Looking for some help on this old rifle. This belongs to a coworker who knows nothing about it's history. It's been altered, but I can't figure out what it was at birth. The sights have been changed. The barrel length is 20.5", which is potentially correct for some of the carbines made, but has no discernible crown, leading to the conclusion that it was shortened and not re-crowned. The bolt knob is flattened, another indication it was a carbine, or the bolt came from a carbine.
The markings, and lack of markings make this an interesting case. The barrel and receiver have matching numbers, 999. The bolt bears number 10641 and the trigger guard has yet a different number, 818. The only other marks on the gun are where the intrigue starts. First there is a symbol stamped on the receiver under the serial number. Its a letter C overstamped with a symbol that looks like an open top 8. I cannot find it in online searches of European proof marks. The second intriguing stamp in a Nazi eagle over swastika on the barrel. It is very small, about 3/16" tall, and worn. Under it are a series of letters/numbers, either aAB or aA8. The rifle has no other markings, conspicuously devoid of the expected proof marks normally found on old military rifles. Franken-gun? Perhaps. But I would still like to have the Nazi mark decoded and the "C" stamp identified.
So there's the mystery. I am not trying to uncover the million dollar gun here, just trying to figure out where the gun has been. I think it's been a witness to history, and wish it could talk. Any help is greatly appreciated.
The markings, and lack of markings make this an interesting case. The barrel and receiver have matching numbers, 999. The bolt bears number 10641 and the trigger guard has yet a different number, 818. The only other marks on the gun are where the intrigue starts. First there is a symbol stamped on the receiver under the serial number. Its a letter C overstamped with a symbol that looks like an open top 8. I cannot find it in online searches of European proof marks. The second intriguing stamp in a Nazi eagle over swastika on the barrel. It is very small, about 3/16" tall, and worn. Under it are a series of letters/numbers, either aAB or aA8. The rifle has no other markings, conspicuously devoid of the expected proof marks normally found on old military rifles. Franken-gun? Perhaps. But I would still like to have the Nazi mark decoded and the "C" stamp identified.
So there's the mystery. I am not trying to uncover the million dollar gun here, just trying to figure out where the gun has been. I think it's been a witness to history, and wish it could talk. Any help is greatly appreciated.
