Quote:
Originally Posted by tabs
Can you decipher Unit markings as well?
I kinda like the late Imperial, Weimar period stuff...the NAZI era ehhhh.
I could easily be a collector of the FREIKORPS stuff.
In late 15 I found a Mauser Kar 98A Erfurt 1918 with matching numbers and a very high percentage of original rust blue. It has the Bavarian Friekorp cartouche in the stock. It has no import marks and was most likely a WW2 bring back. From condition it most likely never saw frontline service in WW1, was either issued to a Freikorps member in Southern Germany who put it away until after WW2 or was racked in some party organizations arsenal? After the war it was liberated by an American GI in Southern Germany?
It could have been a post war pre 68 import, but those usually won't come with an original leather sling
If you pay attention to the Mauser GEW 98's you will find that those with 1916 chamber dates are the ones that are most likely to be matching numbers and with original finish.
|
Tabs, yes! Post up some photos or the unit marking and I'll try to decipher what you've got. Because the Germans quit unit marking pistols in 1916/17, it will probably be a non standard marking from the Reichswehr.
I have a 1916 Erfurt with a Reichswehr provisional unit marking to the 28th Light Inf Division and I was able to track the pistol's history from the late 20's through the end of the war. Amazing piece of history that saw service in the initial invasion of Czechoslovakia, was at Normandy in 1940 in preparation for the invasion of England, redeployed to the eastern front in 1941 with the 28th suffering heavy losses and eventually dissolved into the 7th Light Inf Regiment which was eventually captured at Battle of the Buldge. Through a German website I was able to track the movement of the 28th Inf Division including key battles, dates/times, and names of German servicemen of the 28th who were KIA.
I have seen FREIKORPS markings on rifles and pistols but they are a rare bird. About five years ago I was bidding on a Luger with the "R" carved into the grips denoting FREIKORPS service. I believe they were also carved into stocks. I have zero interest in modern guns but the stories these old milsurps can tell you is absolutely fascinating.