1944 dot K98 Questions?

[Michael Kasper]

Greetings,

I just purchased a nice 1944 dot K98, serial #89484. It is a vet bring back and all matching. It has a milled original floorplate with a number 1. Also, the safety is missing the serial number. My understanding from "The K98k at War" is that the floorplates are stamped and marked with bfy135. Also, the safeties were serial numbered. Does this mean both the safety and floorplate are replaced? Or did late war dot's have unserialized safeties and milled floorplates.
Thanks.

[bodes]

Greetings,

I just purchased a nice 1944 dot K98, serial #89484. It is a vet bring back and all matching. It has a milled original floorplate with a number 1. Also, the safety is missing the serial number. My understanding from "The K98k at War" is that the floorplates are stamped and marked with bfy135. Also, the safeties were serial numbered. Does this mean both the safety and floorplate are replaced? Or did late war dot's have unserialized safeties and milled floorplates.
Thanks.

Michael, Don't worry.....Your rifle sounds correct IMHO......I have 3 'dot44's'......At least one has a similar 5 digit serial #, which I believe were manufactured up into 1945 with leftover '44 made receivers.....My one 5 digit one is in the 35XXX range and also has the milled floorplate marked '1'.....Also by this time, they were no longer serial numbering safties......Does yours exhibit any kriegsmodell features?.....Mine is a semi-kriegsmodell....It's lacking bayonet lug, bandspring, and cleaning rod......However is still nicely blued and has takedown disk.....Hope this helps.....Bodes

[Michael Kasper]

Bodes,
Thanks so much for the information. This is my first K98. I am quite excited about it! I don't think it is a kriegsmodell. Take a look at the image.
Cheers!

[P08]

My brother has an original one as well. It has also got Mauser parts in it. I think they must have received a load of Mauser parts sometime in 1944 and used them in the rifles they assembled.

[Daniele C]

Wot do you mean it s not a kriegsmodell?wot s different?

[Adrian Stevenson]

Hi Dan, for an explanation about the Kreigsmodel K98 see Matt's article here:

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/unif...k/k98index.htm

Cheers, Ade.

[jack944]

rifle

If you look in BBOTW you will see that the stock should be proofed dot on the handguard and the stock bottom spine. I have some questions about the inconsistent bluing on this rifle. The front band looks perfect yet the floorplate is worn. As a principal researcher on BBOTW I would need more pics.

[bodes]

Bodes,
Thanks so much for the information. This is my first K98. I am quite excited about it! I don't think it is a kriegsmodell. Take a look at the image.
Cheers!

Michael, I'm thinking yours is a 4-digit serial with a lower case letter (not a 5-digit).....I'm going by the number pictured under the handguard......IF this is indeed the case, yours is earlier than I thought......Thus would not exhibit kriegsmodell features yet......However I still think your floorplate and safety are correct.....Does yours by chance have a 'qnw' stamped triggerguard?......Bodes

[Michael Kasper]

Hi Bodes,
Yes, it is definitely 89484!
Cheers!

[Daniele C]

Thanks again Ade

[bodes]

If you look in BBOTW you will see that the stock should be proofed dot on the handguard and the stock bottom spine. I have some questions about the inconsistent bluing on this rifle. The front band looks perfect yet the floorplate is worn. As a principal researcher on BBOTW I would need more pics.

Mike, Jack has a good point about the stock proofs.....Waffen Brunn(dot) made buttstocks and handguards should be marked as such.....Your buttstock exhibits a 'c' for Gustloff Werke.....I'm not sure whether/not they supplied stocks to them?......The upper handguard is a solid piece and the buttstock laminated? Rather unusual mixture as these were generally similar in construction.....Also it has a cleaning rod which I believe were omitted by this time of production.....Bodes

btw.....You may want to post your rifle for comments on the G/K43 forum.....There's a section for K98k's......Some very knowledgeable fellas to get some more feedback from.....

G/K43 forum

[Mike Steves]

dot 44

Hi Bodes,
Yes, it is definitely 89484!
Cheers!

The stock has been replaced on that rifle. By this time in production, every dot gun was a Kriegsmodell. Plus, they stopped serial numbering the inside of the stocks in the av-ax suffix range. Not all dot stocks are marked dot on the bottom, and not all the handguards are either, but they are all obviously dot production. Every legit late dot gun I have ever seen has corncobbed rough finish stocks. I have 2 late dot 5 digit guns, and both are Kreigsmodells and both have corncobbed stocks- 1 is mint. If you do find one that has a bayonet mount this late, it will not be drilled for a cleaning rod and will be rough as a cob, corncob that is

I agree that the stock has been replaced and bands replaced with unnumbered parts. However, originally it would have had unnumbered bands anyway. It has a Mauser Oberndorf stock lug too. One more thing, byf metal parts are common on these- one of mine has an S/42 marked sight spring with a Wa63 proof mark.

[bodes]

The stock has been replaced on that rifle. By this time in production, every dot gun was a Kriegsmodell. Plus, they stopped serial numbering the inside of the stocks in the av-ax suffix range. Not all dot stocks are marked dot on the bottom, and not all the handguards are either, but they are all obviously dot production. Every legit late dot gun I have ever seen has corncobbed rough finish stocks. I have 2 late dot 5 digit guns, and both are Kreigsmodells and both have corncobbed stocks- 1 is mint. If you do find one that has a bayonet mount this late, it will not be drilled for a cleaning rod and will be rough as a cob, corncob that is

I agree that the stock has been replaced and bands replaced with unnumbered parts. However, originally it would have had unnumbered bands anyway. It has a Mauser Oberndorf stock lug too. One more thing, byf metal parts are common on these- one of mine has an S/42 marked sight spring with a Wa63 proof mark.

Mike, Sounds about right.....I have 3 'dot44's......One is in the ak range.....It is internally serial #'d and stock/handguard 'dot' marked......The other 2 are 34XXX and 49XXX serial numbered respectively........My earlier 5 digit has most kriegsmodell features, with the exception of still having the takedown disk.....Does not have 'dot' marked wood......I believe these were marked intermittently at this time....The other 5 digit one is only lacking provisions for the cleaning rod.....Has 'dot' marked stock and handguard....Both have the corncob chatter marks on the stock......All three have stamped 'qnw' marked triggerguards.....2 have stamped 'byf' (Mauser) floorplates and 1 has a milled floorplate marked "1".......Bodes

[Michael Kasper]

Fellas, thanks so much for your great information. I am glad we have this fantastic network. Too many cons out there!!! Uncharted waters for me! I will get back to you when I receive it...then we can pick it apart better. Hopefully, I did not overpay for it!
Cheers!

[Michael Kasper]

Do you guys know for sure if German armourers in the field would switch or replace stalks for damaged ones? According to the individual I purchased this one from, it is a complete Vet. bring back. But, I am just going on his word of course! What and where is the takedown disk? Also, can someone post images of what the bands should look like for the dot 44 in this serial range?
Thanks for your help!