Question on an M98 8mm proof marks

[Frank Kernan]

I purchased this some time ago. I think it was a "bring back" from the WW2 era. The gun was restocked, poorly, I believe in the US. Also I think the bolt handle was changed as the "engraving" on it is not well done. All numbers match on all the various parts. Here is what I think the marks mean but I am sure I am not correct in all:
Poldi-Czech barrel makers
7,6mm-.318 bore (I slugged it and it comes out like that)
11.18-Manufacture date ?
Is the above correct? Can the other marks tell anything?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Frank

[mike ford]

Frank,
I believe "Poldi" is the type steel from which the barrel was made, not necessarily who made it. The 7.6mm is the bore(not groove or bullet dia.).This measurement would be .299-.303", but the .318" groove dia you found would roughly match it(variations are common). The 11,18 is not the manufacture date,rather it is the proof date. The number under this date is the ledger number from the Zella-Mehlis proofhouse. This is very interesting because WW1 did not end until the 11th month( and 11th day,11th hour) of 1918. It is well known that until the end of the war, when the market was flooded with surplus military actions,commercial actions had to be used, because the Mauser patents were still in force. Here is one proofed in the same month that the war ended, and seemingly with a military action.
Mike

[ellenbr]

Poldi was named after Austrian Karl's Wittgenstein wife Leopoldina Kallmus. The nickname, Poldi, was his pet name for her. In 1893 Poldi Ironworks applied for a trademark.

Cheers,

Raimey
rse