This mishmash of codes, names and scope mount variations has resulted in a treasure trove of details for modern collectors to research.
Scopes later built on military orders will have codes instead of names. Early scopes originally intended for the commercial market will have makers’ commercial legends, such as Zeiss Zielvier. For example, sniper rifles built by Sauer & Sohn received tiny “37” stamps.
SWEPT BACK SNIPER SCOPE MOUNT GERMAN MAUSER K98 SERIAL
Additionally, if that rifle was converted for scope use at its factory, an additional stamping was added on the left side near serial numbers. For example, a rifle stamped “ce” and “42” on the front receiver ring was made by JP Sauer & Sohn in 1942. The German military used codes for almost all equipment. Some German sniper rifles were built in military armories and others were put together by rifle manufacturers at their own facilities. Collectively, these scopes ranged from 1.5x to 6x, with 4x being the most common. Later, the German ordnance designed its own scope called the ZF4, which was produced by several companies. Some of the better-known scope manufacturers were Zeiss, Hensoldt, Kahles and Swarovski. In the beginning of Germany’s sniper rifle reboot, scopes were those available on the civilian market.
Their terms for K98k sniper variants range from low turret, high turret, short side rail, long side rail, single claw, double claw and swept back, along with a few others. German ordnance put technical names on their sniper rifle scope/mount creations, but modern collectors have simplified the matter. In essence, this opened the dam for a wide array of scopes and mounting system combinations lasting until war’s end in May 1945. Then, after attacking the Soviet Union in June 1941, their about-face was completed because very quickly their troops encountered a host of trained Red Army snipers who wreaked havoc on German officers and NCOs. After World War II began with Germany’s invasion of Poland on September 1, 1939, the German Wehrmacht began an about-face on the subject of sniper rifle usefulness.