I'm glad to see you posted it here!
A wonderful rifle, and covers several recent topics we have covered here, in particular, the “B.S” and “intertwined BS” topics. As I told you in email, the rifle is one of the rifles collectors attribute to Hannover, - when Spandau dropped manufacture of the Gew.98 in 1917, to focus on the MG08/15 series, their receivers were sent to Hannover, Mauser & Danzig to assemble.
All, so far, that were diverted to Hannover were the S&H sub-contract receivers, - as this one is. They are all assembled in the manner of a HZa would have done, lots of sub-contract & ordnance/armorer spare parts; while the Danzig & Mauser jobs were just worked in with regular production.
Now there are some unresolved issues with this variation, and we need to break this rifle in two topics. One the Imperial making of this rifle (the “H” aspects) and the interwar reworking/upgrading aspects (the B.S., rear sight and bluing):
The “H”, we assume to mean “Hannover” and because of original, non-reworked examples existing, we know these were made in the “Imperial” configuration. A typical wartime Gew.98, but with “depot” like characteristics (single acceptance RR, lots of ordnance/armorer spare parts etc..).
In the Imperial era Hannover was an Army Korps District HQ, probably other things, but it was not selected as one of the early Wehrkreis, but became one in 1936. I have seen one early rework that was “Hn” marked in the stock, but I “think” this dated to the 1936+ period due to style of the acceptance. Of course if they had the capacity to do work early on, they likely had some capacity earlier.
These things support the theme that Hannover might have been one of the “illegally operating depots” that the IAMCC complained about after they were pulled out in 1927. But it isn’t proof or the only possibility for “H”, but until someone comes across more information on this early period it is as good a guess as any other.
The “B.S” as per the past threads on this topic, is as confused a topic as the “H” receivers. But it does seem to represent a reworking facility.
It was MarkW who first suggested the Hannover line of thought, and the “B.S.” theory (recollection). His rifle was much as this one, "H" & "B.S" marked, also 1918 dated and very late (his a "g" block). Like this rifle, his rifle was originally built in WWI, and later reworked/upgraded to sS, blued, and the two marks are not related beyond indicating the rifles both went through the same two facilities years apart.
Comparing this rifle to other “Imperial” “H” Spandau’s, this is the original stock (the manner it is serialed, the c/RC marks everywhere, the acceptance, the two-piece buttstock) but note the “B.S” added! Combined with the B.S. on the receiver, it really seems the B.S. is a depot marking and is unlikely something else.. Really an exceptional interwar rifle!
If someone can help out Bob with his bolt, please do so, - I would but I do not have a spare Weimar era bolt.
