• This Forum is for adults 18 years of age or over. By continuing to use this Forum you are confirming that you are 18 or older. No content shall be viewed by any person under 18 in California.

Old creepy headstamp

The eagle is NAZI German, but France didn't fall to Germany until May 1940. The French had two different military rounds for their service rifles in the last century, the 8MM Lebel (8X50 Lebel) introduced in 1886 and used in WW I and still in some use until 1944, an odd looking rimmed cartridge with a lot of body taper and a long neck. The second was the 7.5 MAS (7.5X54 MAS) a rimless modern looking cartridge introduced in 1924 for the then new MAS rifle.
 
Germany annexed Austria in March 1938. That looks like an 8x56mmR (8x56 Steyr) to me.

Having loaded for the 7.5 French at one time, I can tell you that the 7.5 French is literally the 6.5x55 Swedish necked up to 30 caliber with few other changes.

A single pass through a die and you are done.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
I have a K 98 with those eagles stamped all over it. It also has the duffel bag cut stock and the bayonet. What’s it worth?
 
Here is one (8x56 Steyr) with exactly the same date markings and lines, but different arsenal markings.

8x50RmmAustrianMann-588x539.jpg
 
Josh,
Depending on condition, the rifle is worth between $1500 and $2500 with the bayonet. But hard to fix without seeing it.

Thank you for that. I have wondered about it. It had sat propped in the corner of a closet for 50 years. I bought it from a guy who said his uncle had brought it back from the war. I fired a box thru it, oiled it up and put it away. It’s not in great shape finish wise. Lots of mild surface rust . I paid $400 for it after my LGS turned their nose up at it. I followed the guy outside and made the deal in the parking lot.;)
 
In line with Creepy”
I had ( can’t remember what happened to it) a 1941 Nazi swastika stamped Luger.
IIRC the barrel was pitted badly but still shot OK not great, anyway as I would hold it and think to myself who might have died or been executed bye this weapon.
Creepy!!
 
I would hold it and think to myself who might have died or been executed bye this weapon.
Creepy!!

A couple of years back at a gunshow I mentioned to my wife I might start a collection of military rifles and she said something to the same effect. I was looking at a nice Mauser when she said it. I still don't own any military rifles.
 
A couple of years back at a gunshow I mentioned to my wife I might start a collection of military rifles and she said something to the same effect. I was looking at a nice Mauser when she said it. I still don't own any military rifles.

Find an old Swede M38. As I recall, not many of them killed anybody.;)
Then look at Swiss K31s. They didn’t, either! Both great shooting guns!
 

Upgrades & Donations

This Forum's expenses are primarily paid by member contributions. You can upgrade your Forum membership in seconds. Gold and Silver members get unlimited FREE classifieds for one year. Gold members can upload custom avatars.


Click Upgrade Membership Button ABOVE to get Gold or Silver Status.

You can also donate any amount, large or small, with the button below. Include your Forum Name in the PayPal Notes field.


To DONATE by CHECK, or make a recurring donation, CLICK HERE to learn how.

Forum statistics

Threads
165,536
Messages
2,197,762
Members
78,961
Latest member
Nicklm
Back
Top