In this period of COVID-19, I have plenty of time to visit my safe...
Here is a pretty common Mauser 1914, except for the fact that it bears a RBDMg 58 marking, in addition to the elusive “1920” property stamp.
RBD stands for “Reichsbahn Direktion”, i.e. German National Railway Directorate.
Mg is Magdeburg, a city where was (and still is) located one of the largest railway stations in Germany.
58 is the arsenal weapon number.
Subject pistol was used by Railway Police to ensure security on trains, under the Republic of Weimar and the Third Reich.
In his book, History Writ In Steel, author Don Maus reports a total of 4 known RBDMg pistols, but among them only one Mauser 1914 (numbered 37), the 3 others being DWM P08 Lugers.
Often incorrectly interpreted, the “1920” stamp does not refer per se to a date but to a property mark. This stamp indicated formal and legal German military ownership of a particular weapon. This measure made it accountable to the Inter-Allied Military Control Commission and also made easily identifiable if it were stolen from a military unit.
Further to the Treaty of Versailles that restricted the German military forces capacity for several years to come, a gun control was put in place in an attempt to remove the leftover military arms from the war, including confiscating guns detained by civilians. Nearly 5 million firearms were collected and destroyed between 1919 and 1921. Interestingly, most pistols that survived do not bear this special 1920 stamp.
German Railway marked pistols are rare, while the 1920 stamp is pretty scarce.
Two good reasons for a collector like me to grab this Mauser 1914 when it was presented in auction.
For your appreciation, fellow collectors.
Here is a pretty common Mauser 1914, except for the fact that it bears a RBDMg 58 marking, in addition to the elusive “1920” property stamp.
RBD stands for “Reichsbahn Direktion”, i.e. German National Railway Directorate.
Mg is Magdeburg, a city where was (and still is) located one of the largest railway stations in Germany.
58 is the arsenal weapon number.
Subject pistol was used by Railway Police to ensure security on trains, under the Republic of Weimar and the Third Reich.
In his book, History Writ In Steel, author Don Maus reports a total of 4 known RBDMg pistols, but among them only one Mauser 1914 (numbered 37), the 3 others being DWM P08 Lugers.
Often incorrectly interpreted, the “1920” stamp does not refer per se to a date but to a property mark. This stamp indicated formal and legal German military ownership of a particular weapon. This measure made it accountable to the Inter-Allied Military Control Commission and also made easily identifiable if it were stolen from a military unit.
Further to the Treaty of Versailles that restricted the German military forces capacity for several years to come, a gun control was put in place in an attempt to remove the leftover military arms from the war, including confiscating guns detained by civilians. Nearly 5 million firearms were collected and destroyed between 1919 and 1921. Interestingly, most pistols that survived do not bear this special 1920 stamp.
German Railway marked pistols are rare, while the 1920 stamp is pretty scarce.
Two good reasons for a collector like me to grab this Mauser 1914 when it was presented in auction.
For your appreciation, fellow collectors.
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