Question on a Stock

[stahlhelm1976]

Gents,

I posted a thread awhile back about a S42G with an unusual stock.
Attached is a link to the original thread:

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...d.php?t=138283

The stock is not "manufacturer correct" in that it has no waffs or acceptance marks and has the sling in the WWI configuration (mounted on the bottom as opposed to the side).

All of the metal is matching (bolt, receiver, barrel, both bands, triggerguard, etc.) and the stock is serialed to the rifle in both the barrel channel and on the bottom and the handguard matches as well. The stock also has a period done butt repair.

There are 2 strange marks: A Simson Eagle-6 waffenampt on the wide lower band and a strange cartouch on the back of the wrist, just behind the bolt).

Anyone have ideas as to the history of the rifle....early Simson rework of a S42G k98? The original post didn't really go anywhere but the Weimer Eagle-6 Simson proof on the lower band leads me to believe it is a Simson rework. Thoughts?

[madboy]

As stated in the previous thread, the stock is not German manufactured nor German acceptance marked. If it had any German rework, it would be so marked. If this was a German HZa or depot rebuild, there would be markings to support this either on the takedowns or behind the wrist.

Simson&Co ceased to exist in 1934 when it became the BSW firm. AFAIK, use of the e/6 WaA ceased at the same time. The S/42G being 1935 manufacture, it seems unlikely that Simson had anything to do with this rifle in its current configuration.

IMO the Germans would not have undertaken such work to end up with a rifle that was not conforming to the current standard of the time, the Kar98k.

The style and spacing of the serial on the heel is not typical of period German work.

To me, this rifle seems to be a product of either the Waffenfabrik USA, or possibly a postwar rework by a country receiving ex-Wehrmacht equipment.

Can you detail or list the inspection markings on the metal? It being a no letter block G date, I would expect to see largely P74 and K155 markings on all the original metal. Are the bolt parts and magazine floorplate serialed with the last 2 digits or the full 4 digit serial? I am trying to surmise the evolution of the inspection markings on S/42K and G coded rifles, yours would be a great addition to this study.

[Josh Beckett]

it is a french manufactured stock for the K98k. It is postwar. Sorry

[madboy]

it is a french manufactured stock for the K98k. It is postwar. Sorry

The Bayard horseman cartouche on the upper wrist is clearly Belgian in origin?

[stahlhelm1976]

The Bayard horseman cartouche on the upper wrist is clearly Belgian in origin?

So is your opinion that this is a Bayard stock from Belgium?

The stock is duffel-cut and also has a repair to the butt consistent with a German-type field repair (notched with a new wood insert placed behind the buttplate).

A strange one for sure!

[madboy]

Would seem so. I am not very knowledgable on Belgian arms, but I have seen this Bayard horseman marking on several contract receivers used on WW1 era Gewehr98 rifles. A postwar French used 98k stock will typically be late war Mauser Oberndorf laminate with a side mounted sling with a bar in the buttstock to utilize the French Mas.36 style sling arrangment. They also used a strange hex-shaped bayonet lug, something very unique to French-deployed Kar98k's.


IMO the stock in question has no German lineage and is likely a postwar or bubba-fied creation. Unless more info is forthcoming, there is nothing about this stock that leads one to believe it is pre 1945 in its current configuration.

So is your opinion that this is a Bayard stock from Belgium?

The stock is duffel-cut and also has a repair to the butt consistent with a German-type field repair (notched with a new wood insert placed behind the buttplate).

A strange one for sure!

[stahlhelm1976]

Thanks for all of your help.

I really wish you could get a hand's-on inspection of the rifle, it just has that been there look and it feels period original...the wear, repairs and duffel cuts all just fit with the overall condition of the piece.

Thanks again!