Old guns from my aunt (Old BNZ 98k, Garand, P.38, etc)

[Deharme]

Hi folks,

My aunt just dropped a bunch of firearms at my place so I could clean them and look at them.
They have been in a safe for quite a while.

Some of these guns are completely new to me and I wonder if any of you have the knowledge and the will to help me find out what they are and how much they are worth.

Among many other S&W and Colts, there is a M1 Garand, a P.38 and a BNZ 98k that seems to have matching numbers on each parts. The three last ones are the ones I am curious about.

I am attaching photos:

The BNZ 98k



The P.38



The M1

 

[Jim Watson]

Well, bnz was the secret German manufacturer's code for Steyr.
There are collector's fantasies about SS issue but to me it is just another Nazi surplus. The star may indicate Soviet capture. The Soviets didn't throw anything away.

SVW 45 is another secret German code for a Mauser built P38. "Only" 15000 of those, they were losing by then and had other priorities than pistols.

Garand has a commercial scope mount on the rear sight base. I don't think it required cutting on the gun, so it could be returned to pretty good "correct" configuration.

 

[Deharme]

Thanks!
The star is on the P.38, and I think it comes from the fact that they were produced in France at he end of after the war. At least that's what I read.

The BNZ is the one I am really curious about, because it has the eagle stamps and all matching parts. From what I have read, it seems to indicate something a bit more serious.

 

[Jim Watson]

OK, I don't get into the minutiae of Army surplus, but matching guns of that era are of considerable collector interest.

 

[Deharme]

So the BNZ would be worth getting professional appraisal?

 

[AlexanderA]

How long has your aunt had these guns? If the Garand has been in the family since the 1960's, I would check if it was a reweld. Unscrupulous dealers back then would take scrapped guns and rebuild them for sale commercially, because surplus Garands were not yet available except in small numbers through the DCM. Carefully check the sides of the receiver, and the muzzle. The muzzles of many rewelds have a strange countersunk crown.

 

[Whiterook808]

The star does indicate French issue on the P38. These were imported by Interarms and called Grey Ghosts because they were produced in violation of the treaty. I have a svw46 in my collection. The grips should be sheet metal. All were made post war from leftover parts at the Mauser factory in the French zone of occupation, or so the story goes.

 

[Kp321]

The K98 could be a real collectors prize if it is all matching and proper. Really need more detailed pictures to tell for sure. The rifle has what looks to be the original sling and front sight hood which are pluses. The stock is the big question which needs to be addressed with better pics. If everything is proper the value could be near $2K. Any mismatch would cut the value by 2/3.

 

[bannockburn]

Deharme

If you ever get a chance look for a book called "Guns of the World", Petersen Publishing 1972. There's a very in depth article (8 pages), on the Gray Ghost P38.

 

[Deharme]

Thank you all!

The K98 could be a real collectors prize if it is all matching and proper. Really need more detailed pictures to tell for sure. The rifle has what looks to be the original sling and front sight hood which are pluses. The stock is the big question which needs to be addressed with better pics. If everything is proper the value could be near $2K. Any mismatch would cut the value by 2/3.

I am about to clean the guns and I will send some additional pictures of the K98!

Deharme

If you ever get a chance look for a book called "Guns of the World", Petersen Publishing 1972. There's a very in depth article (8 pages), on the Gray Ghost P38.

I will get the book. I just purchased the S&W Standard catalog, and it's excellent. I just realized I have a Model 66-2 "Ashland" model in the safe.