I am a genealogist and a client has asked me to determine the meanings of the markings on the butt of this rifle (a 1909 Oesterr Waffenfabr Ges. Steyr) I don't know who the original owner was, but assume Germany or Austria is the general region that the rifle was used.

I believe that this shows his tallies of various animals he hunted. The abbreviations are:
H
Th.u.K
Db
G.u.K
Rb
G
S
U

with the TH.u.K and S being the most plentiful and the U the rarity.

I am hoping that someone with both hunting and German proficiency can offer some suggestions of what game each abbreviation might indicate. By using a German-English dictionary I have come up with some ideas, but I would love to hear from actual hunters!

Thank you.

Hmmm…
Rb = Rehbock (Roebuck)??
G = Gamse (Chamois)?

Maybe the u. is und? So Th.u.K might be Th (?) und Kasin (rabbit? or Keiler - boar?)

S = Steinbock (Ibex)?

probably not much help, but fun nonetheless. Be interested to see what others come up with.

Thank you BaxterB. I had considered some of those same possibilities. There was only one mark next to the "U" so I am thinking that this was a very rare or difficult to hunt animal. But I have no idea what it could be.

Can you post photos?

If I could figure out how to do so, I would......Can you tell me where to learn how for this forum?

Need some assistance with this from our European AR members!

Kate, if you don't have a picture hosting account, I'd be glad to host them for you. Send the pics to: mbogo@mac.com.

Baxter

This is the posting instruction, FYI:

http://forums.accuratereloadin...22101325/m/951100671

Baxter, thanks for offering to post the photos for me. I emailed them to you moments ago!

Hirsch - Stag

Here are the pictures for Kate:

That is really neat!! Thanks for the pictures! I hope you get it deciphered.

quote:

Originally posted by GenealogistKate:
Thank you BaxterB. I had considered some of those same possibilities. There was only one mark next to the "U" so I am thinking that this was a very rare or difficult to hunt animal. But I have no idea what it could be.

Speaking of Genealogy!.

U= untermenchen perhaps??

U = Unicorn

That's why there's only one.

That's what I thought too, Frank. Explains a lot when you think about it. ;-)

Too many Sundowners! The only thing Im sure of is the beads on the side, It belonged to a Cheyenne at some point, Is there a scalp hanging on the barrel?

How about a picture of the whole rifle it,s pretty cool so far...

...Im from Germany:
You should send an letter to the manufactur and ask them.
Maybe they can contact the (former) "owner-famely" as well.

And:
This is an very unique rifle.
Please post mor pictures.

Best wishes.

B.

Kate, I believe I'm the guy who told you what the tacks were, perhaps originally, on "firearmsforum" under a different user name. Take a hike over to this site and post it up. If Axel, Mike or one of the other guys can't tell you I'm not certain it can be known. Axel is pretty much the authority for all things German for the German Gun Collectors Assn. Mike spent a lot of years in Germany and there are several other members in Germany & Europe. I belong to the Assn. but I'm an authority on nothing....

http://www.germanguns.com/upload/forum.php

Thanks for the tip about the German gun collectors site. I will try there, too.

As for additional photos, I have requested them from the client, but I do not know if he will comply.

And yes, thank you, I have contacted the manufacturer in the off chance that they can provide information regarding the original owner.

Wonder if the "U" may be a urial?

That is a good suggestion!