Bill/Dwight,
* Agree on the disagreement statement; but, the asterisk appears on K98k receivers and reportedly on bayonets.
* Jan Balcar recently responded to a post on this mark on Jan Stiil's Forum relative to its frequent appearance on various parts of Spreewerk P.38's. Paraphrasing his statement: "It means a part which could be returned to acceptable use by rework." He states this was confirmed by a couple of original Spreewerk workers.
* As I have a P.38, E/88 accepted magazine body with the asterisk on it, I'll lean toward Jan's latest explanation rather than believe it was a barrel hardness test mark.
* Certainly Mauser may have had a different meaning; but, with the wide variety of manufacturers we see using this mark, I wonder if this was not a standard symbol adopted across European gunmakers.
* Maybe Jan B. can weigh in to confirm when & from whom this was heard. A period document would be even better for this confounding little conundrum.
Respectfully,
Bob
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