Very Strange Gew98 Rework
- Thread starter Bigdibbs88
- Start date
Absolut
Senior Member
Dave is fully correct in here, as well as Mike. My (additionally) SSZZA4 stamped SS DC sniper (bnz 43 action with a single rune on the mag guard; if of any help: bolt and follower are EP serialized to match the rifle) rifle has exactly the same font and size serial number on the heel.
Hey Guys,
I just went on the Waffenamt Shop site and you can buy stock numeral stamps in this font for 120 euro.
I think I'm going to to start a business converting matching Gewehrs.
You are being coy, but I can tell you they are "similar" but not the same. Could you make them? Sure, but you can't get this exact stamp set from that site. The devil is in the details, but can be duplicated for sure.
I'm bumping this thread to mention the "Circle S". Something struck a memory cord and I remembered seeing it before on other SS Gew. reworks. I'm bumping another thread where I started a basic discussion about the different SS Deaths heads and some theories I'm working on in regards to them.
I am also working on another thread about SS Gew. reworks that I might have time to finish and post this weekend, there have been quite a few posted up lately so its a good time to review this stuff and see if things have changed. Without documentation, long term study and research is the only way to develop the ideas for the future of figuring these out.
I am also working on another thread about SS Gew. reworks that I might have time to finish and post this weekend, there have been quite a few posted up lately so its a good time to review this stuff and see if things have changed. Without documentation, long term study and research is the only way to develop the ideas for the future of figuring these out.
Don't get me on to Lugers. Not to get sideways, but Circle S on Lugers and Rifles, with the rifles being attributed to the SS. Like maybe its a depot stamp? Post some Luger photos with the circle S so I can see them without doing any actual work of looking for them. Thanks. NOOOO! I"M NOT SAYING THE CIRCLE S COULD BE ASSOCIATED WITH SS DEPOTS. yet.
Warrior1354
ax - hole
I think you're onto something here Mike and you're right what better company do used then a commercial gun making company makes perfect sense. The question however is what might that company?
I do have a good theory about the 1918 dated rifles these were the primary rifles left in the depots. They were the first one's taken or destroyed. And most of them were brand new too. They were just sitting in the depots the army didn't need the rifles at the time. They wanted more machine guns and carbines. To me what better rifles to convert than the ones that are readily available?
Again these are all just theories
I do have a good theory about the 1918 dated rifles these were the primary rifles left in the depots. They were the first one's taken or destroyed. And most of them were brand new too. They were just sitting in the depots the army didn't need the rifles at the time. They wanted more machine guns and carbines. To me what better rifles to convert than the ones that are readily available?
Again these are all just theories
Thanks Mike, It's good to know that those stamps aren't "spot on "copies!
Some interesting Circle S Lugers. Looks like the Circle and S were two different stamps. I think these two throw a little cold water on the SS thesis.
I wish the picture of the first one was a little clearer. Looks like the same stamp we assume to be HZa Naumburg.
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I thought the same Ryan, that they don’t appear to be connected. The Luger stamp almost appears to be an S with the circle stamped after. A few thoughts I’ve had since - unless it’s connected to the Amberg manufacturing we may never know since it’s not prevalent. But, many of these Gewehrs went through Spandau in the 30’s for sight upgrades, and one possibility is it’s applied by Spandau. The receiver flat is popular real estate for them during reworking. Would make a good research project finding them
Which begs another question from the other thread - what are the circles? Again looks very much like something a depot worker might do, but why? I’ll put that on the list of Mauser Mysteries that needs solving.
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Which begs another question from the other thread - what are the circles? Again looks very much like something a depot worker might do, but why? I’ll put that on the list of Mauser Mysteries that needs solving.
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Bigdibbs88
"Ach du lieber!"
Also points away from police. Would spandau have been operating with that kind of marking wartime though? Seems like something more likely to be pre war
Early Spandau rework is exactly what I was thinking as well. Its only seen on these WW1 era Lugers (all 1920 marked?), possibly an early Spandau acceptance from the 1920s? I have never seen the circle or the S by themselves, at least on Lugers, so I do think that the both were stamped at the same time. They just used two different dies which also might suggest these were from the 1920s.
If the Circle S is early Spandau work, I don't think it necessarily excludes yours being Police or even SS since the rifle could have been handed over to the police or some other civil organization in the 20s. The problem with the Lugers is they have later HZa rework acceptance. Seems very unlikely to me that SS reworked pistols would have ended up in the Army logistics system.
This is assuming the two Circle S stamps, Luger and Gew98, are even connected. As Mike suggests, the Gew98 receiver marking may just be an Amberg thing.
Warrior1354
ax - hole
It could be an Amberg thing Ryan. I have a good friend of mine that has a few 1918 dated Amberg Gewehrs in his collection. He may let me break them down to verity if the circle S marking was around in that time period. Like I said I have been documenting Gew98 receivers for quite some time for the book project.
Bigdibbs88
"Ach du lieber!"
So I went back and looked at some of my pics. This is a partially matching rifle I used to own and is the earliest one I've ever seen.... converted 6/36. Its interesting for a couple reasons, but this also has the circle S which I didnt remember. Also an Amberg originally with its original barrel. This does not have the circle on the left receiver as some others do
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Here’s the 18.
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Interesting. Next step would probably be to start looking at Gew98Ms and any Gew98 marked 1920 and if see if any are Circle S marked.