Waffen ss mauser 98k

[deepleppard]

Hi,
Who knows how waffen ss mausers 98K to be marked? Were any special markings?
Have any photos?

Thanks for help

[cossack1648]

That's a big subject, but briefly.
Early ones which were converted from old pre war, or wwI surplus rifles SS got their hands on would have SS marks with death heads on barrel and sometimes TK on stock wrist. They would also bear proof marks from post conversion testing like powder amounts and others.
Later ones which were converted or repaired at SS controlled weapon depots will have SSZZA... proof. After letter A some digit indicating depot number.
BNZ made rifles that were contracted to SS have so called single rune mark on the receiver.

Regards, Jack

[phild]

That's a big subject, but briefly.
Early ones which were converted from old pre war, or wwI surplus rifles SS got their hands on would have SS marks with death heads on barrel and sometimes TK on stock wrist. They would also bear proof marks from post conversion testing like powder amounts and others.
Later ones which were converted or repaired at SS controlled weapon depots will have SSZZA... proof. After letter A some digit indicating depot number.
BNZ made rifles that were contracted to SS have so called single rune mark on the receiver.

Regards, Jack

A great correct and concise response. For deepleppard's benefit I would only add that those 3 categories you cited made up a small % of the total K98ks used y the W-SS during WWII, so by far most had no SS markings.

A question that I have never seen addressed is this: It is well understood that most k98ks up until mid war period (at least) were stock stamped either Eagle H,L or M for the 3 Wehrmacht services. Were the rifles allocated (all were allocated by the Army, OKH had responsibility) to the W-SS marked with the eagle H or were they unmarked as to service?

If the later is true, can we assume that non-service stock stamped 98ks (say pre 44) are W-SS? Maybe this is addressed in the recent series of books on the K98k, I do not have them yet.

[MP41]

Good responses to a very broad question.

Scott would be the man to ask. He would also probably know the answer to your question phild. Hopefully he'll chime in?

Matt

[deepleppard]

That's a big subject, but briefly.
Early ones which were converted from old pre war, or wwI surplus rifles SS got their hands on would have SS marks with death heads on barrel and sometimes TK on stock wrist. They would also bear proof marks from post conversion testing like powder amounts and others.
Later ones which were converted or repaired at SS controlled weapon depots will have SSZZA... proof. After letter A some digit indicating depot number.
BNZ made rifles that were contracted to SS have so called single rune mark on the receiver.

Regards, Jack

OK, Jack
If you have any photos to be shown I will be very obliged.
And by the way what books to be recommended to buy concerning the matter?

Regards,
Valeriy

[cossack1648]

I don't have any pictures handy, but I am sure if you use search feature in this forum you probably will find a few. I remember few examples were posted in the past.
As far as books recent publications on K98 subject cover that to some degree. I would recommend K98 books by Steves/Karem or earlier by Law.

Regards, Jack

[HAF]

i have read one time a lot of bnz 43 ended with SS units.

[leondes]

Here is a link to pictures of a Gew98 SS rework.

http://lmd-militaria.com/page692.html

Here is a link to pictures of a bnz43 SS contract K98k.

http://lmd-militaria.com/page434.html

A bnz 4 SS contract K98k.

http://lmd-militaria.com/page622.html

A large bnz 44 SS contract K98k.

http://lmd-militaria.com/page0321.htm

Regards, Leon

[MP41]

Here's some markings of the "SS2/D-Head. Commonly found on SS reworks.

Matt

[MP41]

Another pic, and a pic of stock marking. Again, found on rework Gew 98.

Matt

[MP41]

Photos of the "SSzza4" markings found on bnz 42 and bnz 43 rifles. Sometimes this proof is below the stock line. (hidden)

Matt

[MP41]

SS sniper, with the "SSzza2" proof.

Hope these help. but if you can get photos of the rifle in question that would help more! An original SS rifle is more than just a stamp on the barrel or receiver. Best to post them here before you buy!

Matt

[deepleppard]

Here's some markings of the "SS2/D-Head. Commonly found on SS reworks.

Matt

Thank you very much for help, Matt! The picture becomes clearer
What does the figure2 next SS marking mean? Do you know?

Regards,
Valeriy

[juoneen]

I believe it's just like the A2 and A4 , just a particular generation mark and possibly may be attributed to a certain facility where produced from choice rifles , as the SSzzA2's were built at Dachau for example. (and the scopes were produced in CZ. and mounted there)
Why do you ask? do you have an example you need opinions on or ??( if so post it .)
There are a lot of fakes out there that attempt to replicate these marks, but can be discerned easily from originals . Good reason to post if you found one you want verified.

[History]

Photos of the "SSzza4" markings found on bnz 42 and bnz 43 rifles. Sometimes this proof is below the stock line. (hidden)

Matt

Sometimes those markings are on the other side of the receiver and below the stock line there also.