I had a nice (near mint) black leather action cover for one these. It was dated, maker marked and accepted witht the eagle/B stamp. I traded it off a number of years ago because I did not have the rifle. It was like the photographed in Law's Backbone book...but his is incorrectly identified as being for a k98k.
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Phild, maybe I got yours. Did you trade it to George P.? Anyway, I picked up a black one some years ago but Law was correct, for once. The cover was for the Police Karabiners 98 k and a, not the Police .22 trainers. The breach/bolt covers were authorized for issue in the summer of 1938 for various marching and mounted formations of the Ordnungspolizei.Comment
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Joe, mine went to a guy in the SE and I'm pretty sure he still has it. There may have been two different sizes made, with only slight size differences. Mine, as well as the one in Law's book had to be really stretched to fit around the trigger guard. I never even would force mine that far and you can see how the leather is pulled in the Law photo. In other words the trigger guard and both a 98k and 98a (or az) is wider than the slot in the cover...I tried mine (a little) on both types in my collection. In additon, even with the TG removed so that I did not have to stretch the cover, it fit very (unnaturally) tight around the action and the bolt handle presses againist it's edge as well, you can also see this on the one in Law's reference.
Later I tried it on a friends kkw and it fit like a glove. You could even see the corresponding dark rub marks from the small action size on the kkw to the inside spots of the cover where they contacted. Once the kkw owner saw that cover on his rifle he would not leave me alone about it and I traded/sold it to him several years later. I was given the cover and whole box of neat field equipment by a German friend of mine about 20-25 years ago.Comment
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I guess it might be a case of shrinking leather over the years? The one I got from George fit properly. As explained in the order creating the cover, the purpose of it was not to protect the gun's action from dirt. The purpose was to protect the uniform of the policeman carrying the rifle in parade! The trainers were never carried in parade of course, nor were they stored or carried outside in conditions that would introduce dirt or things into the action. The trainers were stored in the Waffen-Lager of the police training batallions or police schools were they were brought out to demonstrate basic rifle techniques to recruits. No need to protect the action. Rifles were carried in parade slung over the tunic and the covers protected the back of the police tunics from oil on the bolt and action.Comment
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Joe, In the case of my "old" cover it was not a case of shrinking, the leather was to nice and close to it's new made state. After reading your explanation of how the covers were used, it makes perfect sense that they were all probably intended for full size rifles. I will admit that it never made sense to me to have these for kkw or any small bore practice arms. I do feel that my cover would have fit better on the small ring 98a as opposed to the k98k, as it was real tight fit even without the guard. Given the 1938 date of my old cover, it could have been made for the 98k however, I know that both types of 98 in police use at that time...probably more 98a the 98k. At any rate I do appreciate the information and it would have fit on the 98 with enough effort...just not typical of most German items to be made that much off.Comment
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Police Walthers DSMs
Just FYI...here are my two police marked DSMs. They are about 75 apart in SN and the small parts are also numbered. Stocks are rack numbered also... The only indication of police is the stock cartouche (E/c).
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Very nice Bob. Are yours in the earlier non-D suffix series in the late 50,000 range or in the later contract with D suffix in the late 10,000 to mid 11,000 range? Beautiful guns.Comment
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Walther DSM
Thanks Joe... they are in the 11xxx D range. BobComment
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Yeah, that's where mine is. 11206D. Beautiful guns.Comment
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Trainers
Has anyone ever seen one of these .22s marked to the NPEA?Comment
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Greetings Guys!
I have a DSM that has the standard police wreathed eagle embossed in the stock. Anyone ever seen one like that before?
Best regards,
BillComment
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pict
WAB, Very interesting can you post a picture of the police eagle on your DSM34... BILLOriginally posted by William A. BellComment
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Ron, didn't mean to ignore your question. No, I have seen or recorded any .22 trainers having markings that might be from an Ordensburg School. Do you have any photos of them training with .22 rifles or with pistols for that matter. Was it in the curiculum? They had it in HJ of course.
Bill Bell, I think you might be refering to the marking on the Walther Police accepted "Deutsche Sportmodell" instead of the DSM 34. The former is a nicer trainer not of the standardized DSM 34 configuration, but buildt instread on the larger receiver/bbl of the Walther target rifles like the Mod. V. These police accepted trainers are marked on the side of the butt stock with a wreather police eagle with the letter "a" and carry the serial suffix W. The recever/bolt housing is also grooved to accepted scopes mounts or diopter rear sights.Comment
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Greetings Joe!
You may be right about it not being a DSM. Will have to pull it out and check. Will have to get back to you once I check. I do know that the stamping is very small, about the size of a dime. No other markings, just the eagle. Will see if I can get photos.
Best regards,
BillComment
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Please let us know the serial number for data base purposes. It should have a serial number in the 23xxx W to mid 24xxx W range with the police insignia stamped into the wood.
Ron, on second thought looking at the data base again, there might be some possible E/N proofed Gustloff KKWs with Ordensburg markings out there.Comment
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