I have this captured mauser my grandfather brought back from the war along with a luger w/ all matching serial numbers, a Lee Enfield and a German Radom pistol. But this mauser doesn't look like other people's mausers. For one there is a weird indentation on the right side of the stock above the trigger and it also has a "duffel bag cut". Presumably the soldiers would cut the rifle at the sling ring so it would fit in their sea bag. This mauser has a couple of swastikas and all matching serial numbers as well but I don't know if it was infantry, grenadier, artillery. I basically wanna know who used this rifle in WWII!!! He served in Southern France if that is any help. Thank you in advance!
Where is the Swastika on it? And I doubt that you will be able to find out what individual soldier that used it unfortunately. Naturally, he was a regular soldier and not a squad leader, since squad leaders were armed with automatic weapons. But if you can find out what divisions that served in southern France at that time you might be able to at least identify his division.
I couldn't help but notice that the Swastika is facing the wrong way (for a National Socialist Swastika, that is), which leads me to believe that it might have been carved in by the soldier himself. Additionally, I searched for information on Indian volunteers in the Wehrmacht and found this: Indian Volunteers in the German Wehrmacht in WWII So the solder might have been of Indian origin. In the link above southwest France was mentioned (I didn't get the context straight, since I have so far just skimmed through it.)
That must be some rifle if it's able to hold a political affiliation. That doesn't look like a Hindu swastika, a Native American one, or even a Nazi one for that matter, looks more like a Christian one. It isn't identical to any one variation but it looks closer to the ones seen in early Christian lore, the medieval ages, etc. The Wiki entry has a listing of the three major Swastika variations, Swastika - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
I'm aware of that the Swastika is an international symbol, but that it's a Christian symbol was news to me. Do you happen to know to what extent it (the Christian Swastika) was used in the 20th century?
The iron Swastika was handed carved, nothing to do with the WaffenAmt which used eagles whether it be iron or wood. The small wooden eagle is a regular Waffen Amt stamp.
It's difficult to tell from your pictures, but this isn't a K98k - it looks more like a Mauser M98a ( giveaways are the grooved stock and 'cavalry'-type sling loop ). These were obsolete by WWII but were used in considerable numbers by German second-line/garrison troops etc.
The wiki link I posted has a nice detailed history of the Swastika, a lot of cultures, civilizations, etc used it in the past but in modern day society people largely think it's Hinduism and Nazisim.
I can't see any German markings - maybe my old eyes ! The serial number is not German military. The swastikas are not German military. The Chinese Hanyang Arsenal # 21 used the reverse upright swastika as a marking on Mauser rfiles. There should be a manufacturers mark on the receiver in front of the bolt. There should be numerous Waffenamt inspections stamps in the wood and the metalwork. Doesn't look at all German at the moment. We do need more photos. Regards Richie
I find that EXTREMELY interesting. I am from Chinese descent. My grandfather immigrated to the U.S. at the beginning of the war and joined the Army. He barely spoke English so he was put in an all Chinese unit but in the U.S. Army. He was never in the Chinese Army.
