East German proof?

Vlim · 07-14-2009, 09:55 AM

Hi,

Simple: The interpretation of laws by different proof houses in different areas.

The Suhl proof house was responsible for the Suhl area where the VEB Ernst ThÃ¤lmann was located, so the DDR proofed pistols conform to the rules as interpreted by the Suhl proof house.

The Mauser C96 (and others) were subjected to proofing at the proofhouse in Oberndorf (later Ulm) and the crown/crown U was used as a test firing proof (the equivalent of the Suhl crown/N). Why the guys in the south used a different approach is unknown to me. It is clear, however, that the pre- and postwar Suhl proof house followed the German proof laws by the letter.

The official definition for the crown/U is that it is an inspection or 'Untersuchungs' marking. This marking was to be used for inspecting firearms that were presented for a voluntary inspection. These voluntary inspections were usually done after serious repairs or in other cases where there was a reason for retesting.

Hence: The crown/U on a pistol proofed in the Suhl area (also at its subsidiaries in Berlin, Frankfurt am Oder, Spandau and Erfurt before the war) has a different meaning than the crown/crown U found on pistols proofed in the Wurttemberg region (Ulm, Oberndorf am Neckar).

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07-14-2009, 09:55 AM	#5
Vlim Moderator Lifetime LugerForum Patron Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Europe Posts: 5,053 Thanks: 1,036 Thanked 3,991 Times in 1,205 Posts	Hi, Simple: The interpretation of laws by different proof houses in different areas. The Suhl proof house was responsible for the Suhl area where the VEB Ernst ThÃ¤lmann was located, so the DDR proofed pistols conform to the rules as interpreted by the Suhl proof house. The Mauser C96 (and others) were subjected to proofing at the proofhouse in Oberndorf (later Ulm) and the crown/crown U was used as a test firing proof (the equivalent of the Suhl crown/N). Why the guys in the south used a different approach is unknown to me. It is clear, however, that the pre- and postwar Suhl proof house followed the German proof laws by the letter. The official definition for the crown/U is that it is an inspection or 'Untersuchungs' marking. This marking was to be used for inspecting firearms that were presented for a voluntary inspection. These voluntary inspections were usually done after serious repairs or in other cases where there was a reason for retesting. Hence: The crown/U on a pistol proofed in the Suhl area (also at its subsidiaries in Berlin, Frankfurt am Oder, Spandau and Erfurt before the war) has a different meaning than the crown/crown U found on pistols proofed in the Wurttemberg region (Ulm, Oberndorf am Neckar).