Question on the "eagle/L" markings?

[Matt Weber]

Thank you Jeff and Jack!
That is what I wanted to know! I just never got around to asking it?
So you guys both have K98s with an "eagle/L" marking on the stock and also a Luftwaffe acceptance proof marking on the barrel and reciever?
That would indicate to me that the rifle was definately accepted by the Luftwaffe.
Now, does anyone have a rifle that only has the "eagle/L" on the stock and no Luftwaffe proofs on the reciever/barrel?

One other question Jeff, and Jack. Have either of you seen a K98 with the "eagle/L" marking on the stock dated after 1941?

Matt

[J Melvin]

Not me, Matt. Latest I've seen is the one that is posted above. Interestingly though, I saw a "M" marked K43 before. Tankdriver, I believe, owns it.

[Jeff Ashenfelter]

Matt,
I cannot recall seeing one after 41 either! The second rifle I photographed has the eagle L in the stock only, Not Luftampted on the reciever.
I have been thinking about your linkage to a police unit etc, I don't think I have ever seen a 98 that could be positively identified as such. Although we have all seen police marked 98 bayonetts, lugers, Walthers etc. Have you ever seen one with the correct markings? Jeff A

[Gene]

Both my Luftwaffe marked K98's (a 27 code, 1938 date and a 243 code, 1939 date) have L stamps in the stock only and are devoid of any eagle/L Waffenamt stamps elsewhere.

[J Melvin]

Mine is a 1938, 243 code in the "k" block. It has Weimar eagles, luftamt (4) and waffenamt (280) on it. And, also the eagle/L on the stock.

[Matt Weber]

Jeff,

I have seen one K98 in Laws' "Backbone" book, that is police marked "eagle/L" on the barrel and reciever. It is on a "dot 1944" K98. It is located on page 238 if you have this book.(I also posted a copy of the photo earlier in this thread). I haven't seen one in person.
However, Law doesn't state if this rifle is police marked on the stock at all? and if so, what are the markings?

Also, all of you have stated (myself included), that we have never seen a K98 dated after 1941 that has Luftwaffe "eagle/L" stock markings or Luftwaffe proof markings? Why is that? You can't tell me that the Luftwaffe stopped issuing K98s after 1941!? They raised entire field divisions in 1942-43 (even an entire panzer division!). Surely they would have an increased demand for K98 rifles!?

Matt

[Spanky]

Jeff,

Also, all of you have stated (myself included), that we have never seen a K98 dated after 1941 that has Luftwaffe "eagle/L" stock markings or Luftwaffe proof markings? Why is that? You can't tell me that the Luftwaffe stopped issuing K98s after 1941!? They raised entire field divisions in 1942-43 (even an entire panzer division!). Surely they would have an increased demand for K98 rifles!?

Matt

Matt,

Although the Luftwaffe accepted and marked some weapons I believe the majority of their weapons came through the army weapons office and are marked accordingly with common "army" waffenamts. As you point out there were far too many Luftwaffe flak, paratrooper and ground units to have possibly been equipped with Luftwaffe inspected and marked weapons. Maintaining separate weapons inspectors at numerous manufacturing locations was a bureaucratic luxury that fell by the wayside as the war effort expanded.



This is certainly the case with the SS, who went from reworking G98's and scrounging captured weapons early on, to priority status as far as Army weapons office procurement as Hitler's mistrust of the army increased.

[J Melvin]

When I inquired recently about the "M" proofed G43, the answer was that this shouldn't be possible. Reasoning was that the separate "M" and "L" proofs ended sometime prior to 1943. So, that may explain the lack of "L" proofed 98s later than 1941.

[hochadler]

Eagle "L"

Another example: I previously owned a Steyr MP34 SMG, with Steyr Waffenamts and a very clear Eagle L on stock. Since these Austrian machine pistols were generally issued to Police units, I always thought it Police.