I've now sold 5 rifles, with 2 more on consignment. I've decided to get one K98k from each of the 10 main production facilities, and this one filled the 6th slot - a bnz4, or a Steyr, Austria, produced K98k. I'll try for the 7th slot at Amoskeag this Saturday. This rifle is completely matching, with the hand guard, firing pin, and band spring unmarked. This particular piece is a good representation of the chaos within German manufacturing by the summer of 1944. The Steyr plant was bombed in January and April of 1944, drastically curtailing production. Steyr production decreased from 220,000 rifles in 1943, to 170,000 in 1944, and finally to 32,000 pieces in 1945. Steyr was heavily dependent on the Radon, Poland, facilities for parts - especially after the bombings. Recycled and previously rejected parts now begin to show up in production. Radom was lost to Steyr in September of 1944 when captured during the Russian advance. This rifle is a mix of parts: the bolt, receiver (Steyr receivers were marked bnz44), floor plate (milled) are Radom marked. The rear sight and leaf are serialed and Radom proofed, while the sight spring and slide are just proofed. The rear band is milled and the front band is stamped. The stock is an oversized subcontract "C" stock from Gustloffwerke. The trigger guard (stamped) and follower (milled) are Mauser marked. Neat production history of this rifle showing the use of both milled and stamped parts as well as multiple subcontractors. The Kriegsmodel would start to show up in the p-block, or about 70,000 pieces after this one.
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