Gerst
Senior Member
Being a combat soldier, He probably wouldn’t come out with a bag full of looted items either. The support troops and occupation troops were more suited for that.
GI Bring Back
- Thread starter md66948
- Start date
Muncher 1953
Senior Member
yes and notice that the “tongue” of the floor plate, which is part of the hinge, is NOT blued as the rest of FP is.
Murkan Mike
Active member
My German father in law used to tell me that USA stood for "Uhr Sammler Armee" or in English "Watch collector Army", as the GIs used to steal wristwatches from the Germans.
Mauserguy85
Well-known member
Probably so, “but to the winner go the spoils”… been like that through the history of human war/conflict. I don’t think that having a few things looted such as watches, weapons and ornate hunting rifles during the post war period compares to all the death, rape, pillaging, murder, stealing of artworks/valuables/gold/silver, torture and destruction perpetrated by the invading German army and “specialized units”. Like not even close.
I vividly remember the stories of war crimes and genocide told to me by my Polish Grandparents who were 14 and 16 in 1943. I regret with all my heart not recording the conversations. My grandfather had his oldest brother executed by pistol in front of his family in Warsaw in 42. As a result, he joined the underground AK (Home Army) resistance with his remaining brother and in 44 they had their chance. He mostly smuggled captured weapons, grenades (in wooden egg crates) and messages through or around checkpoints, but was unable to fight due to his poor eyesight. His brother was wounded in the early fighting, ended up rejoining the frontline and was declared MIA after the serious fighting for the “old town”. My grandmothers stories would seriously send chills down your spine… don’t even want to share.
My point is while we all have a fascination and love of these German k98ks, we should not forget the other nasty details that surround these weapons. I’m not trying to preach, but when I’m seeing comments of American GI being painted as thieves, looters, etc…. It just doesn’t compare to the original aggressors in the conflict.
As to the rifle in the OP’s post. It’s a work of art and should be preserved as is.
Last edited:
Gerst
Senior Member
Stealing is stealing
Mauserguy85
Well-known member
After the war, private ownership of firearms was completely illegal to the effect that even German police officers could not carry guns. So when it comes to firearms, they were contraband to be legally confiscated from civilians.
And if we want to play that game… “murder is murder”. War crimes is war crimes. Genocide is genocide.
The German official policy in occupied Poland was of genocide, ethnic cleansing, mass murder and creating “living space” and for that to be achieved by any means including stealing, pillaging, kidnapping young Polish children with blue eyes while raping and killing their mothers… but victorious GI’s taking a few watches or legally confiscating ornate hunting rifles is “bad”. Gotcha
Last edited:
Gerst
Senior Member
Confiscation by legal occupation is one thing. Stealing by individual soldiers is another, whether it is a hunting rifle or a cuckoo clock. In a disciplined army, soldiers like that are court-martialed.
Mike2994
Young Mike
I’d say a bit of trinket theft by GIs is far outweighed by the Germans systematic theft of art, land, businesses, gold teeth from their victims, 14 million lives, etc….
I’ll make sure to play this for all the Germans who had watches stolen from them at the end of the war.
Last edited:
Mikegermany
Member
Take a look on my site:
It would be very interesting to see the proof marks etc. on the barrel, mostly you find them on the underside after removing the stock. With an little luck this would give the date of proof.
If you want to blue it must be done by rustblueing, dont get blued in an bath.
It would be very interesting to see the proof marks etc. on the barrel, mostly you find them on the underside after removing the stock. With an little luck this would give the date of proof.
If you want to blue it must be done by rustblueing, dont get blued in an bath.
N O O O BLUE!!!!!!
Mikegermany
Member
If it's done by someone who knows what he is doing, it's not a problem. Here in Germany there are a few specialists who have mastered the old technique of blueing by burnishing. This would be the same technique as when it was created. The gun would be worth being professionally restored, but not “over-restored”.
If you need good adresses for restauration of german hunting/sporting weapons from before 1945 etc. in USA contact the German Gun Collectors Association- GGCA:
The condition now is not origin.
An absolutely nogo is to blue by bath- even it is easier it would be an desaster.
Last edited:
Ich denke sie sind total verkehrt. (I'm thinking you are totally wrong) Thank you.
Mikegermany
Member
Think what you want, i am collecting prewar german hunting rifles since 40 years and wellknown in this "scene".
But if you have an other look on this it is totally ok for me.
Thank you. Read this Thread again and you will see who prevails. For the most part this forum deals with military originality not bubba'd variations of any kind, no matter how good they are claimed to be. I wish you well, sir.
