Are there any dot manufactured K98 SSR Sniper rifles?

[Col.Klink]

Hey guys, I need some info here.... A friend of mine has the opportunity to purchase a Short Side Rail K98 sniper. It is an all matching "dot" code, and is dated to 1944. It only has the SSR mount, with nothing else. My question is this: Are there are legit "dot" SSR rifles? If it isn't a factory gun, is it possible that it was a field made rifle? Thanks for any and all help!
Grant

[Col.Klink]

Thoughts anyone?

[gew98]

( ANY ) dot 98k with a short siderail or any scope for that matter...... run away... run away !!!.

[Col.Klink]

So no chance that it could possibly be a field armorer's put-together?

[phild]

I did not respond earlier, but I think that gew98 is giving some very good advice!

Generally the earlier scope monted rifles were set up at ordnance facilities well equiped with good machine tools and top trained techs to do this work. By some point in 1942 factories started fitting these out and this was well in place by 1944. I have never seen a SSR dated later than 1943 and I am not sure that it was original.

One thing that I do feel strongly about is this notion of "field made up" snipers...I think that it is mostly a fantasy. It may have occured from time to time but it was not practical or authorized in any way that I can determine and would have most likely resulted in a near usless outcome. I think that the term has been used for decades to explain poorly faked and outright gunsmith made up sniper rifles or in some cases just German rifles with a scope on them.

[Mike Steves]

Yes, I have never seen any dot44 that I would call "an original sniper".

[Matt Weber]

I agree with the above statements. There were no "field" armorers snipers made. There were ordnance assembled snipers made though. These were done by HZA ordnance supply depots, at Spandau, Konigsberg, and Hannover. But these were always low turret mounts, not short side rails!

Grant, before going out shopping for a K98 sniper rifle, I would suggest to you, your friend, or anyone else to do some research first. A lot of it!! There are litterally tons of fake sniper rifles out there!!!
Read "The German Sniper" by Peter Senich. Probably the best book on sniper rifles that I know of.

Matt

[phild]

I agree with the above statements. There were no "field" armorers snipers made. There were ordnance assembled snipers made though. These were done by HZA ordnance supply depots, at Spandau, Konigsberg, and Hannover. But these were always low turret mounts, not short side rails!

Not to get too wrapped around the axle over all the details but I think it is important to point that there were more types of snipers made up at depots and ordnance facilities than just low turret mount types....to include SS and police facilities....types made up would include double claw mount and sort side rail as well.

It should also be noted that not all low turret mounts well ordnance level jobs some were factory fitted during 1942 thru at least mid to later 1943.

[Willi Z.]

Yes, I have never seen any dot44 that I would call "an original sniper".

Exactly! The market today is filled with alot of fantasy items under the guise of "variations" or "field-made", etc.

[Col.Klink]

I agree with the above statements. There were no "field" armorers snipers made. There were ordnance assembled snipers made though. These were done by HZA ordnance supply depots, at Spandau, Konigsberg, and Hannover. But these were always low turret mounts, not short side rails!

Grant, before going out shopping for a K98 sniper rifle, I would suggest to you, your friend, or anyone else to do some research first. A lot of it!! There are litterally tons of fake sniper rifles out there!!!
Read "The German Sniper" by Peter Senich. Probably the best book on sniper rifles that I know of.

Matt

Well, that's exactly what I told my friend, as I had never haerd of any dot manufactured sniper rifles, I just wanted to make sure of it! Thanks for all the help!
Grant