Acid etching?

[Pat]

I'm not familiar with the practice of acid etching for numbers applications on rifle parts, but came across some examples here:
http://www.k98kforum.com/showthread.php?332-WIERD-(at-least-to-me)-VZ24-german-used

How often was this used? Was it preferable to electro-pencilling, or simply used in place of it when the latter was not available? Any other examples, or info on this?
Thanks,
Pat

 

[Pisgah]

I think acid-etching by German WW2 armourers was done somewhere between uncommonly and rarely. I suspect it was armourer preference but perhaps it means that numbering with stamps was either not possible or not practical given some circumstance we are unlikely to figure out at this point. Someone had an SS 98k several years back which was numbered using acid etching (including the bolt body). If I can find a link I will post it.

 

[RH Scott]

I have a German proofed, French issued ( star acceptance mark ) svwMB with some acid etched parts. Not seen it on any other Mausers.

 

[Hambone]

It's on the top rings of Zf.41s. Sometimes it is hard to see, particularly on rifles with wear and patina/rust over it.

 

[Peter S]

Is this acid etching or electro-pencil?

 

[Pisgah]

Is this acid etching or electro-pencil?

I think acid etching.

 

[Pat]

Here are two examples I'm wondering about.

They're both from Berthier carbines (Mle.1916 and an 07/15), and both are LK5 marked, have blued bolts, and have barrel bands and butt plates numbered to match. In one case, the full serial number is added on the cocking piece. In the other, only the last two numbers of a five digit serial number were applied, this after a different yet similarly applied serial number was lined through.

Is that etching? I just took two hasty pics, but the numbers were not deeply applied to begin with.

Pat

 

[biggymu]

Acid etched K98s

Sorry I just saw this thread.
There was a whole series of K98k rifles attributed to the SS that are seen with receiver codes BNZ42 and BNZ43 (and perhaps others). Many of these rifles have SSZZA4/eagle somewhere on the barrel. Some of these rifles also have a deaths head skull under a letter K on the lower keel of the stock. Theories include these being concentration camp guns. Many remain in very good condition. It has been said by some experts that these weapons conform to a specific series of features, I. E. serial stamped on front and rear bands/receiver, serially numbered on stock below trigger guard, etc. I included the picture of the converted GEW98 SS rifle with the acid etched bolt to show this is not always the case. Examples of these rifles are known to exist in single claw sniper trim as well and have an additional SSZZA2 stamp on them. I dont think there is any known documentation as to the origin of this series. They are genuine. I have tracked about 11 of these guns and it is quite obvious the numbers were applied by the same person. You can recognize the penmanship. Another interesting facet of collecting the K98.

 

[mrfarb]

SSZZA4 has nothing to do with concentration camps, the SS Zentral Zeugamt 4 is one of the main SS weapons repair depots.

 

[biggymu]

You will please notice I said theories that have been thrown around and with this in mind I was referring to inferences concerning the death head/ K. Not the SSZZA4. Sorry if I was unclear. I have never seen in writing any explanation of this series.

 

[mrfarb]

Nobody has written about it, yet. I'm not accusing, just trying to be factual. The deathshead K is associated with the depot as well, but only show up in later builds done at the depot- earlier builds lack this marking. It's similar to depot markings on Heer repaired 98k's, in as much as you can compare them.

 

[tsmgguy]

It's not acid etching, it's vibro-, or electro-pen,