Ok, just read Chapter 1. For me its better if I read a chapter and then discuss it, me trying to discuss 3 chapters is going to be fragmented - this is going to be a stream of conscious kinda thing. First off, I didn't write this chapter so I have no insight into Bruce's research. But, I can tell you that stacking of arms is a military tradition for many Armies, especially Germany.
I imagine you are referring to why the Kar98a specifically has a stacking hook (if not, I'm going with this)? I can tell you the reason it was added to the Kar98a specifically - it has no provision for a cleaning rod, so it needs it. The Kar98a was originally designed for Cavalry troops and rear echelon (drivers, etc), soldiers that weren't fighting in trenches with long range shots. At least thats been my understanding. I've read anecdotal stories that the sharp report of the carbine type rifles was a signal to attacking soldiers that the enemy were rear echelon troops and would be easier to overwhelm. I don't recall the book, but it was about WW1.
As to the stripper clip on the Model 89, good question. I know that previous weapons all used clips that were inserted into the magazine and fell out the bottom. Many Beutewaffen have these type of clips. But the idea of a 5 round charging clip is different.
Now - for Chapter 1 - Not enough K98k collectors learn about the Interwar period in my opinion. Prior to writing this book, I fell into that camp. Paul Shomper is someone I consider an expert on the period, and his writings are included here. If you can imagine the state of Germany after WW1, the Versailles Treaty was not a surrender document, but Germany was sold out in the name of Peace. The country had a rising Communist threat, which forced the German military out of the trenches in order to stop the red tide at home. Many soldiers who came home didn't feel like they lost, but rather were stabbed in the back by politicians. In every way the postwar period guaranteed the rise of another powerful military Germany dead set on revenge. Reading the chapter, Bavaria was the hot spot for Polish communist actions, and the Ruhr area for France. The actions between WW1 really set the tone for 1939.
One of the reasons I like Interwar Gew,98 and Kar98b rifles is the history of Germany at the time. If you pick up a Gew.98 flat sight conversion, you can read the history in the rifle like a book, the markings applied by WW1 armorers, intewar armorers and nazi era armorers all come together for some history. But that is Chapter 3, which I will read last.
One point of interest I can think of. The document on P.61 showing the secret letter codes for 1925 - 1935 leads one to believe it was planned to stop the letter/date code in 1936. This is actually not true - the original list from 1925 has secret letter codes up through 1938. So - the letter codes, had they continued; 1936 - S , 1937 - J, 1938 - H. So, we could have had S/42 H, or S/147 J. My personal feeling was the HWA at the time realized that there was about to be an issue.
S/42 S - S/147 S - S/27 S
Get it? It might have been confusing.
So something I see that wasn't covered in this chapter, the actual meaning of the letter "S" in the secret code (I'm pretty sure we covered it later, but seems like it could have fit here). Most know this, but since the Chapter covers it - Simson was the only firm allowed to manufacture military arms for the Weimar Govt. according to the treaty. So, items made for the Weimar Govt. as replacement parts or arms were marked with an "S", to denote Simson as the manufacturer. Another less known fact is Polte was the only firm allowed to manufacture ammunition, so ammunition was marked with a "P" to denote Polte.
As the Germans started to ignore the treaty, firms that manufactured parts illegally simply used the secret code system to circumvent the inspection system. Hence, "S.28" marked DWM rifles and parts, so any items in military inventory appeared to be made at Simson. I'll speak more to that once I finish chapter 2, I have examples of these rifles in there so I don't want to get ahead of myself. But, we should have covered this aspect IMO.
I will add this - Paul Shomper disagreed in principle with my theory on this, that "S" was meant to imply Simson. He rightfully knows that by the time Germany was making goods using "S" codes, most of the treaty was already being ignored, and inspectors were long gone. It makes sense, BUT, I feel like its too convenient. I think it started as an idea to circumvent inspections, but was eventually just regarded as procedure, or the way things were done. If you note, "P" codes in ammunition carried on many years into the war, while S codes ended about the time war broke out. Also, interestingly enough, a lot of really early depot replacement parts have "S" markings on them, along with manufacturers codes.
To show how intertwined the books and forums are, further reading (I will add to this as I find interesting links). Note that some of these links contain post from world renowned experts IMO, including the late John Wall:
https://www.gunboards.com/threads/w...senals-get-sent-to-post-wwi.185132/?id=185132
http://www.k98kforum.com/showthread...-transfer-to-Czechoslovakia-post-WW1-for-Paul
EWB Info -
http://www.k98kforum.com/showthread.php?116-Ewb
An EWB marked flat sight rifle
http://www.k98kforum.com/showthread.php?10209-1918-Amberg-EWB-98m
