Recently a new collector asked for some help with his rifle, he is technologically challenged, as am I, but we muddled through some pictures via email.
The receiver markings are not completely clear, some are weak or worn to the point of confusing the identification, but it is a Simson/16 receiver and the build date fits 1926 best. More on this below... The barrel is a mid-1930's JPS salvaged for the purpose of re-barreling, not German done imo, but possibly Spanish or Balkans? If anyone has some thoughts on the "RF" and the squiggly markings, that would be helpful, but either way the manner of serializing and these markings suggest official work and not some bum in a basement.
These (Zeithain's) are known 1924, 1926, 1927 & 1928. It is incredibly doubtful any were made before 1924. Germany was in a real mess during 1923, probably as bad as 1919 in some areas, things were far too chaotic prior to 1924 for any significant ordnance programs to be undertaken. Further, Germans and Germany took a more pragmatic view towards the west after 1923 (learned direct confrontation was counter-productive and ineffective), they were far more prone to circumvent the diktat subversively and systematically, this would last until Locarno in 1925, but would linger well through the late 1920's in covert re-armament. 1928 probably ended the program, the Germans not wanting to jeopardize the departure of the IAMCC in 1927 or the advantages she was achieving through further negotiations. Only a few 1928's are known, all low serials, 1926 the strongest year and the only one that would fit such a high serial on this rifle. Unfortunately the lack of numbers on the RR means we are stuck speculating, such numbers would aid dating the assembly, but a bad combination of a weak date and worn waffenamt means we are stuck speculating... I had hoped the barrel would offer clues, no such luck as you can see, but the OP did make an excellent attempt!
Anyway, he is a lurker on this topic, so if anyone has some thoughts or identification of the barrel markings, or ideas for a restoration, don't be shy, he wants to restore the rifle is my understanding.
The receiver markings are not completely clear, some are weak or worn to the point of confusing the identification, but it is a Simson/16 receiver and the build date fits 1926 best. More on this below... The barrel is a mid-1930's JPS salvaged for the purpose of re-barreling, not German done imo, but possibly Spanish or Balkans? If anyone has some thoughts on the "RF" and the squiggly markings, that would be helpful, but either way the manner of serializing and these markings suggest official work and not some bum in a basement.
These (Zeithain's) are known 1924, 1926, 1927 & 1928. It is incredibly doubtful any were made before 1924. Germany was in a real mess during 1923, probably as bad as 1919 in some areas, things were far too chaotic prior to 1924 for any significant ordnance programs to be undertaken. Further, Germans and Germany took a more pragmatic view towards the west after 1923 (learned direct confrontation was counter-productive and ineffective), they were far more prone to circumvent the diktat subversively and systematically, this would last until Locarno in 1925, but would linger well through the late 1920's in covert re-armament. 1928 probably ended the program, the Germans not wanting to jeopardize the departure of the IAMCC in 1927 or the advantages she was achieving through further negotiations. Only a few 1928's are known, all low serials, 1926 the strongest year and the only one that would fit such a high serial on this rifle. Unfortunately the lack of numbers on the RR means we are stuck speculating, such numbers would aid dating the assembly, but a bad combination of a weak date and worn waffenamt means we are stuck speculating... I had hoped the barrel would offer clues, no such luck as you can see, but the OP did make an excellent attempt!
Anyway, he is a lurker on this topic, so if anyone has some thoughts or identification of the barrel markings, or ideas for a restoration, don't be shy, he wants to restore the rifle is my understanding.
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