M98K Marked "byf"

25 April 2003, 09:38

wildcat junkie

M98K Marked "byf"

Anybody know anything about a M98k marked thus?

It has byf stamped on the receiver, the trigger gaurd and floorplate.

Except for the stamped bottom metal the fit and finish of the metal is pretty good.

The bore is very good with no apparent throat erosion. It does need a crown job though.

25 April 2003, 09:44

Edmond

Hi!
means made by Mauser, probably end of 1942 or 1943 with your description.

25 April 2003, 16:04

craigster

According to an article by Ludwig Olsen in "Mauser Rifles" (an NRA Reprint) "byf" is the mfg. code for Mauser-Werke, A.-G., Oberndorf a./N. That means it's an Oberndorf Mauser.

25 April 2003, 22:10

Pyrotek

I have one 1944 marked byf. According to "Backbone of Wehrmacht", byf is Oberndorf.

[ 04-25-2003, 13:11: Message edited by: Pyrotek ]

26 April 2003, 09:39

wildcat junkie

quote:
Originally posted by Pyrotek:
I have one 1944 marked byf. According to "Backbone of Wehrmacht", byf is Oberndorf.

This one is also "44".

Other than the crappy bottom metal it looks pretty well made.

I picked it up in a nice Walnut sporter stock for $150. It needs a crown job, but the bore is near excellent. The bolt # doesnt match, but there is no play when closed on an empty case when the firing pin is down on an empty primer pocket. The rear sight is gone and the the sight section has been "blended in. The front sight dovetail has been opened up to 3/8" for a williams bead and a receiver sight has been installed. It obviously no longer has any "collector" value.

What is the metalurgy like on these? I tried to scribe a line on the receiver ring and it seemed pretty hard.

Would this be a good one to rechamber to 8X68S?

27 April 2003, 02:09

D Humbarger

WJ if you do not want that stamped trigger guard floor plate & probably a stamped follower too i would like to buy them from you.

[ 04-26-2003, 17:10: Message edited by: D Humbarger ]

29 April 2003, 08:49

Pyrotek

wildcat junkie,

My 1944 byf also have a crappy exterior and mirror-like bore. My smith said this gun has the best bore in a Mauser he's ever seen. He also said near the end of WW2 the German make guns with pretty much anything steel they can find. It will make me happier to think the steel of my gun comes from a "Panzer", not from a manhole cover.

Assuming your rifle is just like mine then the steel can be very good steel still. It's fine for rebarrelling, it will work, but don't try to polish it and reblue it. Sandblasting and fine parkerizing will do well for the kind of surface on our rifle as these surface treatments will help hide imperfections. I also have a 1933 non-Nazi Mauser that is opposite of my 1944 Mauser : It has glass-like exterior and a wash-out barrel. That's the kind of gun I wouldn't hesitate to put a new barrel on.

Pyrotek

29 April 2003, 09:13

Edmond

Hi , not true about steel quality . machining and finishing were awful but there was no compromise on steel quality until the end.

29 April 2003, 10:30

wildcat junkie

quote:
Originally posted by Edmond:
Hi , not true about steel quality . machining and finishing were awful but there was no compromise on steel quality until the end.

Actually the exterior is very nice, although it has already been reblued @ some point.

The machining looks as good as any M98K I have seen.

Maybe the "Fuerer" was inspecting that day. [Big Grin]

Pyrotek:

Actualy I plan to use the issue barrel (rechambered to 8X68S) as the bore is in near excellent condition with little or no throat errosion. The rifling looks sharp, but there is some slight rust, no pitting. It definately needs a crown job though as it looks as though somebody dropped it straight down on a "Panzer" or something. One side is slightly musroomed @ the O. D.

[ 04-29-2003, 01:39: Message edited by: wildcat junkie ]

29 April 2003, 20:25

Pyrotek

quote:
Hi , not true about steel quality . machining and finishing were awful but there was no compromise on steel quality until the end.

quote:
From: France, Paris area

Well, of course you know better, Nazi occupied Paris and you get a better, closer look [Big Grin]

01 May 2003, 13:56

wildcat junkie

quote:
Originally posted by D Humbarger:
WJ if you do not want that stamped trigger guard floor plate & probably a stamped follower too i would like to buy them from you.

D.Humbarger: Check your e-mail