Not what I expected on an English target rifle

[ovenpaa]

There is some text on the underside however it is difficult to make out. Having removed the plate I noticed it was actually quite nicely fitted and intentionally aligned as it is presumably for prone shooting.

[GeeRam]

That 'H' looks like a typical Heer acceptance stamp, but without the usual 'eagle' above it as you would see stamped on the side of the butt of a K98k.

[ovenpaa]

I just found this article on guns international which shows a very similar plate on a different rifle, apparently from 1914 which would suggest to me that it is a good luck symbol.

https://www.gunsinternational.com/guns- ... =101390059

[snayperskaya]

I just found this article on guns international which shows a very similar plate on a different rifle, apparently from 1914 which would suggest to me that it is a good luck symbol.

https://www.gunsinternational.com/guns- ... =101390059

The Swastika is a Hindu good luck symbol so I wonder if the rifle has spent time in India/Nepal etc.

[GeeRam]

I just found this article on guns international which shows a very similar plate on a different rifle, apparently from 1914 which would suggest to me that it is a good luck symbol.

https://www.gunsinternational.com/guns- ... =101390059

The Swastika is a Hindu good luck symbol so I wonder if the rifle has spent time in India/Nepal etc.

But the use of it elsewhere, India, Finland etc., its always been in its original form, that is to say, in a vertical/horizontal layout. It was only the Nazi's that took that symbol and rotated it by 45 degrees as seen here related to the Third Reich., so I'm sure this butt plate has it origins in pre-1933 Germany.

But that link to that Olympic rifle does pose another possibility...... a rifle used in the 1936 Berlin Olympics?

[channel12]

so I'm sure this butt plate has it origins in pre-1933 Germany.

I think you meant to say post-1933 Germany. The idea of a 1936 Berlin Olympics is interesting, a souvenir butt plate ?

[GeeRam]

so I'm sure this butt plate has it origins in pre-1933 Germany.

I think you meant to say post-1933 Germany. The idea of a 1936 Berlin Olympics is interesting, a souvenir butt plate ?

Err....yes, post 1933 Germany indeed is what I meant, and should have written but for the minor brain/finger interface problem

And yes some sort of souvenir from taking part in the Berlin Olympics maybe?

I'm sure some of the experts on the K98 forum might know.