Note- this thread broken out from the "Lets Talk SS Deaths Heads" thread here: https://www.k98kforum.com/showthread.php?35803-Lets-talk-SS-Deaths-Heads
It makes sense that a lot of SSR rifles have the "SS2" SS-Waffenwerkstatt Dachau inspection, nearly all of the rifles in inventory were sent there for reworking to bent bolt/band spring configuration. Some have TS stamped on the shank as well, or a small SS2 skull. To me all of these barrel shank markings are probably clues to who did the original conversion to K98k length - I've yet to see any markings on an SSR that carries over to all of them. As time goes on I'm more convinced the majority of the conversions were done by commercial firms for the SS- I say majority because as with anything reworked there is no set boundaries. More likely you have "typical" and "atypical" as some depots could have installed K98k replacement barrels without marking them. A common misconception to me is that people think the skulls are some kind of property mark, they are depot marks or depot inspections much like in the Army system.
It makes sense that a lot of SSR rifles have the "SS2" SS-Waffenwerkstatt Dachau inspection, nearly all of the rifles in inventory were sent there for reworking to bent bolt/band spring configuration. Some have TS stamped on the shank as well, or a small SS2 skull. To me all of these barrel shank markings are probably clues to who did the original conversion to K98k length - I've yet to see any markings on an SSR that carries over to all of them. As time goes on I'm more convinced the majority of the conversions were done by commercial firms for the SS- I say majority because as with anything reworked there is no set boundaries. More likely you have "typical" and "atypical" as some depots could have installed K98k replacement barrels without marking them. A common misconception to me is that people think the skulls are some kind of property mark, they are depot marks or depot inspections much like in the Army system.