BobT and I have decided that it will be worthwhile to begin a research thread on the M71 & 71/84, it will be made a stickie today or tomorrow.
I will type out all the rifles I have recorded, which is very few, about 30 altogether (15 of each roughly) and it is hoped that others will report their rifles, which I will add to the first post. I am not sure what is important on these, what should be recorded, but will start with date-maker-serial. If CB or others have an interest in some other feature, I am open to recommendations.
This will be work in progress of course, but as collectors report their rifles and I come across them on auction sites, I will add the data and over time, I have learned, you can gather quite a bit of data. Especially if several collectors are actively involved.
With respect to both the M71 and M71/84 you need to record the dates of manufacture and of issue if the latter is present and unit markings and location thereof (buttplate tang or across buttplate rear face) to include any cancelled markings.
With respect to the M71 you need to decide if you are going to limit the listing to the G71 alone or include and differentiate among the K71, B71 and Gendarmerie K78.
With respect to the M71/84 you need to decide if you are going to limit to the G71/84 or include and differentiate the B71/84.
To make sure everybody is on the same wavelength you may wish to include a photo of each version.
Recommend you format the list along the lines of the list of Reichsrevolver holster makers I maintain on Still's Forum; i.e. one or two editors maintain an integrated list so that one is not chasing thru innumerable posts to find data. Suggested hierarchy something like this: Heading: G71. (photo of G71). Alphabetical list of makers with data entered in proper order (SN, date(s) unit marking(s). under each. Submissions to be made in any sequence privately or publicly but all data summarised in one place and readily accessible.
Lots of work initially but relatively easy to keep up. Note on the example list on Still's the mechanism for indicating latest updates.
If data not available (online listers frequently don't indicate unit markings) recommend use of n/a in place thereof = not available.
Lesson learned from Still's style listing: Should have recorded holster model plus unit markings when initiated; problem was initial list from printed source did not include such data.
Have fun!
Later:
Additional data to be recorded if applicable: Cutaway
Prototype (describe)
Factory experimental or developmental (describe)
With respect to unit markings: Indicate an italic or script letter by setting off in parentheses. Unit markings only useful if the SN on the buttplate matches the receiver SN. In some cases (especially K71s) the pieces are prone to sporterizing and losing their unit markings in the process in which case indicate as: n/a. On an unaltered piece if there are no unit markings present specify as: none.
"The devil is in the details."
All of this should be formalized at the beginning of the listing to assure the uniformity of the data submitted.
