authentic waffen ss totenkopf weapon symbols?

auto436658

are the totenkopf skull with ss symbol above it an authentic waffen ss totenkopf weapon stamp symbol on rifles and don't they sometimes appear on the top of the receiver and centered just below the manufacturing code and above the date of manufacture and on the left side of the barrel just in front of the receiver and behind the trigger guard on the stock and on the left side of the stock?
thanks.

p3skyking

Could be. There are many variations of the Totenkopf and it actually goes back to WWI (The skull, not the runes). Depending upon what the item is, only in depth examination could tell if the stamp is period to the piece.
Check under high magnification if the stamp cuts are shiny and recent appearing. This is an easy test. Original period stamps will have oxidised somewhat.

auto436658

what about the markings in the above mentioned specific places on the rifle, are those places on the rifle that could be authentically marked with waffen ss totenkopf weapon stamp symbols?

captkirk3@dslextreme.com

NO......

auto436658

where are the only acceptable places then on the rifle that the waffen ss totenkopf weapon stamp symbols can appear?

p3skyking

Individual inspectors had a lot of leeway as to stamping. I have seen them in all of the places you mentioned EXCEPT the left side of the stock.
One thing to note however is that usually only one or two stamps were applied to a single item. If you have more than two stamps on a single weapon, you need to look at it very hard if all the serial numbered parts are the same. If it's a Russian captured weapon it would have been possible for different marked parts to be assembled into a single weapon. The stamps should not be the same size or identical.

captkirk3@dslextreme.com

DAS Buk: Der WAFFEN SS by FOSTEN & MARRION... if You can find a Copy.
The Publisher was ALMARK PUBLISHING CO. LTD., LONDON (1971)

auto436658

how large in diameter should the ss and the totenkopf markings be or range from, 1/4" to 3/8" perhaps, or is there an accepted factory standard diameter size for these markings?

edit:
Quote-Bill DeShivs
?_oThat's an awful lot of questions. Plan on stamping something??__

no, actually a few questions probably isn?_Tt enough considering the money involved and i am actually considering buying some waffen ss stamped german k98 rifles and so far everything seems to check out and i simply need to find out what the measurements should be on the stamps to detect a possible fake, have only seen them once and don?_Tt want to waste this guys time and possibly lose out on a couple of nice rifles?_?

Bill DeShivs

That's an awful lot of questions. Plan on stamping something? [:0]