Dual Code BCD BNZ Mauser K98

I have no idea about the dual stamps but that is a nice k98. Is that a Russian captured rifle ? W here did you pick it up? Every time I see one it goes for an insane price.

The 41 date indicates early war. Perhaps a damaged rifle rebuilt by bnz?

nhcruffler said:

... Is that a Russian captured rifle? ...

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I don't see an "X" stamp, and the bluing isn't really, really black and doesn't appear to be over-blued, so my guess is not. However, the butt plate and the takedown disc in the stock are not in the white, so that's inconsistent. It may be the stock isn't original. I'm guessing the front barrel band (nosecap or whatever) is also inconsistent with early war production, but don't quote me on the date they stopped using "H" bands. Or maybe @amd6547 has the best explanation that fits those inconsistencies. It's definitely an interesting and special piece, one of a kind, and worthy of a place in a serious collection.

I have seen a couple of these duel code rifles.. And from memory I think the 2nd set of letters always looks inconsistent or I think hand stamped. You know I do not think there is a solid answer. Because each of these have a different story to them that is not very well documented.

But my guess was the second set of letters were hand stamped.

Love the rifle.. I so like Russian captures. They tell a very personal story all of their own.. And you got a free refurb after the war..

The color of the stock sure has that Russian refurb look to it.

From the photo, the stock and visible milled furniture all appears roughly consistent with 1942 production, so if it is a Russian capture it's not the usual mixmaster.

Don't know the reason for the double stamp on the receiver ring -- I'll take a look through my books when I have time.

I don't think it's a Russian capture because it doesn't look like the metal has been overblued in the Russian fashion. Note that the maker's stamps are quite sharply etched, and the metal has a plum-colored patina. I have a Russian capture K98 and it looks distinctly different. Of course, maybe they just threw on a different stock without rebluing. I'm no expert on the topic, that's for sure.

wiscoaster said:

I don't think it's a Russian capture because it doesn't look like the metal has been overblued in the Russian fashion.

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That bluing on the bolt screams Russian.. Sometimes the Comrade armor swung that hammer hard and made a good mark



And other times not so even a swing



then sometimes they just did not care. I think Jessesky armorer also did not care
But his rebluer did because that is a darn nice job.



One thing that I did find out that capture mark is not an "X" it is two crossed rifles... Honest thats what it is...

Dave DeLaurant said:

The color of the stock sure has that Russian refurb look to it.

From the photo, the stock and visible milled furniture all appears roughly consistent with 1942 production, so if it is a Russian capture it's not the usual mixmaster.

Don't know the reason for the double stamp on the receiver ring -- I'll take a look through my books when I have time.

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There is a slew of reasons, reworked, the finishing company received uncompleted receivers from the original.. etc. But you have it right this is not the usual Russian Capture, they put a fair amount of heart in this one.

My Mauser is a Yugoslav capture rework. They really did them up. It looks, in all respects, like a brand new kar98k. I have a case of the Romanian steel case ammo that used to be cheap to shoot in it.

indy1919a4 said:

That bluing on the bolt screams Russian..

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Quite true ... another inconsistency. But note how the bolt is darker than the receiver.

One thing that I did find out that capture mark is not an "X" it is two crossed rifles... Honest thats what it is...

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Yup, also quite true. Though usually referenced just as an "X" by milsurp buyers.

wiscoaster said:

Quite true ... another inconsistency. But note how the bolt is darker than the receiver.


Yup, also quite true. Though usually referenced just as an "X" by milsurp buyers.

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The bolt is what tells me its capture..

Shows you what the hell milsurp buyers know, none of ,em are worth the powder to reload 'em..

I think it would be interesting to see what marks are hidden from sight by the stock. OP, if you disassemble it, can you show us some more pics?

She’s a beaut!

dot 1944

Looking through some of my more comprehensive K98k books, I located another example of a double-stamped BCD-BNZ from 1944 in Backbone of the Wehrmacht by Richard Law:



Here is a little more coverage of hand and double-stamped Steyr K98ks from Karem et al's Karabiner 98k Vol IIb:



Your stock appears to have a flat milled buttplate, which doesn't seem consistent with 1942 Steyr production; this could be a later refurb mis-match or a typical example of wartime frugality, using whatever leftover stock came to hand.

Here's a summary of Steyr samples from the different years, also from the second title:



Looks like your receiver was made at Gustloff, and the entire rifle later completed or rebuilt at Steyr.

(Sorry the binding margins are unclear -- these books are crazy expenisve and I didn't want to risk cracking their spines on my scanner.)

And this is not a WW II thing.. Looks like the Germans did this in WW I also. This rifle was rebuilt.