Please Help Identify Mauser...

[Johnny B]

I recently picked up this Mauser last weekend from a local flee market. The strange thing that has got me, is the receiver is marked BCD and also marked BNZ. The BNZ is stamped sort of crudely looks hand done. Even more interestingly, it is an all matched rifle including stock, barrel bands, everything... Well, with one exception, the bolt. The entire rifle is marked with the serial number is 9518 the bolt is marked with only the last digit being off 9519. Is this a late war rework rifle? I find it hard to believe that somebody found a bolt that was only off by the last digit. The trigger guard and the four plate or Mark BYF however they also have the same serial number 9518. Did Mauser supply parts to BCD? Unfortunately the rifle stock was shellacked, but it is still an interesting item the soldier burned his name into the stock on one side, and the other side it is burned to dad. If anyone could help that would be greatly appreciated, I just find it very odd that the bolt would be off only by the last digit. Thanks in advance for any help. Regards, Johnny

[Johnny B]

Pic 1

Pic 1

[Johnny B]

Pic 2

Pic 2

[Johnny B]

Pic 3

Pic 3

[Johnny B]

Pic 4

Pic 4

[Johnny B]

Pic 5

Pic 5

[Johnny B]

Pic 6

Pic 6

[Promo]

in 1944 Gustloff (which is the BCD code) supplied receivers to Steyr. They were handstamped there. Your rifle is one of those. These are considered rare rifles, your rifle therefore is quite desireable. It's worth removing the shellack very carefully, or better leave it to someone very knowledgeable.

[Johnny B]

Thanks for the quick reply "Promo" any ideas about the bolt being off by only the last digit??? Thanks again for your help...

[Promo]

Assuming both the action and the bolt are in the "j" block, I'd vote for factory error. The chance of finding a one digit off bolt are way too little, and also impossible in the field.

[Johnny B]

Markings

My knowledge on rifle markings is not very good.. I think the mark on the bolt handle is a 1 & I'll attach another pic that has a one in a shield is this the block number?? Hopefully it is probably just a factory error as you suggested.

[Johnny B]

Dn?

OK I'll quit bombarding you with questions, but do you know what the DN marking stands for? Thanks again, Johnny

[bodes]

Yeah the one digit off appears to be a typical factory mis-match....This became more prevalent as the air war progressed along with the German factories utilizing more and more slave labor....

Removing the varnish from the stock should improve it's appearance some, but if it's been sanded, odds are good stock markings are gone.....Varnish removal isn't difficult, just need to be careful around any markings.....Same goes for treating the wood following it's removal.....Let somebdy else do it should you be at all hesitant.....Bodes

[zimmerit]

Around this period Steyr suffered 2 production impacts... they were bombed and also lost their supplying plant at Radom Poland. Radom supplied large amounts of parts to Steyr including most receivers and was overrun by the Russians. Steyr used whatever receivers they could get their hands on during a short period and hand stamped their code on them.

As already said the stock is varnished, however that can be removed. The largest value detriment is the large message on the stock. Still a neat 98 variation not seen too often. The DN marking is just the barrel lot code- every 98 had them.