I have had some time this weekend to haul out a couple of my more interesting guns to share with others, as I have appreciated all the info that has been provided by others on this site.
Anyway, similar to my thread on my Boer rifle purchase, a local seller had offered this gun to numerous buyers over the years, who had all passed as "someone had carved their initials in the stock". As I had wanted a WWI Mauser for my collection, I was happy to buy. Besides, the initials looked too professional, branded in, to be the work of some "E W Buba".
A few nights later on the Internet I came up with this.
" Einwohnerwehr Bayern
In a typical attempt to demonstrate its political autonomy, the federal state of Bavaria had the small arms issued to its members of the Einwohnerwehr marked E W B on pistol grips and rifle butts. This was naturally discontinued with the dissolution of the Einwohnerwehr in 1921.
The Einwohnerwehr was a paramilitary police force formed by an order of the Prussian Ministry of the Interior dated April 15, 1919, to allow citizens to protect themselves from looters, armed gangs, and revolutionaries. It was subject to the command of the local Reichswehr regiments which supplied its guns. This was forbidden by the Treaty of Versailles, and after repeated demands by the IMKK, on June 29, 1921, the Berlin government dissolved the Einwohnerwehr. The Einwohnerwehr had a membership of hundreds of thousands and was formed mostly from former servicemen. Many of its members (for example Captain Ernst Roehm, future head of the SA [Sturmabteilung, a.k.a. the Brown Shirts]) eventually joined the Nazi Party. "
Excellent overall condition and bore. All numbers match except front barrel band. This marking really adds historical value to me.
Has anyone else come across this marking, on pistol (Lugers, I imagine) or rifle?
Anyway, similar to my thread on my Boer rifle purchase, a local seller had offered this gun to numerous buyers over the years, who had all passed as "someone had carved their initials in the stock". As I had wanted a WWI Mauser for my collection, I was happy to buy. Besides, the initials looked too professional, branded in, to be the work of some "E W Buba".
A few nights later on the Internet I came up with this.
" Einwohnerwehr Bayern
In a typical attempt to demonstrate its political autonomy, the federal state of Bavaria had the small arms issued to its members of the Einwohnerwehr marked E W B on pistol grips and rifle butts. This was naturally discontinued with the dissolution of the Einwohnerwehr in 1921.
The Einwohnerwehr was a paramilitary police force formed by an order of the Prussian Ministry of the Interior dated April 15, 1919, to allow citizens to protect themselves from looters, armed gangs, and revolutionaries. It was subject to the command of the local Reichswehr regiments which supplied its guns. This was forbidden by the Treaty of Versailles, and after repeated demands by the IMKK, on June 29, 1921, the Berlin government dissolved the Einwohnerwehr. The Einwohnerwehr had a membership of hundreds of thousands and was formed mostly from former servicemen. Many of its members (for example Captain Ernst Roehm, future head of the SA [Sturmabteilung, a.k.a. the Brown Shirts]) eventually joined the Nazi Party. "
Excellent overall condition and bore. All numbers match except front barrel band. This marking really adds historical value to me.
Has anyone else come across this marking, on pistol (Lugers, I imagine) or rifle?
