Simson Gew98 1925 shortened to K98k with SS DH
- Thread starter Absolut
- Start date
PatickD
Member
Straight to the point. Thanks.
Slowburn
Senior Member
Yes, 268 0 was my rifle. Unfortunately I had to sell it a few years ago, but I’ll look back and see if I have an old picture of the receiver top.
I bought it on Gunbroker from the US, but it was from a gun shop and they didn’t have any history of it.
This rifle was sanded during the conversion process as the original stock stamps have swelled and now stand proud of the stock.
I bought it on Gunbroker from the US, but it was from a gun shop and they didn’t have any history of it.
This rifle was sanded during the conversion process as the original stock stamps have swelled and now stand proud of the stock.
PatickD
Member
Was the “deaths head” stamp on the stock applied when it was originally “built”? Or, doing the rework?
Stephan98k
aka 8x57IS
Slowburn, I'm so sorry you had to sell it.
Thank you very much for the additional photo and now you can see why I asked my quoted question in the other thread.
On February 13, 1941 the SS Totenkopf unit armorer inspected the squadron's K98k in Warsaw, here are two of the K98k. The "Spandau 1916", converted from the Gew.98 to the K98k was not criticized.
For the second converted K98k, no manufacturer and no year of manufacture is entered by the armorer, it seems serial number 268 had a blank receiver. The armorer complained about the slightly worn barrel rifling.
The muzzle was widened to 7.92mm - in case the current owner wants to measure his barrel.
Stephan98k
aka 8x57IS
This former Karabiner 98b (a zero series of only 1,500 pieces, made from materials like DIN-steel that were only to be used in the event of mobilization in threat of war, because less quality) was built in 1932 by the Jewish company Simson, they did not use SS symbols. It was an Reichswehr Ministry order and the SS got this carbine at a later date.
The "death head" was applied to the stock after the rework/conversion was carried out, which was probably done around 7 years after production.
If the carbine match, then the barrel examination report of the SS armorer gives us the date of February 13, 1941, by which this carbine had already been converted. It was likely in service since the formation of this SS Cavalry unit.
I remember the saying that it is usually impossible to find out the unit in which a K98k has served, it's like a lottery win. In this case we know the exact unit, the location, the exact date and much more.
@Loewe
Here is a short excerpt from one of your comments:
Even if it's not important for the actual topic, I still wanted to show you this.
The squadron leaders daughter of the SS unit in which this carbine serial number 268 served, had the great fortune of a long life in California - like Arthur.
Slowburn
Senior Member
This is amazing Stephan, that you’re able to tie a specific SS unit to such a unique and special rifle. Well done! So unfortunate that I had to sell it, but I’ll try to reach out to the current owner and make him aware of the new findings.
If the armorer recut the bore to 7,92, wouldn’t we expect the barrel to have been stamped as such?
If the armorer recut the bore to 7,92, wouldn’t we expect the barrel to have been stamped as such?
Stephan98k
aka 8x57IS
The muzzle of the barrel was not widened to 7,92 by the armorer, it was certainly caused by firing stress. The armorer just measured the barrel and complained also about the slightly worn barrel rifling, apparently this carbine was used a lot.
Here is some history.
Many attempts have been made to reduce wear on machine gun, carbine and rifle barrels. In 1931 and 1932, for example, chrome-plated barrels were tested. Langbein & Pfannhauser's chrome-plated barrels did not produce usable results and the tests was discontinued. The company Lenning from Berlin was more successful and their chrome-plated barrels for the Gewehr 98 and Karabiner 98b showed good durability when fired, with no caliber widening up to 12,000 rounds.