Here are a few shots of a "DRP" 98k.
Theses are interesting rifles not only in that they were among the first production 98ks but also in who used them.
The "DRP" stock marking represents Duetsche Reichspost. They were produced in response the Postal services request for a small handy carbine rifle to be used for guarding mail shipments.
In the early 1930s after Hitler came to power the German government and companies like Mauser looked for ways to circumvent the Allied inspectors that were charged with enforcing the Versailles Treaty.
This rifle is one of the ways that they did just that. The proctection of the mail was a necessary function of Government and so......
Not only was the military interested in purchasing weapons but also the paramilitary organizations like the SS and SA.
The following quote can be found in Law's book "Backbone of the Wehrmacht". It is from a letter written by a former Mauser Technical Director and man of mystery- Otto von Lossnitzer:
"..By the way, the Mauser rifle for the German Postal Service was within the Mauser Works a camouflage name for all the rifles which were delivered to political formations like the SA and SS..."
R.Blue
Theses are interesting rifles not only in that they were among the first production 98ks but also in who used them.
The "DRP" stock marking represents Duetsche Reichspost. They were produced in response the Postal services request for a small handy carbine rifle to be used for guarding mail shipments.
In the early 1930s after Hitler came to power the German government and companies like Mauser looked for ways to circumvent the Allied inspectors that were charged with enforcing the Versailles Treaty.
This rifle is one of the ways that they did just that. The proctection of the mail was a necessary function of Government and so......
Not only was the military interested in purchasing weapons but also the paramilitary organizations like the SS and SA.
The following quote can be found in Law's book "Backbone of the Wehrmacht". It is from a letter written by a former Mauser Technical Director and man of mystery- Otto von Lossnitzer:
"..By the way, the Mauser rifle for the German Postal Service was within the Mauser Works a camouflage name for all the rifles which were delivered to political formations like the SA and SS..."
R.Blue
Comment