This post is in collaboration with Nicole Wiley who will be adding data and has contributed some of the photos from Simpson LTD. Please refrain from reply’s until we have both posted up from different locations. This post will be a work in progress for a few days until we can present all the evidence.
Also want to thank Robert Simpson for the years of free access to his marvelous collection of German Trainers.
Theses Deutsches Sportmodell’s were built in Zella Mehlis by a consortium of makers. Much as in the case the Waffenstadt Suhl Consortium DSM pieces likely were contributed by various makers from that group.
The Logo applied is not unique to the DSM or firearms. It was used on other products of Thuringia and in advertisements promoting travel and tourism in Thuringen. Essentially promotes the region and advocates "buying locally".
Whether assembled by one maker at one location throughout production or at various times at various locations is difficult to determine.
Within the Green Heart logo applied DSM’s there are noticeable differences in stock contours and finish, metal finishes, machining, fonts, and even the location of the “Deutches Sportmodell” marking.
Further, amongst the many actual DSM’s manufactured by the various firms in Zella Mehlis, clearly many did not engage in large scale production. Bolte and Anshutz, Diem, Schmidt, Paatz, and Wiehrauch DSM’s all have only turned in up in miniscule numbers. These were small firms with diverse manufacture of various firearms and related items in small quantity. Guilds or collaborating on production amongst the smaller firms had gone on for some time and was a means to compete with the larger Zella Mehlis Firms such as Anschutz and Walther – both noted to have produced the DSM in quantity. As previously noted regarding the Suhl Consortium, we speculate that it may have been politically or economically advantageous to have a least a few showroom examples of the DSM in 1934. One also has to consider that even these smaller firms after 1935 became involved in other possibly more lucrative contracts relative to re-armament. In some cases it may have only been making small components such as Weihrauch’s role in scope mount manufacture.
All those dynamics came to bear resulting in one of the most diverse and interesting Deutsches Sportmodell’s with regard to fit, finish, fonts, markings, stock contours etc, yet all with the same Logo applied.
In the attached photos you will note the “more” typical Green Heart with the Waffen Genossenschaft Thurgingen address line. Note the style of the caliber marking and that the “Deutsches Sportmodell” on this version is located in typical location ahead of bolt handle.
In the succeeding replies to this post I will be posting other variations of the Greenheart and comparison views of the DSMs made by the smaller Zella Mehlis Makers.
Where observed serial numbers are less than 10 examples observed, I draw the conclusion that production was “miniscule”, not quantity series production. Therefore, will not be including in this discussion the JGA – Anschutz or Walther produced DSM’s. That does not rule those firms out as players in the Green Heart, and they may indeed have supplied some of the pieces.
My data base is a consolidation of numbers gathered by myself, and other more senior collectors (many were my mentors) who began noting serial numbers in the 1950’s. Further, guns in evidence in photo files and the Robert Simpson Collection (approximately a 2% representation of production) form the basis for what I refer to here.
The serial number range recorded and observed examples support a dedicated serial number sequence with the high number confirmed at 6460. One example (discussed below in a seperate reply to this thread) has a Serial number and address line for Weihrauch Production. This adds an unknown quantity to the total numbers produced with the Green Heart Logo. I believe it is safe to assume that at least approximately 6500 DSM's with Green Hearts Logo's were produced.
I am confident there are other Greenheart Logo DSMs out there with variations in font, fit finish, markings and so forth beyond what we will note here. Please post up pictures and serial numbers for any you are willing to share for our research.
Please do allow both I and Nicole to finish posting information and declare the thread open for feedback. (A bit tricky coordinating from 2 different locations)
And I would like to state again, we welcome conflicting opinions or evidence to the contrary of any assumption, theory or observations stated or inferred here.
Also want to thank Robert Simpson for the years of free access to his marvelous collection of German Trainers.
Theses Deutsches Sportmodell’s were built in Zella Mehlis by a consortium of makers. Much as in the case the Waffenstadt Suhl Consortium DSM pieces likely were contributed by various makers from that group.
The Logo applied is not unique to the DSM or firearms. It was used on other products of Thuringia and in advertisements promoting travel and tourism in Thuringen. Essentially promotes the region and advocates "buying locally".
Whether assembled by one maker at one location throughout production or at various times at various locations is difficult to determine.
Within the Green Heart logo applied DSM’s there are noticeable differences in stock contours and finish, metal finishes, machining, fonts, and even the location of the “Deutches Sportmodell” marking.
Further, amongst the many actual DSM’s manufactured by the various firms in Zella Mehlis, clearly many did not engage in large scale production. Bolte and Anshutz, Diem, Schmidt, Paatz, and Wiehrauch DSM’s all have only turned in up in miniscule numbers. These were small firms with diverse manufacture of various firearms and related items in small quantity. Guilds or collaborating on production amongst the smaller firms had gone on for some time and was a means to compete with the larger Zella Mehlis Firms such as Anschutz and Walther – both noted to have produced the DSM in quantity. As previously noted regarding the Suhl Consortium, we speculate that it may have been politically or economically advantageous to have a least a few showroom examples of the DSM in 1934. One also has to consider that even these smaller firms after 1935 became involved in other possibly more lucrative contracts relative to re-armament. In some cases it may have only been making small components such as Weihrauch’s role in scope mount manufacture.
All those dynamics came to bear resulting in one of the most diverse and interesting Deutsches Sportmodell’s with regard to fit, finish, fonts, markings, stock contours etc, yet all with the same Logo applied.
In the attached photos you will note the “more” typical Green Heart with the Waffen Genossenschaft Thurgingen address line. Note the style of the caliber marking and that the “Deutsches Sportmodell” on this version is located in typical location ahead of bolt handle.
In the succeeding replies to this post I will be posting other variations of the Greenheart and comparison views of the DSMs made by the smaller Zella Mehlis Makers.
Where observed serial numbers are less than 10 examples observed, I draw the conclusion that production was “miniscule”, not quantity series production. Therefore, will not be including in this discussion the JGA – Anschutz or Walther produced DSM’s. That does not rule those firms out as players in the Green Heart, and they may indeed have supplied some of the pieces.
My data base is a consolidation of numbers gathered by myself, and other more senior collectors (many were my mentors) who began noting serial numbers in the 1950’s. Further, guns in evidence in photo files and the Robert Simpson Collection (approximately a 2% representation of production) form the basis for what I refer to here.
The serial number range recorded and observed examples support a dedicated serial number sequence with the high number confirmed at 6460. One example (discussed below in a seperate reply to this thread) has a Serial number and address line for Weihrauch Production. This adds an unknown quantity to the total numbers produced with the Green Heart Logo. I believe it is safe to assume that at least approximately 6500 DSM's with Green Hearts Logo's were produced.
I am confident there are other Greenheart Logo DSMs out there with variations in font, fit finish, markings and so forth beyond what we will note here. Please post up pictures and serial numbers for any you are willing to share for our research.
Please do allow both I and Nicole to finish posting information and declare the thread open for feedback. (A bit tricky coordinating from 2 different locations)
And I would like to state again, we welcome conflicting opinions or evidence to the contrary of any assumption, theory or observations stated or inferred here.
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