German buttplate to be identified

[Jean-Loup]

I recently found this buttplate in a place where several German soldiers suffered a very violent death in 1944, as the condition of the buttplate confirms. I would like to identify the buttplate with as much precision as possible. It does not seem to me to be a standard Mauser buttplate, but troops in my area were often equiped with Czech, Polish or WWI weapons.

What can you guys tell me based on the following information:
-Total length apprix 12.5 cm
-4 number serial marking near the bottom: 6234
-Markings on the upper portion, that is folded forward: 506 LPTI (or LPT1?)
-Marking on the inner face: N

Here are some detailed photos.

[Jean-Loup]

Detailed view of the markings.

[me6_130]

It looks like a short mauser rifle or carabine butt plate. Difficult to say what exact model. Pre WWII anyhow, IMO.

Carles

[duv]

http://www.gunauction.com/buy/11162244
mauser 98a ,98az maybe 98 to

[Alan Smith]

At first glance, it looks like a WWI-era Kar98 buttplate with Imperial (or, possibly, Weimar) unit markings.

[Jean-Loup]

Thanks a lot for this information guys, that confirms that this is an older type of Mauser, which was comong in the reserve divisions (See 148 Reserve Division photo below).
Any idea what the LPTI marking means?

[phild]

Just to confirm Alan's answer, this buttplate is from a WWI era German 98a not a long Gew98 type rifle. Some were around and used in WWII for certain, but one would want to investigate if German troops were in the same area as this one was found, during WWI.

[Alan Smith]

I recently picked up a KAR 98 that is 1909 dated (Danzig arsenal manufacture) and has the "1920" property marking on the chamber and stock + a "BSW 4" rework proof on the upper handguard. This carbine also has unit marking in the exact same location on its buttplate as the relic example that Jean-Loup posted.

I'll try to snap photos for the buttplate of the 1909 Danzig carbine over the weekend and add it to the thread.

Very interesting find you have made.

[Jean-Loup]

This was found in southern France, so no German troops in WWI. Several WWII era coins and 7.92 casings were found in the immediate vicinity of this buttplate.
Alan, I would be interested to see photos of yours.
The find is particularly interesting because of the associated story, but I am not willing to post this online yet.

[Alan Smith]

Jean-Loup,

Here are a few photos from the Kar 98 that I mentioned, above. The photos are not my best work, as I only had time to take them indoors tonight under artificial light. Still, I hope they are of some assistance to you.

[Alan Smith]

Photo 2

[Alan Smith]

Photo 3

[Alan Smith]

Photo 4

[Alan Smith]

Photo 5

[Alan Smith]

Photo 6