German-used Danish weapons aren't encountered very often at all, and their existence tends to be better represented in the documentary record. This is a Model 1889/24 Fodfolkskarabin, which is a carbine length Infantry weapon adapted from a Model 1889 long rifle. It was originally produced in 1890, rebarreled in 1940, and clearly saw little if any use. These are chambered in 8X58R, which was used by no other nation in WWII. Considering how quickly Germany conquered Denmark, I would think that most small arms would have been seized by German forces in largely undamaged condition.
This one is all matching and went through the Heer depot at Mainz, as indicated by the 'Mz 8' depot stamp at the wrist. Also associated with Mainz are stamps consisting of a circled 'H' with either a '1' or '2' below the horizontal bar in the H. This carbine has the latter. The depot also blued the bolt, and might have polished the rear sight ladder but it is not known if the Danes themselves polished these during original production. There are examples of Danish Krags in collections with sight leaves 'in the white,' but lacking any other indications of German use. Interestingly, the depot appears to have removed the stock marking disc and replaced it with a circular wooden plug, similar to how the Germans plugged the holes left by removing the wrist sling swivel assembly in Czech Vz.24 rifles. One interesting fact with the Danish rifles is that the letter prefixes in the serial number don't indicate the letter block of production, but the type of unit of assignment. In this case, the 'F' is short for 'Fodfolkskarabin,' or Infantry Carbine. A big bonus was the unit marked (6th Battalion) muzzle cover. These are VERY tough to find, and I'm surprised it lasted on a captured carbine.
Pat
This one is all matching and went through the Heer depot at Mainz, as indicated by the 'Mz 8' depot stamp at the wrist. Also associated with Mainz are stamps consisting of a circled 'H' with either a '1' or '2' below the horizontal bar in the H. This carbine has the latter. The depot also blued the bolt, and might have polished the rear sight ladder but it is not known if the Danes themselves polished these during original production. There are examples of Danish Krags in collections with sight leaves 'in the white,' but lacking any other indications of German use. Interestingly, the depot appears to have removed the stock marking disc and replaced it with a circular wooden plug, similar to how the Germans plugged the holes left by removing the wrist sling swivel assembly in Czech Vz.24 rifles. One interesting fact with the Danish rifles is that the letter prefixes in the serial number don't indicate the letter block of production, but the type of unit of assignment. In this case, the 'F' is short for 'Fodfolkskarabin,' or Infantry Carbine. A big bonus was the unit marked (6th Battalion) muzzle cover. These are VERY tough to find, and I'm surprised it lasted on a captured carbine.
Pat
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