sniper k-98

[sszza2]

Issues with this one. All late aspects aside - based on the poor pics one pretty fundamental characteristic appears (to my eyes) to be missing. IMO goes inevitably to the functionality and thus originality of the subject rifle.

Better and more detailed pics would be helpful.

[benjaman.c]

THe waA stamp is hard to make out due to only a partial stamp. It is 523, 623 or 823. I am sure that the last two numbers are 23, but the first one unclear.

[benjaman.c]

.

[benjaman.c]

matching numbers on all three stamps

[benjaman.c]

butt stock close up. I will get some of the butt plate up later.

[benjaman.c]

If there are any other pics that someone thinks will help out just let me know

[Mike Steves]

As I suspected, and an unfortunate accident. That is an original bnz45 that someone added a reproduction single claw mount set to. A terrible shame- ruined what looked like a nice original Kriegsmodell rifle. At least the stock is still good, unless the person numbered it to match his handiwork. Sorry to give you such bad news, hope you didn't pay too much for it.

[benjaman.c]

how can you tell that it a reproduction scope?

[Mike Steves]

The scope may be real. The serial numbers stamped on the mount base and scope mount are not even close to any legit bnz single claw sniper.

[benjaman.c]

So the mounts numbers would never match the gun on a claw mount?

[phild]

So the mounts numbers would never match the gun on a claw mount?

I think that he is saying that the number style that is used here is not correct. I know less about these bnz claw mounts that about any other type of 98k sniper. I've spent over 25 years learning everything that I can about the turret mount variations and feel fairly comfortable discussing them.....but I do not claim to be an expert on them. The LSR and SSR are a little easier but every type can and has been very well faked so one has to really know what they are looking at.

[Mike Steves]

phild gets it- the style of numbers is what is wrong, not the fact there are numbers. I personally don't collect snipers, but I have a good friend with several original single claws, and have seen a handful. They are not very common- reproduction mount sets have been available for years now and fakes show up a lot. I don't think I have ever seen a dkl scope on one either, but I won't swear to that aspect.

http://cgi.ebay.com/BNZ-Single-Claw-...QQcmdZViewItem

[sszza2]

Single Claw bases, numbering, optics manufacturer and type are completely incorrect. Yes - its a shame that a potentially legit BNZ45 has been destroyed to create this fake. If you have the opportunity to return it for refund do so asap!

[gew98]

Wow !...... whomever went to this extent of fakery on such a high dollar late war 98k really screwed the pooch !. The clear pics of the base and the goofy numbers - even freshly applied after finish applied are so off the mark. A basic collector of german rifles with a basic working knowledge would have caught this "fontimonious" fakester.
If a firend showed this rifle to me I'd take him by his hand to whomever he bought it from and make a good scene getting his money back. Hopefully it would embarass my friend enough to tighten up on his knowledge to avoid such a pitfall where he could not get out of.

[phild]

Wow !...... whomever went to this extent of fakery on such a high dollar late war 98k really screwed the pooch !. The clear pics of the base and the goofy numbers - even freshly applied after finish applied are so off the mark. A basic collector of german rifles with a basic working knowledge would have caught this "fontimonious" fakester.
If a firend showed this rifle to me I'd take him by his hand to whomever he bought it from and make a good scene getting his money back. Hopefully it would embarass my friend enough to tighten up on his knowledge to avoid such a pitfall where he could not get out of.

You are so right. One would think that if a faker was going to use such a sought after rifle to base a fake on that his work would be very convincing and in this case that would start with not even using this particular date of rifle. I think that Mike pointed out that these configurations did not exist that late in the war and the few examples that I have seen in photos all had the serial suffix letter included on the base/mount...unlike this one.