by Lfryklu on Mon Apr 10, 2017 11:49 am
Guys,
Not trying to educate anybody with my request to locate an experienced Smithie, but to let you know in WWII Germany the 'Low and High Turret' mounts anyway, and most likely the Claw mounts too, were curved to match the contour of the tops of the K98 receiver where they mounted.
Then, the screw holes were located down on the lower part of the mount, on both the right and left sides of the rifle.
The mounting holes were then drilled and tapped, and then were screwed in, finally then the mounts 'were indeed' actually Silver soldered to the receiver.
No kidding, or imagination here - Historically accurate and correct as far as manufacturing process.
Also, the scopes that were used in this process of producing a WWII sniper rifle were completely disassembled, and the 'closed ring' mount tops were 'also silver soldered' to the scope tube, and then the scope was reassembled, and everything was put together and a completed WWII German sniper rifle was then issued to Wehrmacht and SS Snipers.
SOURCE of Historical fact = All of this in in Peter Sencich's Two (2) books on the K98 rifle:
K98 - Backbone of the Wehrmacht
K98 - Backbone of the Wehrmacht - Sniper variations
In it I also read, that it was found early on in the production process that they needed to silver solder the mounts, as they ripped out as mine did.
I had an earlier reply that said he had a K98 and was in .458 and it did not need that, and the recoil was more than my 8mm rounds. I'm sure it is.
Actually, I have another rifle in .47-70, using a Weaver mount scope set up that works fine too, and is 'like recoil' to his set up.
Okay, 'Old Guy' had evidently sporterized his K98, the scope he used was probably not a WWII scope, but a 'modern one' using a Weaver type mounting base where 'all four screws' are in a straight line down the top of the receiver.
Yes, that design is far more secure and does not need to be silver soldered as do the WWII style mounts.
The Germans in WWII had a whole program and infrastructure for selection of acceptable rifles for building into sniper rifles, and then the whole process I described above was actually performed for each rifler for what I am trying to replicate, or clone.
FTI> I have seen and held to inspect several 'Original' WWII German sniper rifles, and all of them had soldered scope components. All of them 'five figure' rifles, because they were 'original WWII sniper' rifles.
Again, I am not trying to provide a 'history lesson' with my Post request, nor an I crazy, or not know what I am doing, or 'over-killing' anything.
All of what I have described is based on historical fact.
Don't believe it, buy and read the books - I did.
The Germans had all of this figured out in WWII, and I am trying to have 'as close as I can' come with a 'clone' to having a 'built in 2017' WWII 'Style' sniper rifle.
What I would not be able to do, or try to replicate is the disassembly of my WWII Zeiss scope to put on 'closed ring' mount tops, and then solder them to the scope tube.
If I could, I would but, I am okay with Split ring scope base tops for right now on this project.
So, I hope this contains further 'Editorial comment', based on my working off of published historical reference's with the two Senich books on K98 Rifles acknowledged to be the best, and most complete, and 'authoritative' source of information on WWII K98k riles as were used by the German Army and the SS.
Back to what I am looking for, I need an 'Experienced Smithie' that is seasoned in the 'Craft of Gunsmithing'.
I located a correct BYF coded and Dated actual Mauser K98k, the kind of rifle actually used in the sniper rifle build program that someone had already 'boogered up' by drilling and tapping for a Modern scope set up.
Personally, I would/will not drill and tap any 'historical rifle', but I found one that fit my needs that just needed the scope mount holes drilled in the correct location. The WWII Turret mount scope bases I am using perfectly covered the existing In-line top drilled fours holes that someone had put in for a Weaver base modern scope set up.
The first project that went south on me with the ripped out mounting screws were in a Post WWII, Yugo 'reworked' rifle with a new barrel, that they did not even get the front and rear sights correctly positioned and oriented down the center, with both not being top and center aligned. both front and rear sights were off leaning toward the left side.
My earlier Smithie who told me that glue was just as good, was able to realign the front sight by torch 'sweating' the front sight ring to correct it, but he could not get the rear 'sight tube base' to let go, so it remains off to the left side.
So, I will sell it to a WWII Reenactor for their purposes.
My finding the 'right rifle' with already 'boogered up' modern Weaver mount holes in the receiver started my second WWII sniper 'clone' rifle project to get it right this time.
Back to my question and original query, who can refer someone qualified and willing who can perform this work i have described?
Please help me find someone, who is able to deliver quality work for me for what I want done.
Thanks and best regards,
Lfryklu