[k9mike]

I know that there were other than just RC out there. What other types were there? ie, country etc...
I have a byf 43 and it has the original finish, no number on the left side of the stock(as was typical of RC), no X, 1 of the eagles has a peen, but it is off center and hit part of the wing instead of the swastica. Typical mismatch, but could this have been put together from another country other then Russia?
Mike

 

[BeneathTheSky13]

You can find Russian captures that went to Iraq, Vietnam, maybe even Iran that don't have the distinguishing "Russian Capture" reworking done to them. I think Romania had some captures and from what I've seen they grinded out the entire eagle and swastica. Norway had many captures, but typically you can only find the stocks that people rescued as the government destroyed the rifles. The Israeli K.98s are mostly original german rifles that were sent to the IDF after 1948. They were typically refitted with new walnut stocks and rebarreled for NATO 7.62. The British and Americans sunk most of what they captured in the bottom of the Danube as I understand (other than what the soldiers were allowed to buy and bring home). The French captured quite a few and you can recognize those by reworked sling fitting they did on the left side of the butt. That's all I can think of for now.

 

[Turbo Archie]

Yes, you have:
1) RC
2) yugo reworks with the stock number stamped sideways
3) Post war CZ guns made with late german proofed parts
4) Romania capture guns with no stock number added and not refinished but peened
5) Used up original import guns that are just mismatched that are coming out of germany.

Ok, Ill add:
6) French capture, but not that common
7) Israeli capture converted to NATO

 

[Bill In Indiana]

Also as I understand things there are mismatches because some importers ages ago dodged import taxes by diasembling rifles so they qualified as scrap metal rather than complete rifles. But generally as a rule anything with a defaced swastika is eastern Europe in origins.

 

[k9mike]

Thanks all for the info. I am leaning toward the Romania, since I think that was mentioned long ago. Wish I had a better camera I would post pics of it. The stock has no numbers on it, not even any interior numbers on the barrel channel. Long ago I posted a thread about the gun, old forum, and showed how it had a neat bullet/shrapnel grazing mark to the side of the rear sight base. Thanks again.
Mike

 

[tm45]

5) Used up original import guns that are just mismatched that are coming out of germany.

Are you referring to the postwar East German reworks? (Called GDR I think?)
Thinking they had some sort of ID stamp on them? (on receiver maybe?) I bet Bill or others remember answer.

Thing I remember about the few Romanian photos I’ve seen, was that the bluing was worn, and they looked like somebody bashed the Swaz’s with a hammer. Rather crude.
(In fact it may have been from some of the pics involved with Mike’s original post?) Where’s Wolfey? Wasn’t he the Romanian gun guy?
(Note: “Romanian” may be inaccurate/ misnomer. See Bill’s post below.)

(I get a kick out of some of the defaced RC’s I’ve seen. The Swaz is tapped very neatly with a punch that fits the size of the circle. Others are just bashed.)

 

[Turbo Archie]

No, these are available now. They are just used up german guns that are mismatched. I heard that they bought them by the pound which sounds like scrap. I wounder if they were the ones that made them mismatched.

We could add the east german guns but I've never come across them..

I think the Romanian guns can very, I have 2, one in bad shape, and a DOT43 hardwood in ok shape and I passed on one that had a really nice stock for $250.

 

[Bill In Indiana]

Guys,
While these are being refered to generically as "Romanian" there is a good deal of conjecture on that...in other words I don't know 100% for sure that they are Romanian in origin. Importers don't like to divulge sources, so we sometimes have little to go on. They could come from any number of EU countries....Romania, Bulgaria, Albania, The former Yugoslavia, and all it's parts etc etc...the Ukraine, or from some third party subterfuge to get guns out of a prohibited country with fake paperwork from a legal country....The scenarios are pretty wide open. There are even some claims of Nazi era 98k's coming out of Turkey. I guess I am just saying don't take the term Romanian as Gospel just yet.

 

[Wapruf2]

..and the Norwegian conversions to .30-06.

 

[runner]

I bought several K98s in the early 90s that were well worn, but most were matching except for the bolts. they had the early small import mark on the bottom of the barrel, but no numbers added to the stocks and none of the markings defaced. I was told they came from Albania, but I can't confirm that.

 

[k9mike]

Do you remember what the import mark was? CAI?
Mike

 

[tm45]

"Romanian", there is a good deal of conjecture on that,,,,don't know 100% for sure that they are Romanian in origin....just saying don't take the term Romanian as Gospel just yet.

Thanks for the heads-up Bill! I have not read or seen very much info about them. Assumed that the ‘Romanian’ tag had been
accepted/confirmed. Bad assumption, from what you say. I’m not a big fan of misinformation, don’t want to be spreading it myself.

 

[runner]

Do you remember what the import mark was? CAI?
Mike

I still have these rifles, so I checked one today. They are CAI imports. I thought I bought them in early 90's it was actually 1996. I bought (6) going through about 40 examples picking out the codes and dates I wanted. They were purchased from a 03 dealer and I got all (6) for about $500.

I also purchased some Standard Modells and Chinese proofed K98s, and Belgium Model 1930s. These rifles were made in Germany and sold to China. Price in 1990 $35 each, but these did not have bolts, condition was poor, but much better than the Gew 88s that came in a few years ago. MOst of these were also matching, minus bolts. These rifles appeared not to have been disassembled in many years. I still have a couple of these but most were sold to a dealer ( at a nice profit) the last time I had to move.

 

[Spitzenmeister]

Put a spin on it

They could come from any number of EU countries....Romania, Bulgaria, Albania, The former Yugoslavia, and all it's parts etc etc...the Ukraine, or from some third party subterfuge to get guns out of a prohibited country with fake paperwork from a legal country....The scenarios are pretty wide open.

Yeah. But Bill, if you were going to fake (i.e., make up) the country of origin, wouldn't there be far better choices marketing wise than saying it came from Bulgaria?

 

[k9mike]

Thanks Runner. It sounds kinda like mine. The bolt is definetly different the rifle, like it was added. The gun has a good bore and I can get really good groups with it. I am going to put an aftermarket scope mount on the rear sight base and add a scope. This with some better ammo should really get me some good groups.
Mike
Added the picture of the rear sight that was hit by a bullet/shrapnel. Kinda neat feature, will definetly keep that, even though adding scope.

 

[mauser 243]

I have what appears to be a romanian capture. It is a all matching bcd 41 except for the bolt,follower and floor plate. The marking are scrubbed but the rifle is good shape.