Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Mausers and Military Rifles Santa Barbara commercial Mauser barrel stamp. Knight's head

Just a curious if anyone knows what the little knights head on top of the barrel signifies. Barrel maker or...??

It is a Santa Barbara commercial 98 action with Parker-Hale trigger set.

Thanks,
Kent

I didn't find that mark in "The Standard Directory of Proof Marks", could be a manufacturers symbol? Hard to see though, next time dust it with cornstarch or chalk and then wipe it lightly.

I would have guessed a proof mark as well. Not a standard Spanish (Santa Barbara) proof mark. Makers mark or gunsmith that did the work? Santa Barbara actions were quite common some years ago.

In 1970 I worked for Small Arms Manufacturing Co. In Bridgeville, Pa. We fitted our barrels to many Santa Barbara and Mark X actions. If I remember correctly we use a horse head stamp on the barrels. It is now Shaw Manufacturing. They may know.

Mike

I've seen the horse head, kinda of like a knight from chess, but this one is a knights head/helmet.