Eagle J stamping

Heydrich · 08-24-2003, 11:32 PM

Doubs, yes, the SS were given the leftover WW1 Gew98s as hand-me-downs since the Heer didn't want them. These rifles were contracted out to commercial German shops to be reworked into Kar.98k configuration. The resultant rifles exhibit a plethora of commercial proofs. Upon return to the SS, they received the death head stamp as an acceptance or stocking mark. Some were reworked and/or repaired more than once, thus the appearance of multiple commercial proofs and more than one tote on some of these specimens. This practice continued until about 1942-43, when we see Steyr rifles specifically made for the SS with military proofs instead of the ubiquitous E/N and E/J ones.

As a side note to the Luger in question here, I could have sworn I’d seen this oddball Mauser frame/Simson toggle variant on one of the auction sites before. About 9-12 months ago I think. Even if it wasn’t, if any dealer told me that pistol was taken from a dead North Korean, I’d just snort and walk off. Sounds like pure hokum.

08-24-2003, 11:32 PM	#7
Heydrich Banned Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Oregon Posts: 181 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Doubs, yes, the SS were given the leftover WW1 Gew98s as hand-me-downs since the Heer didn't want them. These rifles were contracted out to commercial German shops to be reworked into Kar.98k configuration. The resultant rifles exhibit a plethora of commercial proofs. Upon return to the SS, they received the death head stamp as an acceptance or stocking mark. Some were reworked and/or repaired more than once, thus the appearance of multiple commercial proofs and more than one tote on some of these specimens. This practice continued until about 1942-43, when we see Steyr rifles specifically made for the SS with military proofs instead of the ubiquitous E/N and E/J ones. As a side note to the Luger in question here, I could have sworn I’d seen this oddball Mauser frame/Simson toggle variant on one of the auction sites before. About 9-12 months ago I think. Even if it wasn’t, if any dealer told me that pistol was taken from a dead North Korean, I’d just snort and walk off. Sounds like pure hokum.