New 98a with Unit Markings

[m4a3sherman]

Hello all, today my newest mauser arrived, a Kar98a with a 1920 Permission Stamp. Has been lovingly reworked by the Germans and is marked on the buttplate tang. As best I have found, its police marked to Potsdam but that is just from some quick research and this could be wrong. The marking is as follows:

S.P.
3.H.82

I would love to know more about it.

Information

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[Patrick Chadwick]

I think that if you look carefully, the H is actually a Roman 2 i.e. II

The expected form according to the 1922 Prussian regulations would have been S.P. II.3.82, but this is an slightly earlier example, hence the non-standard sequence, and may be interpreted thus.

S.P.3.II.82
Schutzpolizei Potsdam, 3rd "Hundertschaft" (= company), 2. "Kommando" (= division/area), Weapon No. 82


Patrick

[m4a3sherman]

I had hoped our Mr. Chadwick would see this and reply; if anyone can decipher these, its him! Thanks man.
My next question is to how this rifle made it here. Its in great shape without an important stamp or duffle cut. Could be early surplus or G.I. as well. I am guessing that as an 'older' rifle it would have remained in Police arsenal until the end of the war? I have certainly seen my fair share of Nazi re-issue WWI stuff but this one is just too nice. I wonder if maybe a G.I. found it at a police depot or something and sent it home from there. Alas... these rifles can't talk much and that makes this all the more speculative.

[Patrick Chadwick]

My next question is to how this rifle made it here.

Now that I cannot answer, merely speculate, and
that seems a plausible explanation.


Patrick