getting old sucks. I can’t believe I forgot I had this. I guess it’s still better then the alternative.

Edit: how are these being reported, what data is used/needed?

 

[Tom Steil]

I see the 'C' stamping on the stock - but what is the meaning of it?

 

[Mike2994]

Mike,
Looking through all my boxes I actually have a complete example like yours and the barreled receiver resto I mentioned. Both front bands are drilled for screws but that’s how I got it.
This one is a BCD 45 has the C stock ( has some hole repairs)
Notice how far the front sight is set back. Both of the sights on this example appear solid.
Sorry for the crap photos. My camera is having issues.
I will try and get some of the barreled receiver later, it is a BCD4
Getting old sucks. I can’t believe I forgot I had this. I guess it’s still better then the alternative.

Very nice and interesting example! I appreciate the photos!

 

[Mike2994]

I see the 'C' stamping on the stock - but what is the meaning of it?

‘c’ denotes Hermann Menzel. A large supplier for 98k stocks especially to Gustloff.

 

[moconfed]

Killer example! I've seen bits, pieces, and parts, but it's nice to see them flying in the correct formation.