Menz DSM34

M

mac66

Member
I hate to be that guy who just shows up because he just ran across a rifle and was curious about it.

My 88 year old father recently had a stroke and I am going through and cataloging his guns. One of them as I have learned recently is a DSM34 made by Menz. That's what led me to this website.

According to my dad, he got it from an older cousin who was a Captain in the US Army and brought it back from WWII and gave it to him after the war. I am in my 60s and remember shooting as a kid but never knew what it was exactly other than "a German training rifle".

Anyway, it it marked MENZ on top of the receiver. Deutches Sportmodell on the lower right side of the receiver, three horizontal hash marks then the number 1000 then a crown B crown U on the left side of the receiver. Below that is the words WAFFENFAB.AUG.MENZ,SUHL

On the left side of the barrel in front of the receiver are the crown B crown U and then 5.4mm I know that means it is a .22

No other known markings and I have not had the stock off.

Walnut stock is in good condition and has a leather sling. There is rust on the metal buttplate and the blueing is worn and spotty but no pitting at least on the visible part.

So is this rifle treasure or trash?
 
No your rifle is not trash. Please post pictures though so we can tell you more about it. Pictures speak louder and show more.
 
Definatley not trash. The two holes in the receiver will affect the overall value but it is not trash. Menz had several logo variations and their production run was around 5,000 so this maker is not common. It is complete with a sling which is a plus. Take the rifle to the range, they shoot well.
 
My bolt was proof marked and numbered on the bolt body and not on the bolt root. Is your bolt numbered? Does the number match the number on the barrel and receiver? The barrel number is under the wood line on mine.
 
I would consider it a treasure. August Menz appears to have made fewer than 5000 DSMs, and did so independently from the consortium in Suhl. There are only a couple of dozen or so that are recorded as having survived, so it can be considered a rarity. The tapped receiver would not bother me a bit on one as honest and complete as this, especially having the sling and rod survive with it. The serial number also makes it a neat find. The three lines preceding the serial number on yours appear on some other Menz DSMs below this 1000 number, and on some in the 1000 to 2000 range the three marks are turned VERTICALLY. Menz was bought out by Theodor Bergmann in early 1938.
Steve
 
Thank you all for the information. I took the stock off and the underside of the barrel is marked 1000 just forward of the receiver. No markings on the bolt that I can see.

I never noticed the holes in the receiver until someone mentioned them from the photo. I asked my dad about them. As I mentioned he is recovering from a stroke and his brain is a bit scrambled sometimes. His reply however was lucid and right one. He said when he got the rifle, probably late 40's maybe early 50s it had a peep sight on it. He thought it detracted from the look and history so he took it off. He can't go up and down stairs but he said. "go in the basement, look in metal cabinet, second shelf, small carboard box, the sight is probably there". Sure enough, there was a very nice vintage peep sight, no markings on it but he holes match up perfect.



The sight lined up with the holes on the receiver.

 
I think it is wonderful that this sight survived also. Makes me wonder if it came to the States with the rifle or was added later, but it appears that it might be period German accessory. Will look for it in some period catalogs to see if I can find a match for it.
Steve
 
I would keep the sight with the rifle but I agree with your father, it detracts from the look of the rifle. I hope he is recovering well from his stroke. Were there any markings on the stock and hand guard. I would love to see pictures of them. I have multiple examples from different makers of the DSM-34 and I have shot them all.
 
luftmacher said:
I think it is wonderful that this sight survived also. Makes me wonder if it came to the States with the rifle or was added later, but it appears that it might be period German accessory. Will look for it in some period catalogs to see if I can find a match for it.
Steve
Click to expand...

Thanks, it looks very good and the click adjustments on it are very precise. Other than the numbers for the adjustments I can find no other markings on it. I've looked it over several times with a magnifier. It also fits that rifle perfectly including the contour of the receiver.
 
KKW22cal said:
I would keep the sight with the rifle but I agree with your father, it detracts from the look of the rifle. I hope he is recovering well from his stroke. Were there any markings on the stock and hand guard. I would love to see pictures of them. I have multiple examples from different makers of the DSM-34 and I have shot them all.
Click to expand...


There were 3 digit numbers on the inside of the stock and hand guard but no other markings.

Okay, I took it apart again and discovered the number on the hand guard is 401 and the numbers on the stock is 397..

Handguard


Stock...note that they are two sets of numbers fore and aft.


Close up of the forward stock number...


And as long as I had it apart, the underside of the barrel
 
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Thanks for sharing the additional photos. That is all as it should be, as expected.

Still looking through some catalogs for the peep sight. Geco, Akah, and a variety of others sold such accessories, and there were many different types. If I locate a match for yours, I will post the info/pictures.

Steve
 
This is the sight I thought it was originally with some modifications to the mounting base....A savage no. 15..
 

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Looks like it could be a combination of #10 and #15, so it might be another model from Savage? Have not found a closer match yet.
Steve
 
luftmacher said:
Looks like it could be a combination of #10 and #15, so it might be another model from Savage? Have not found a closer match yet.
Steve
Click to expand...

Thanks for looking. It does look like a 15 but with a different base, perhaps one specifically for a Mauser type action.
 
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luftmacher said:
I think it is wonderful that this sight survived also. Makes me wonder if it came to the States with the rifle or was added later, but it appears that it might be period German accessory. Will look for it in some period catalogs to see if I can find a match for it.
Steve
Click to expand...

dsm34 Menz 534 3.jpg
Hi you find my Menz with early military eagle proof sn 534; i give thi picture to Bob at neuchâtel gunshow 10 years ago.
 
Here is my example. It is a much later serial number with BUG Proofs. Sorry that the pictures imported upside down.
 

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