SDH-MT
Steven,
The 21143 Is located where we expect to find the Mauser serial number on commercial actions sold to "the trade". You can confirm this, if the same number appears on the back of the magazine box(note: sometimes there is a different number here, as a product of parts being mixed up in the gunshop). If this is confirmed as a Mauser commercial action, it would be dated well before the 1920s. I haven't taken the time to look it up, but I think it would be 1909-10. As I recall my ca. 1912 is in the 52000 series. The 7,7 is the bore diameter, expressed in gauge; the lack of a case length in mm, indicates it predates 1911. Suhl didn't start dating proof until later. Suhl didn't generally mark the ledger number, but sometimes did early on. The 480 might be a ledger number, but it would be very understandable without a date; therefore it might be something else. Since the rifle is marked Schlegelmilch, it would be highly unlikely for the RS to be for Robert Schlegelmilch. Such marks are generally meaningless, except to designate who was to be paid for what "piece work". You would think he knew what work was done by himself, or in his shop. There were numerous other "S" names in and around Suhl. The two K marks, however are logos, I believe of the barrel maker( maybe Kelber).The Crown with Crown N is the nitro proof for rifles, pre 1911 it was generally seen near a stamp for the proof load.
Mike
