Need help to ID marks on a Kar98a

[Georg]

Well, I finally pick up a Kar98a, I am happy with it but I need some help with some of the marking. It is stamped “ERFURT-1917 and it all so have 1920 (if I am right, 1920 mean that it was kept in service after the war, right?) There are many Imperial marking and all numbers match. But their two marks which I can’t call. On the end of the bolt there are two marks (which I blown up) and a number on the top of the metal butt plate (S.B.15023.)Can anyone ID these marks?-thanks

[ian]

the two marks APEAR? to be waffenamts no 655 which would be mauser , mabe mauser FTRd this rifle ? and odd that they are not anywhere els ,infact odd they are there at all , time for research i think ,cheers ian

[reneblacky]

G'day Georg
This is what I can provide you about the 1920--
The "1920" marking is not intended to be the actual issuance date a specific weapon; be it a rifle, pistol, or bayonet, entered service with the Reichswehr. It indicates official authorized use under the Treaty of Versailles. Consider it more of a "compliance" marking. We know the Reichswehr had restrictions on the type & number of weapons it could have in inventory. Undoubtedly as some arms were worn out, lost, rebuilt, etc. others were made to compensate, and received the "1920" compliance date. It is also evident the Germans had hundreds of thousands more weapons (possibly millions) than allowed, squirreled away throughout Germany in violation of the treaty. These weapons were what principally rearmed the new German armed forces in the early days of the Third Reich under Hitler.

[ian]

hi Rene that would explane the early waffenamts then cheers ian

[Richie B]

S.B. 15023 = Schutzpolizei Berlin. Weapon 15023.

This is a post February 1932 marking.

Hope that adds to the picture.

Regards

Richie

[Bill Grist]

WaA655 show the whole bolt,,, most likely a replaced part or a totally missmatched bolt out of a 98k....Richie is 100% on the money, Berlin Police, butt plate should be numbered to the weapon....BILL

[AZPhil]

Can we see a pic of the whole rifle?