The French MauserIn the closing weeks of World War II Oberndorf, Germany came under the control of F
The French MauserIn the closing weeks of World War II Oberndorf, Germany came under the control of French forces. For two years after the war the Mauser factory remained in operation manufacturing Karabiner 98 rifles. Except instead of making them for their old clients, the German Military, the Mauser Company made rifles for their new masters, the French. The French Mauser had svwMB stamped on the top of the receiver, with a star stamped on the side of the receiver. Between 15,000-20,000 were produced.In 1947, by order of the local French commander, the factory was abandoned, records and equipment were seized, and its buildings were demolished. Three Mauser engineers, Edmund Heckler, Theodor Koch, and Alex Seidel saved what they could, rebuilding the factory under a new name, Heckler and Koch. At first the company only made machine parts, sewing machines, tools, and automotive parts. Later the HK Mauser-works re-entered the arms industry, manufacturing military firearms, and sporting rifles under the Mauser name. -- source link
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