~Joe's Items~

pillboxesghost · 05-04-2007, 08:25 PM

All,
The Iranian or Persian calendar (Jalaali calendar) was adopted on 31 March, 1925. That is, 31 March 1925 corresponds to the first day of the Iranian year 1304. My Iranian Mauser test target (bearing rifle S/N in Farsi) is printed (on the Czech half) "Tuska vz. 1309". Don't read Czech, but I strongly suspect this roughly translates to "Rifle Model 1309".

Wikipedia is wrong; these are not 98k's (short rifles). The so called Iranian Model 98/29 infantry long rifles (29" barrels) with their corresponding long bayonets would have been adopted/contracted for in the Persian year 1309. The first day of the Persian year 1309 is 21 March, 1930 (not quite 1929, but still close enough for 98/29 designation).

Obviously, these rifles were made by CZ (Brno) in the 1930's. In fact, my test target is ink stamped (faint, but legible) 8 IX 1934. Which I interpret as the Gregorian date 8 September, 1934.

I'm certain these were made for Reza Shah Pahlavi (Reza Shah the Great)who reigned from Dec. 1925 thru Sept. 1941. He is the father of the man we remember as the " Shah of Iran " (Mohammad Reza Pahlavi).

These weapons would have been companion pieces to the Persian Lugers. They are also "dirt cheap" compared to those Lugers.

Hope this helps clear up some of the of the confusion about when these arms were made.

Jon

05-04-2007, 08:25 PM	#13
pillboxesghost User Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Coastal NC Posts: 22 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Manufacture Date of Iranian Mausers All, The Iranian or Persian calendar (Jalaali calendar) was adopted on 31 March, 1925. That is, 31 March 1925 corresponds to the first day of the Iranian year 1304. My Iranian Mauser test target (bearing rifle S/N in Farsi) is printed (on the Czech half) "Tuska vz. 1309". Don't read Czech, but I strongly suspect this roughly translates to "Rifle Model 1309". Wikipedia is wrong; these are not 98k's (short rifles). The so called Iranian Model 98/29 infantry long rifles (29" barrels) with their corresponding long bayonets would have been adopted/contracted for in the Persian year 1309. The first day of the Persian year 1309 is 21 March, 1930 (not quite 1929, but still close enough for 98/29 designation). Obviously, these rifles were made by CZ (Brno) in the 1930's. In fact, my test target is ink stamped (faint, but legible) 8 IX 1934. Which I interpret as the Gregorian date 8 September, 1934. I'm certain these were made for Reza Shah Pahlavi (Reza Shah the Great)who reigned from Dec. 1925 thru Sept. 1941. He is the father of the man we remember as the " Shah of Iran " (Mohammad Reza Pahlavi). These weapons would have been companion pieces to the Persian Lugers. They are also "dirt cheap" compared to those Lugers. Hope this helps clear up some of the of the confusion about when these arms were made. Jon __________________ Jon Lewis