Cast metal parts in Russian-capture K98's?

[Ad Astra]

Got a J.P. Sauer & Sohn K98 Russian-capture last night. UPS crunched the box, big time: even a hole on the side from the bolt. Not happy to see that. Most times C&R dealers remove the bolt and pack it seperately for this reason.

Unwrapping it I found the bolt safety wing broken off! and the insides of the part has that gray, cast-metal look.

Shouldn't that be a forged steel part? Does anyone know if the Russians made their own (shoddy) parts and put them into the captured K98's? The bolt (of course) is an electropencil match- barrel, reciever and stock have original match, though.

I don't like the look of this at all. Is that Russian hot-dip blue covering other pot-metal parts? It is a serious concern.

 

[SigfanUSAF]

From my experience, when a forged steel part breaks, it has a look very similar to a casting. I dropped a forged spindle for a 77 Pontiac the other day, thats how I know. This is my guess as to what your seeing.

 

[aka108]

Doubt the Russians would have set up to manufacture any spare parts for the 98K's. They probably had 10's of thousands did mass disassembly and reassembly and junked whatever was left over.

 

[Ivy Mike]

could it be that the Russians used Yugo parts later on to finish assembling rifles?
IIRC, those are all forged parts though.

 

[Cosmoline]

To my knowledge he USSR had a good supply of quality steel for the entire war and never resorted to substandard stuff. Rough machining, yes, but their work has a reputation for NOT blowing up. Japan did resort to cast iron and low quality steel at the end, but Japan's industrial base was far more strained and the nation far more resource-poor. I don't remember if the Germans themselves used substandard parts in their volks rifles or whatever those things were they issued to the old men and kids in Berlin.

 

[SigfanUSAF]

I don't remember if the Germans themselves used substandard parts in their volks rifles or whatever those things were they issued to the old men and kids in Berlin.

Not that its substandard by any means, but the operating handle on the G-43 is cast.

 

[Ad Astra]

Good to know and thanks- I have never seen the inside of a forged part (before), and hope not to again. Ironic it survived WWII combat to be damaged here- a trip in the BBT being more dangerous than Stalingrad.

The rifle was packaged better than some; wonder what they threw on top of it to squish it that bad. Wasn't my UPS guy, he's well-trained. He can tell you 900 rounds of Yugo 8mm ammo weighs 52 lbs.

 

[Dave Rishar]

If it makes you feel any better, AA, I once had the opportunity to see a fractured bolt body from an M48; it looked very porous inside. I don't think that these were ever cast...

Ever snapped a drop forged wrench? Kind of the same thing.

 

[American By Blood]

I don't remember if the Germans themselves used substandard parts in their volks rifles or whatever those things were they issued to the old men and kids in Berlin.

The Volkssturm wasn't issued new rifles so the quality of parts would not have been effected by resource scarcity or manufacturing difficulties in the Reich. VS men were armed with an assortment of WWI (and older) surplus, captured weapons, and personal firearms. Lots and lots of personal firearms.*

*Contrary to popular belief, Hitler's government did not ban the private ownership of pistols and longarms. They actually relaxed the laws from what they were during the Weimar Republic.