No, I didn't make a profit on my recent sales; this one was in the works before the "Great Crash" of 2017.
I picked up my Depot XI at the UPS hub tonight. I find these Depot rifles fascinating - K98ks built at German Depots from parts sent from various manufacturers as a stop gap to speed production. This was caused by a decrease in rifle production as the Germans seemed to have won the war in Russia, that is until the disastrous collapse in front of Moscow in December, 1941. This was hoped to fill the gap until the factories got up to speed again. Most Depot rifles were made in 1942, and all 1942 dated rifles are comparably scarcer than any other year. Historically is has been thought of as a wasted effort, frittering away and diluting production efforts.
Serial number 1247 of a highest known serial number of 1753. This is ONLY the THIRD recorded serial number of Depot XI on the K98k forum. Not bad for a RC K98 price.
It was not as bad as I thought, and has a few very interesting characteristics as well. Bore is pristine.
It built off an undated e/359 (Walther) receiver, and is a stock mismatch, but the handguard matches. The stock is duffel cut, but has been repaired by inserting a dowel, probably, glue, and held in place with two brass screws with the ends cut off. As I couldn't use a cleaning rod, I took a bent, foreign 9-3/4 inch rod, cut off 4cm from the base, and tapped it in place. Seems to stay OK. The stock totally matches itself; 4727c, e/655 (Mauser), (19)40 Ha. Stock has been sanded and the handguard has a thick shellac on it, with the stock a lighter coat. What makes me think this is a Depot repair of a Depot rifle, is that all the screws are armorer e/655 (matching the stock), the stock metal matches itself, it still has the original handguard, and the bolt seems to be an e/1 armorer's. It is missing the sight hood.
SN# 1241, no suffix
Parts List (if no SN, then part has no SN). these rifles are a wonderful mix of parts from various manufacturers:
follower: e/1 (BSW/Gustloffwerke)
trigger guard e/26 (Borsigwalde) 1241
front screw e/655 (Mauser 1940)
rear screw e/655
front capture screw e/655
rear capture screw e/655
front band e/1 1241
rear band e/1 1241
bolt body 1, firing proof
firing pin Imperial 20
extractor e/63 (Mauser up to 1940)
shroud unmarked
cocking piece e/280 (Erma)
safety circle Z
ejector box e/623 41 (Steyr)
sear e/18 (one of 2 subcontractors for Gustloffwerke)
trigger e/18 41 ax
ejector box spring j
receiver e/359 (Walther)
barrel S39D111 3x e/37 (Sauer)
rear sight base 3x e/26
rear sight spring i
rear sight leaf e/26 1241
rear sight slide e/26
rear sight slide release e/26
butt plate e/655 4727c
stock e/655, 40 Ha, 4727
bayonet lug e/655 27
cross bolt e/655
band spring e/655
handguard 1241
front sight e/214 (Lubecker)
t
I picked up my Depot XI at the UPS hub tonight. I find these Depot rifles fascinating - K98ks built at German Depots from parts sent from various manufacturers as a stop gap to speed production. This was caused by a decrease in rifle production as the Germans seemed to have won the war in Russia, that is until the disastrous collapse in front of Moscow in December, 1941. This was hoped to fill the gap until the factories got up to speed again. Most Depot rifles were made in 1942, and all 1942 dated rifles are comparably scarcer than any other year. Historically is has been thought of as a wasted effort, frittering away and diluting production efforts.
Serial number 1247 of a highest known serial number of 1753. This is ONLY the THIRD recorded serial number of Depot XI on the K98k forum. Not bad for a RC K98 price.
It was not as bad as I thought, and has a few very interesting characteristics as well. Bore is pristine.
It built off an undated e/359 (Walther) receiver, and is a stock mismatch, but the handguard matches. The stock is duffel cut, but has been repaired by inserting a dowel, probably, glue, and held in place with two brass screws with the ends cut off. As I couldn't use a cleaning rod, I took a bent, foreign 9-3/4 inch rod, cut off 4cm from the base, and tapped it in place. Seems to stay OK. The stock totally matches itself; 4727c, e/655 (Mauser), (19)40 Ha. Stock has been sanded and the handguard has a thick shellac on it, with the stock a lighter coat. What makes me think this is a Depot repair of a Depot rifle, is that all the screws are armorer e/655 (matching the stock), the stock metal matches itself, it still has the original handguard, and the bolt seems to be an e/1 armorer's. It is missing the sight hood.
SN# 1241, no suffix
Parts List (if no SN, then part has no SN). these rifles are a wonderful mix of parts from various manufacturers:
follower: e/1 (BSW/Gustloffwerke)
trigger guard e/26 (Borsigwalde) 1241
front screw e/655 (Mauser 1940)
rear screw e/655
front capture screw e/655
rear capture screw e/655
front band e/1 1241
rear band e/1 1241
bolt body 1, firing proof
firing pin Imperial 20
extractor e/63 (Mauser up to 1940)
shroud unmarked
cocking piece e/280 (Erma)
safety circle Z
ejector box e/623 41 (Steyr)
sear e/18 (one of 2 subcontractors for Gustloffwerke)
trigger e/18 41 ax
ejector box spring j
receiver e/359 (Walther)
barrel S39D111 3x e/37 (Sauer)
rear sight base 3x e/26
rear sight spring i
rear sight leaf e/26 1241
rear sight slide e/26
rear sight slide release e/26
butt plate e/655 4727c
stock e/655, 40 Ha, 4727
bayonet lug e/655 27
cross bolt e/655
band spring e/655
handguard 1241
front sight e/214 (Lubecker)
t
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