Mauser byf45 marked rifles

The rifles produced by Mauser Orbendorf (byf code) are found in both phosphate and blued finish, along with mixed finish guns, i.e. bolt and small parts blued, the balance of the rifle phosphated. Mauser started production a 001 in 1945 and used a 5 digit serial numbering system. The byf45 code went to the high 9000a range, and then the factory changed the code to svw. Remember- mauser did not fill in all the serial number blocks- it is generally held that the letter suffix corresponds to the month of production, i.e. "no letter" is January, "a" is February, "b" is March, etc.. Many of the Kriegsmodell features were in full effect by January of 1945, and you find byf45's in full Kriegmodell trim from day 1. Some byf rifles will be found with WW1 mauser parts on them, and some parts could be subcontracted.

Most items below are based on study of matching original guns- variations to exist from this guide however.