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Thermodyne · June 2, 2009, 09:02 PM

AFAIK the M48's are a 1945 update to the k98 to make it quicker and cheaper to build. More stampings and welding etc. The BO's were of 1950's manufacture and intended as a backup source if the surplus MN's ran out. The AK47 was not being exported yet. The Chinese picked up the slack and the BO's were never used. Non BO marked weapons usually have 1944 or 1945 marked on the barrel, which was made in Germany, and may or may not have seen use. Almost all were captured and stored by the Soviets.

June 2, 2009, 09:02 PM	#7
Thermodyne Senior Member Join Date: June 2, 2009 Posts: 111	AFAIK the M48's are a 1945 update to the k98 to make it quicker and cheaper to build. More stampings and welding etc. The BO's were of 1950's manufacture and intended as a backup source if the surplus MN's ran out. The AK47 was not being exported yet. The Chinese picked up the slack and the BO's were never used. Non BO marked weapons usually have 1944 or 1945 marked on the barrel, which was made in Germany, and may or may not have seen use. Almost all were captured and stored by the Soviets.