ID help Wanted - is this a Haenel ? or a sporter 88 Commission rifle ? its a 7x57 cal

[buckstix]

Hello,

I recently acquired another interesting rifle. I can't tell if this is a Haenel, or a sporter 88 Commission Rifle. Caliber is 7x57. No other markings except those I've shown.

Any help would be appreciated.

thanks

[buckstix]

continued .....

[mike ford]

[buckstix]

Hello mike ford,

Looks like your reply didn't show up - I think there are still major issues with this forum.

[Nathaniel Myers]

Serial number on the buttplate?

[buckstix]

Hello Nathaniel Myers,

Thanks for the reply.

Yes, there is a serial number on the buttplate, and on the bottom of the action. The stock has the last 3 digits of the serial number written in pencil in the barrel channel.

[mike ford]

Buckstix,
You are right, there were still problems. What I said was the rifle is a Mod88 sporting rifle, but it's possible that it could have been made "for the trade" by Haenel or one of the other makers in Suhl, such as Shilling. The knurling on the receiver ring is to hide the joint where a bushing was screwed onto it to cover up the thread for the barrel shroud( not used on sporting rifles).
Mike

[buckstix]

Hello mike ford,

thanks for the reply.

So this action would have started out as a Military action? Is that right? Are those East or West German proof marks?

[mike ford]

buckstix,
It could have been a military action, but not necessarily so. They had the capability to make the actions in Suhl. They are German proof marks. The rifle was made between 1912( bore diameter marked in mm) and 1923( before then Suhl didn't date the proof marks). East Germany and West Germany didn't come into being until 1945( or really the 1950s when the West got control of the country back from the Allies).
Mike

[buckstix]

Hello mike ford,

Thanks for the reply.

I thought it might be a military action because the action has the threads for a barrel schroud. Does the crown/H give any clue as to date?

[mike ford]

buckstix,
I don't believe the crown H is a proof mark, maybe it is a "House mark" for Haenel.
Mike

[mike ford]

buckstix,
I don't believe the crown H is a proof mark, maybe it is a "House mark" for Haenel.
Mike

[mike ford]

buckstix,
I don't believe the crown H is a proof mark, maybe it is a "House mark" for Haenel.
Mike

[mike ford]

buckstix,
I don't believe the crown H is a proof mark, maybe it is a "House mark" for Haenel.
Mike

[Axel E]

Already answered your question on NE forum:
From 1890 to 1896 the Suhl companies C.G. Haenel and V.C. Schilling made about 250 000 M88 carbines for the German armies. After the governmet contracts were done, they continued to make M88 actioned rifles and carbines in varius chamberings for export, mostly to China and South America, and for civilian sales too. Up to WW1 they made sporting rifles on their actions too. These sporters came in as many grades and calibers as Heinz mixed pickles to suit tastes and budgets of customers. Economy models came with round barrels , while high grades had half octagonal, ribbed barrels, fancy wood and engraving. Though Mauser 98 actions and the improved Haenel model 1900 and 1909 became available, many hunters preferred the cheaper and familiar (from their military service) M88 actioned sporters. So the Suhl guntrade, including Haenel, continued to offer such sporters. As customary with the German guntrade then, such sporters are often not openly marked by the real Suhl maker. This allowed a retailer or wholesaler to offer them as "their own special product".
From the 1911 ALFA catalog:
[img]https://up.picr.de/36507265ij.jpg[/img]


This is such a rifle, built in Suhl on a new made M88 carbine action. It is a basic grade sporter with just the double set trigger and a bit of engraving added. As the serial number is marked on the buttplate, it was made by Haenel 1912 - 14.