Mauser Numbers

[aspen80]

Hi All

I see Mauser serial #'s with an alphabet letter with it. Is that some sort of production tracker?
My 1938 S/27 Mauser #4503 is without any letter associated with it.
Just curious.

Gil in SD

Information

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[jjjxlr8]

Since ERMA made more than 9999 Mauser rifles during a production year, the letter prefix would allow the re-use of the same 4 digit numbers.

[aspen80]

Could I assume ( I know) that the rifle I have, #4503, without a letter designation would be from the first run of 9999??

[Sarge]

Yes, made in January.
Unlike the US & most other countries who just kept numbering rifles - ending up with serial numbers like 4, 397,456 the Germans ran a 4 dig series and then repeated it using a different letter of the alphabet till they ran out of letters. They then began at "a" again only with double letters - 456aa. They started over with 1 in January of each year.
Thus it is possible (But not likely) to own 12 different rifles made at Mauser Oberndorf with the same ser nr. and 12 different years dates. In this instance you would also have them spread thru 3 different factory codes - 42, S/42, byf - over the years.
Sarge