Info on Mauser 71 made in Soemmerda?

[Hwdavis]

I used a 24 megapixel camera with manual focus. Not sure how much clearer i can make the pictures. Where are the inspector marks specifically on the rifle?

[Patrick Chadwick]

Where are the inspector marks specifically on the rifle?

Most noticeably on the knoxform (the "root") of the barrel) and on the side of the receiver. They are all those little stamps with a crown above a "Gothic" script letter. At the above-mentioned locations you will find at least four, as the barrels and receivers were inspected and stamped at various stages of production. Unfortunately, these letter stamps are very difficult to read, and more so if there is the slightest bit of wear. I know they are tricky to photograph, but it will be of no use to you if I simply guess at what I see.

Anyway, the date already mentioned - 21st May 1876 - seems to have been the closing date for inspections at Soemmerda. In the literature or online you will be told that the office closed in June, but I think this was the formal "the office is closed as from today" date, and the inspectors were in the meantime already active in Erfurt. The 21st May 8176 was a Sunday, so it would have been a case of the inspectors themselves reporting for duty in Erfurt on the Monday, while other staff were busy for the next few days in packing the furniture, files etc. back in Soemmerda.

[boltaction]

My Soemmerda G71 is dated 1873, with a second date 1874 next to it--perhaps the date of an upgrade?

Ed

[Hwdavis]

Ed, good to see there are two of us in this world. Do you have pictures of yours?

Patrick, attached are pictures of the stampings. What can you tell by them?




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