Opinions on this byf 44 all matching vet bringback?

[CanadaCollector]

Looking into purchasing this rifle from a serious collector who says its an all matching vet bring back. Just want to make sure im not getting dupped. I have noticed electropencil on the bolt? According to the owner this is how they were marked later in the war. Heres a link to the pics of the rifle.

https://skydrive.live.com/?cid=22d8f...7%211452&sff=1

[Joe N]

No electropenciling....can't see the pics though...

[Johnny Peppers]

Looks like you have to be a member to view the photos.

[CanadaCollector]

Argh im on my phone too. If you wanna take a look i can forward the pics to your email? And or some one could post them for me?

[CanadaCollector]

I uploaded them to photobucket. This is the link to the photos the seller emailed me. Along with his response to me asking about the electropenciling.

http://s53.photobucket.com/albums/g6...t%20bringback/


Sellers response:

"Lots of people are under that impression about the electro pencil numbers. To bad, because by 1944, as long as a part fit, as often as not they weren't even stamped.

The Russians and Czechs, would electro pencil the bolts only. They didn't care about individual parts. They also didn't care about capture screws.

When I worked for Lever Arms, in the mid sixties, I saw thousands of similar rifles. Some of them were still in crates, wrapped with brown wax paper and tied with red cotton ribbon.

Notice that the metal is all polished bright before being blued and no stamped parts. That along with the late war cupped buttplate, which also has matching numbers, is indicative of late war use of earlier parts. Notice also that the Kreighoff blue on all of the parts is consistent and deep. They were all done by the same process at roughly the same time. The rifle was stamped in the white and blued later which is consistent with the time period as well.

Like I mentioned, this is a transitional piece. Not very long after it was built, they started to cut a lot more corners.

In all honesty, if your are at all uncomfortable about the rifle, pass on it. I really won't hurt my feelings. You may regret it later on but I can't do anything about that. from the pics, it's obvious the rifle was issued but not for long or to a trooper that took very good care of his equipment.

The WWII REMEs name was "Tiny" Tim Ryan. Warren Wheatfield knew him from Calgary, just before he retired out of the Army after 25 years. Tiny had flaming red hair as a youth and loved to smoke cigars. He also loved motorcycles.

He loved to "sporterize" anything military that was a bolt action. I managed to save this rifle before he was about to chop it by trading him a Gew98 that had been converted to 257 Rob, Ackley Improved. He felt he got the better end of the deal. At the time, all things considered, he did. Now of course things have changed dramatically."

What do you guys think?

[Joe N]

Well, I'm no expert, but this Gentleman it seems truly believes in what he has is an authentic bringback, unmolested and untouched. Sounds like he has been collecting for a few decades. But this rifle is not what you are looking for.
Back in those days, there were few, if any good reference materials in this topic, and definitely no internet. So what he is telling you, he could honestly believe, not having then access to the information, databases and knowledge that we take for granted today.
I'd be interested to know how much he is asking for this rifle, which appears to be a good solid shooter.
I believe, that this rifle is more than likely an East German or Czech refurb.
Good thing you won't hurt his feelings, because you better pass.
A couple great reference books exist today, as well as a couple really great forums that specialize in k98 rifles only. Take the time to learn about this beautiful rifle, you won't regret it.
Good luck, hope this helps

[robcox1]

As previously stated, you should pass on this one.

I suppose that it is possible that whoever was responsible for importing it into the country was a veteran, so technically it could be a "vet bring-back", but it is not what collectors are thinking of when they use the term.

You might try going here: http://www.k98kforum.com/forum.php?

Lots of great info and reference photos.

Rob

[CanadaCollector]

As previously stated, you should pass on this one.

I suppose that it is possible that whoever was responsible for importing it into the country was a veteran, so technically it could be a "vet bring-back", but it is not what collectors are thinking of when they use the term.

You might try going here: http://www.k98kforum.com/forum.php?

Lots of great info and reference photos.

Rob

Ya i've posted the same thing I posted here on the k98kforums. They just picked it apart and have said the same things you gents have said. They said an RC would be worth more than this hunk of junk. The fact this guy wants $1800 for it too is kinda scary.

Also when I asked him for more pictures of close ups of the markings and waffenamts he said there was only one... Then proceeded to send me the same pics he had emailed me previously just zoomed in and cropped. They were almost as bad quality as the rifle lol

Anyways thanks for all your expertise guys. Yet another reason I love this forum!

[phild]

I could not care less if a rifle was a vet bring back or not. The vets refinished and modified thousands of these anyway.....mixed parts up cleaning them on the way back and everything else.....virtually none or least very few of the long arms they brought back were true battle captures anyway.......so I have never understood the mystic........but I'm an old cynical SOB anyway.


The rifle you picture has been (IMO) fully top to bottom recently refinished......by a commercial gunsmith, well equipped hobbyist or commercial refinishing enterprise (like Mitchell's Mausers).......it would be nice if it was a LEGIT government/military post war re-work from Russia or a pinged East European type...as those are legit military configured....better still if it was WWII original condition......this one is none of those.....the stock actullay looks like a reproducion in the photo or two that I could get to on it.