Clint Eastwood does good work in an industry where good work is difficult to accomplish...
I am saying two things, - one that the suffix looks newer than the original serial number of the receiver, second that it is incredibly unlikely Spandau made it anywhere near the r-block in 1909, all known rifles are in the first and a-block, I could believe a b or c block is possible, hell maybe a d-e block being its Spandau, but as far as is known, no maker pre-war made it to the r-block in a single year (
Danzig does use high blocks, beyond the r-block, but this is because Danzig produced rifles without rolling over the suffixes the first few years. It is possible others did very early on also, Mauser and DWM may have the first couple years, maybe Erfurt also, but only Danzig did to the extent that they could reach the r-block). The two factors, a suffix that looks newer and the range itself suggest the suffix is a latter addition. The fact that the RR acceptance is right for a first block or early a-block, but not a late a-block or 1910 also suggest this is a no suffix rifle originally (but made in 1909 originally)
As to rationalizing how this came about, well this is just subjective speculation, based upon limited observations, - I am just saying that there are cases of receivers serialed to groups of components, as if a rifle had a flawed receiver or the receiver was damaged and the replaced receiver was matched to the group of components. This would be unusual in this case, they usually do not used a salvaged receiver doing this, they usually use an ordnance spare, but it is an example of a general theme that ordnance depots did use salvaged receivers in odd ways, including re-numbering them for specific purposes (the Reichsmarine also did queer things). I would think the r would have been added in the early rearmament phase, the 1935-1938 period, when the rifle was first reworked or upgraded, - the RR markings added to the original markings are typical of this period (or somewhat earlier) and not so much later, it could also have been added when the Polish barrel was added, which imo would be 1940 or there about. After SDP took over but not long after, - the G29/40 program took most of the left over components starting in late 1940 - , but this is obviously a left over finished barrel, not raw forgings which is what the G29/40 program used.
Anyway, this is an educated guess based upon my research, there is no obligation to accept it, but I doubt you will get a better opinion with only a barreled receiver. Really without the stock and RS (I assume the RS is m/m or you would have shown it, it might help date the last work if it were original) there isn't much to go on, most depot work (acceptance) is found on the stocks.
So this was originally a no letter block 1909?
I still don't understand why a suffix would have been added; not saying it wasn't I just don't understand, and I'm here to learn. Was it when the receiver was slipped into a production run of new rifles that were in the 'r' block? If a rebuild/conversion to a -M, why would a suffix be added? Would the 'r' have been added in WWII?
Better pic of acceptance proofs. Any idea who worked the stock?
T
