Third Party Press

HZa marked 1927 Breda 1903/14

mrfarb

No War Eagles For You!
Staff member
Picked this up today from a friend, I’ll be honest I’ve admired them from afar but have never researched them heavily as finding them is difficult. The bolt doesn’t match, but the rest of the rifle is really nice with a great bore and matching duffle cut stock. I normally pass on bolt mismatches, but I think ignoring my rule in this case is a good call. Has Innsbruck HZa at wrist. Going to spend some time studying this variant so I will know a lot more about what I have. Honestly there are so many variants of Beutewaffen it seems you just can’t learn it all.

db28374d1d41c65504a2067bd43d1df7.jpg


09658bfd4a7279c525e79c89b5dc92ec.jpg


f4f434bdcf3f01507f8e370531bcdbca.jpg


339a1edfa0143df72fd4ae1f8d2ed5b9.jpg


dcd6cf094d2669325497d119629ef3c8.jpg


b2dbe264117c5ee89b4731c62ead8800.jpg


4695311fc66f851e0c66a702ab472e94.jpg


43229c07210be8f99947041b00f05bcd.jpg


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
I’m really liking this rifle, it’s in great shape too. Thanks for the info Stephan!!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Perhaps stocking up on Beutewaffen for an upcoming project?

A very cool piece for sure...
 
Perhaps stocking up on Beutewaffen for an upcoming project?

A very cool piece for sure...

what?!??! Ssshhhhhh.....my wife hears that and the divorce papers are drawn up, lol. just be cool, be cool.....

Very nice rifle Mike, congratulations!
Here's a link to mine, it's alot like yours-
http://www.k98kforum.com/showthread...contract-Y-1903-14-Mannlicher-Schonauer-rifle

I really think the ones with markings like ours went from Italian to German hands, at least from September 1943. It would explain alot and makes chronological sense, IMHO.

Pat

I checked your thread before I bought it. From reading it seems matching bolts are not really a thing on these rifles, it's possible they came from the depot like this. I agree with your sentiment, a lot of stuff was marked at Innsbruck, I believe for the "Endkampf".
 
Missed this thread somehow. Nice find and I can't recall ever seeing one of these depot marked examples with a matching bolt either.

I really think the ones with markings like ours went from Italian to German hands, at least from September 1943. It would explain alot and makes chronological sense, IMHO.

Yes, pretty clear Italian 5UTC stamp on the receiver. Definitely came from Italian stocks in 1943.
 
Missed this thread somehow. Nice find and I can't recall ever seeing one of these depot marked examples with a matching bolt either.



Yes, pretty clear Italian 5UTC stamp on the receiver. Definitely came from Italian stocks in 1943.

Awesome catch, I didn’t realize that stamp was Italian. Pats example has it as well. Glad I didn’t pass it up.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
The stamp is known from Italian ordnance, but the style of stamp on those is somewhat different than that on the rifles. Awhile back I started a thread about that marking on the Italian sub-forum at Gunboards and Rafael Riccio and other knowledgeable members had some good input on it.

The other stamp on my rifle at the bottom of the barrel shank is still unknown but is seen on other M1903/14’s.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Did some digging and found some pics of the 5UTC inspection stamp from an Italian 45mm Brixia mortar round. Identical to the marking seen on the Greek rifles except for a size difference. The stamp used by 4UTC on rifles/pistols is a different style, but I've never seen another version of the 5UTC stamp.
 

Attachments

  • bomb 001 (1024x769).jpg
    bomb 001 (1024x769).jpg
    285.4 KB · Views: 33
  • bomb 002 (959x1024).jpg
    bomb 002 (959x1024).jpg
    79.5 KB · Views: 28
That’s the one. For whatever reason they added a ‘C’ to the abbreviation, unlike the well known ‘4UT’ seen on many items. Rafael Riccio proposed that the Technical Offices might have had certain categories of items under their responsibility, or that they had different designations based on geographic area of responsibility.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

Military Rifle Journal
Back
Top