| Rothhammer1 |
| (.400 member) |
| 01/10/20 12:20 PM |
|
Re: Dating a M. 1908 of the British trade?
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Quote:
If some of the guys who have dated their rifles by the year proof mark look at their receivers, we may get an idea when the "Made in Austria" marking first appeared.
The 'Made in Austria' stamp was added in 1924.
From sometime in 1924* and throughout subsequent production, all commercial Mannlicher Schoenauer rifles and stutzen were roll stamped with their country of origin on the front receiver bridge.
From 1924 through sometime in 1938, the stamp was 'Made in Austria'. During the 'Anschluss', or Nazi annexation of Austria, they were marked 'Made in Germany', then back to 'Made in Austria' for post - WW2 production through 1972.
1900 through 1924*
1924 through 1938*
1938* through 1945
Post WW2 production.
* I do not know what exact dates the changes occurred, only during which year.
Also, the stamp along the left side rail was changed in 1926:
The company name was changed to Steyr Werke AG in 1926, so any MS receiver with the above stamp and 'Made in Austria' was manufactured between 1924 and 1926.