Third Party Press

Another Zn rifle: Simson 1916/24

rockisle1903

Senior Member
I was going to bid on the rifle in the previous post, but I thought it needed to many pieces and I didn't need another impossible to restore project...Well I'm glad I didn't as my "picker" buddy came up with this one yesterday...It is a simson receiver "built" in 1924 and has quite of few of the matching parts with it including a forced matched depot stock...It has a 1938 dated barrel e/214 proofed...I am just glad this one really only needs a handguard...and a possible duffle cut repair as it was cut between the bands...The most interesting thing to me anyway is the sling...as it is narrow like a k98/kar98a sling, but has a sewn on gew style sling swivel...kind of looks like a hybrid between the two...Anyway here a few pics I snapped in a hurry...
 

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here are a few more pics....I don't know if the sight sleeve was replaced post war as it doesn't match...but it has I believe the proper slide and scale...so not sure...thanks for looking, Mike
 

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Wow, if this rifle could talk what a story it would tell... Thanks for posting verrrrry interesting find. Congrats!
 
That is pretty awesome for sure! You come up with the damnedest things too... these are pretty tough to find this original-matching, the stock is especially interesting unit marked and HZa Cassel to boot..

These Simson receivers are noted very early, two others, near identical to yours, serial 137 and serial 3269, all Simson/16 that are property marked and with build dates of 1924 at Zeithain (Saxony), yours and 137 are the earliest rifles known.

Both are Gunboards posts, I think to my thread on TP's Mauser forum.
 
Thanks for the comments...Since the Karabiner 98k book has come out, it just made the interwar rifles and that period in general so interesting to me, that I've been actively searching these types of rifles out and I have been very fortunate in my finds...thanks again on comments...Mike
 
I agree, with the new book it has given these rifles their first real exposure to collectors. No other book covers them in any meaningful way and the variations are nearly endless when it comes to minor changes, upgrades, depot markings, unit markings and the numerous markings that have not been deciphered yet. In reality Mike and Bruce have barely scratched the surface on the subject and it is really one of the last fields with opportunities to find unique and rare (actually rare) rifles for a reasonable price.

This rifle is a good example, very few are in this condition, most are little more than barreled receivers, some have a few matching components, but even combined I have only recorded a couple dozen, some little more than reports... this is a pretty rare rifle, though its value is probably less than a typical Kar.98k, - which is ridiculous considering how rare it is in this condition.

Thanks for the comments...Since the Karabiner 98k book has come out, it just made the interwar rifles and that period in general so interesting to me, that I've been actively searching these types of rifles out and I have been very fortunate in my finds...thanks again on comments...Mike
 
... this is a pretty rare rifle, though its value is probably less than a typical Kar.98k, - which is ridiculous considering how rare it is in this condition.

I agree with you 100%. It is ridiculous that these rifles dont go for more. Not only because of their miniscule (by k98k standards) production numbers, but if you ask me these are the most interesting rifles out there. WW1, Weimar, and 3R history. It doesnt get better than that.
 

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