In the past week, three Gewehr 71 Mauser rifles, all with a curious marking on them, have come to my attention. This marking is either carved, or stamped, into the rifles’ stocks—one with the insignia carved on the comb of a butt stock (just above the butt plate tang), and two with the same motif stamped beside their receiver tangs (see attached photos.) The small (@1/4” diameter) marking looks like the view through a telescopic rifle sight, but with very heavy crosshairs. One of these markings is on a rifle that also has the “M” marking on it (see my article on Howth Mausers in the August 2019 issue of Man at Arms), and the other markings are on two rifles that also have their owners’ initials, or geometric symbols, carved into their stocks.
Although these three markings are on suspected Howth Mausers, I am hoping to find this same marking on a Martini-Henry/Enfield, or on a Long Lee-Metford/Enfield (or even on an SMLE) rifle—hence my posting on this forum.
Thanks so much, in advance, for any information. Ken Smith-Christmas
Although these three markings are on suspected Howth Mausers, I am hoping to find this same marking on a Martini-Henry/Enfield, or on a Long Lee-Metford/Enfield (or even on an SMLE) rifle—hence my posting on this forum.
Thanks so much, in advance, for any information. Ken Smith-Christmas