I do realize that post 1939 it was the mark of the Suhl proofhouse and was required by prooflaw but prior to that on interesting and unique action longarms it was applied in inconspicuous locations where one would find the those of Gebrüder Merkel marks or other makers. It was not along with proofhouse marks and is usually found alone and would be on pre-1939 German longarms.

Here's the E. Schmidt & Habermann example,choose the image of the standing breech on the left side - http://www.jagdwaffensammler.de/index.php?id=13 , and it is also seen on some of Richard Schüler's unique lockup and sideframe reinforcement actions stamped atop with "Charles Daly Superior" and with "Prussian" on the top of the standing breech O/U. On the ESHA, why would it be on the standing breech as well as the left side of the rear lug noting that both components originated in Suhl? That doesn't make sense and it would seem it was for a very finite time a process mark or maker's mark, which just may have been in addition to ESHA for E. Schmidt & Habermann.

Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse