There have been a few interesting German, mongrel training rifles posted on this forum recently, so let me add another from my collection.
I acquired this Waffenstadt Suhl, DSM34/KKW/??? mongrel about 20 years ago. Long before Jon Speed published his book on "Mauser Smallbore sporting, target and training rifles”, and obviously, before Simpson & Company’s fine recently published tome on the subject of German training rifles. At the time of purchase, there were only a limited number of serious collectors, such as many on this forum, that recognized the difference between the DSM34 pattern training rifles and the later KKW pattern who may have been tempted to fake a KKW for a significant increase in value for sale. There was also no internet, so the benefit of faking a KKW from a DSM34 was negligible at the time.
That said, my example of an all numbers matching, Waffenstadt Shul, high S/N (10806) training rifle, apparently a very late production rifle that shows all the characteristics of a DSM34 pattern training rifle with the exception of the upper K98 styled barrel band with its integral bayonet lug. The stock looks original to the rifle, however, I have not had the barreled action out of it to check for any evidence of post manufacturing replacement or modifications. It also has the German Veterans Association, SOLD.BD marking on the left side of the bolt take-down disc as is correct for this rifle according to the new Simpson & Co. reference tome.
Do any here have an idea as to how this may have come about?
Here are a few photos of my mongrel:
The above is a comparison between my Waffenstadt - Suhl mongrel (above) and my Gustloff KKW (below)
I acquired this Waffenstadt Suhl, DSM34/KKW/??? mongrel about 20 years ago. Long before Jon Speed published his book on "Mauser Smallbore sporting, target and training rifles”, and obviously, before Simpson & Company’s fine recently published tome on the subject of German training rifles. At the time of purchase, there were only a limited number of serious collectors, such as many on this forum, that recognized the difference between the DSM34 pattern training rifles and the later KKW pattern who may have been tempted to fake a KKW for a significant increase in value for sale. There was also no internet, so the benefit of faking a KKW from a DSM34 was negligible at the time.
That said, my example of an all numbers matching, Waffenstadt Shul, high S/N (10806) training rifle, apparently a very late production rifle that shows all the characteristics of a DSM34 pattern training rifle with the exception of the upper K98 styled barrel band with its integral bayonet lug. The stock looks original to the rifle, however, I have not had the barreled action out of it to check for any evidence of post manufacturing replacement or modifications. It also has the German Veterans Association, SOLD.BD marking on the left side of the bolt take-down disc as is correct for this rifle according to the new Simpson & Co. reference tome.
Do any here have an idea as to how this may have come about?
Here are a few photos of my mongrel:
The above is a comparison between my Waffenstadt - Suhl mongrel (above) and my Gustloff KKW (below)
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