An elusive DSM 38?

Being no expert in the field of German Third Reich smallbore training rifles, my question may seem very naive to many better-informed forum members on here, but I was surprised not to find any mention of the DSM 38 rifle on Training Rifles of Third Reich Germany.
Jon Speed, to the best of my knowledge, briefly mentioned The Model 37 as a DSM Rifle? (p. 147), stating that the drawing he had inserted "may have been a concept drawing only, or perhaps a few examples were actually made up".
Bruno Guigues, whom Jon Speed himself referred to as "the most serious German .22 rifle collector in Europe" shows on pages 90 to 93 of his book, 145 German Smallbore Training Rifles, a prototype of this Mauser DSM 38 in a near KKW configuration (SN V 135), the action of which does seem to match the drawing of the Verschlußsystem on Jon Speed's book.
How come this DSM 38, which seems to bridge the gap between the DSM series and the KKW was never (?) reported elsewhere?

It really isn't that complicated. The numbers 33, 34, 36, 37, and 38 were appended to DSM (by Mauser ONLY) to indicate which version of the design was being discussed. The design was changed in each of those years, but not all of those design modifications went into production. The DSM 34 was the officially approved version which first went into mass production, and was licensed by Mauser to other firms for manufacture. By the time the modifications which define the DSM 36 came about (actually designed in late 1935), most of the other makers had ceased production of DSMs. This is why those features are only seen primarily in later Mauser and Geco DSMs. Walther, for instance, did not bother with those changes.

The DSM 37 actually did see at least some few of its pattern made, and without the "V" prefix which indicates the manufacturer's trial prototype --- NOT a production run! You will see the DSM 37 example in the book. The DSM 38 never went beyond these tool room trial prototype examples. At the beginning of 1938, the instigator, chief customer, and authority over the DSM -- the SA -- asked Mauser, Walther, and BSW (the latter had badgered the SA for years to be the official supplier of trainers) to collaborate on an improved design. That cooperative design was worked up as a new DSM, and referred to as "the SA Sportmodell" or "SA Wehrsportmodell" among other terms. It incorporated much of what is seen in the "V" prefix prototype to which you refer. That collaborative design was LATER named the "KKW", suggested by the admin at BSW, who assumed the role as lead firm for the project, with Mauser's blessings. The trainers were comparatively a "small potatoes" nuisance at this time, with much larger and more lucrative military arms contracts being a priority. If you read through the KKW history and development section of the book you will find that.

Steve

Thank you for this thorough explanation, Steve

Deejay said:

Thank you for this thorough explanation, Steve

Click to expand...

Mauser Prototype DSM38 placed on my book

In 1937, Fritz Hausser heard comments from SA leaders that the DSM 34 length, weight, sights, handling did not match those of the K98k rifle; he started work on another training rifle with a bolt that had the basic functional features of the Model 37: the DSM 38; the DSM 38 prototype was made in feb.2 1368 and had the same length, the same weight, the same design as the K98k

The political leaders of the SA had shares from the firm BSW / GUSTLOFF; So they refused to choose the DSM 38 and its bolt system patented in 1937 by Fritz Hausser and Adolf Horvarth.

In Würzburg on April 7, 1938, the 3 firms BSW, Mauser and Walther presented all the key points of the KKW project; the KKWehrsportgewehr will be produced 2 years after the DSM 38 prototype was ready to be made.

web site : www.kkw-dsm34-22lr.com

BGcollector said:

View attachment 167238
Mauser Prototype DSM38 placed on my book
View attachment 167242View attachment 167243View attachment 167241
In 1937, Fritz Hausser heard comments from SA leaders that the DSM 34 length, weight, sights, handling did not match those of the K98k rifle; he started work on another training rifle with a bolt that had the basic functional features of the Model 37: the DSM 38; the DSM 38 prototype was made in feb.2 1368 and had the same length, the same weight, the same design as the K98k
View attachment 167244
The political leaders of the SA had shares from the firm BSW / GUSTLOFF; So they refused to choose the DSM 38 and its bolt system patented in 1937 by Fritz Hausser and Adolf Horvarth.
View attachment 167246View attachment 167247View attachment 167245
In Würzburg on April 7, 1938, the 3 firms BSW, Mauser and Walther presented all the key points of the KKW project; the KKWehrsportgewehr will be produced 2 years after the DSM 38 prototype was ready to be made.

web site : www.kkw-dsm34-22lr.com

Click to expand...

Thank you for posting this.

It is amazing to me how nearly identical this action is to the latter Anschutz post war actions, and of course the Walther Sport rifles.

BGcollector said:

View attachment 167238
Mauser Prototype DSM38 placed on my book
View attachment 167242View attachment 167243View attachment 167241
In 1937, Fritz Hausser heard comments from SA leaders that the DSM 34 length, weight, sights, handling did not match those of the K98k rifle; he started work on another training rifle with a bolt that had the basic functional features of the Model 37: the DSM 38; the DSM 38 prototype was made in feb.2 1368 and had the same length, the same weight, the same design as the K98k
View attachment 167244
The political leaders of the SA had shares from the firm BSW / GUSTLOFF; So they refused to choose the DSM 38 and its bolt system patented in 1937 by Fritz Hausser and Adolf Horvarth.
View attachment 167246View attachment 167247View attachment 167245
In Würzburg on April 7, 1938, the 3 firms BSW, Mauser and Walther presented all the key points of the KKW project; the KKWehrsportgewehr will be produced 2 years after the DSM 38 prototype was ready to be made.

web site : www.kkw-dsm34-22lr.com

Click to expand...

The administration at BSW/Gustloff begged and pleaded, repeatedly, to gain favor from the SA in the trainer supply clear up through 1938. The complaints about the DSM design which you mention were being made even before the end of 1934. The SA refused to show preferential treatment to one firm over the other in the matter and INSISTED that the three firms of Mauser, BSW, and Walther collaborate on a new design jointly. They even stated that the SA organization would not be willing to deal with any other suppliers who might be licensed to make any new approved design for their orders of trainers.