Well I got very lucky again recently and have added this beauty to the gang. Proof marks show that it started life as a 8x57 but during its life has been re-cut to 9 mm. The Mauser serial number shows it was made in 1909 and this ties in with the proof marks which are the ones that ran to 1912. The maker, as cut on barrel, is Adolf Loesche, Magdeburg H Suhl. It is in wonderful condition with just a bit of pitting under the wood line.
The colonial link is the icing on this cake though. The small shield set into the butt, if the traslation I used is correct, reads " District Office, Misahohe, No 2 ". Misahohe is about 110 km inland from the coast in the former German colony of Togoland, West Africa. From what I can find out, it was annexed by Germany in 1884 and lost to British and French forces on the 6th Aug. 1914 at the very start of WW1. At this time there were no German military personnel in Togoland and only the police force which consisted on a Commander, deputy commander, 10 German sergeants, 1 native sergeant and 660 Togolese policemen deployed throghout the country.
I would like to think that this rifle is of high enough quality that it wouldn't been issued to native troops so that leaves it to one of the other 12 German personnel. Probably not right but I sure like the sound of it.
Don't know how it shoots yet but that pleasure is not too far in the future.
Regards,
Ron.