7,92x57mm Cartridge | 7,92x57mm Markings | 7,92x57mm Identification

Courtesy Patrice Colmant and Bart Temmink

From the mid-1930s to the end of the war in 1945, military cartridges produced either in Germany, in occupied countries, or for the German military use in other countries, normally utilized an unsegmented four-element layout ; rarely, a two-element design is also reported. Headstamps included a producer code designed to conceal the identity and thus location of the factory ; until 1940, with few exceptions, this code consisted of the letter P, either alone or more usually, followed by two or three digits. From 1941 on, this code was generally replaced by an alphabetic code consisting predominantly of three lower-case letters, less frequently of two letters, and in rare instances, a single letter. The normal four-element headstamp has the producer code at 12 o'clock. A code at 3 o'clock indicates the case material ; St or St+ indicates a steel case, either plated or lacquered ; a combination of a roman numeral (I to XXII) corresponding to the steel mill supplying the basic case-metal, a lower-case letter corresponding to the plating agency, and an arabic numeral (1,2,3,6,15 or 17) corresponding to the steel -analysis identifies a copper-plated steel case (ex : P181 Xw1 49 38) ; and * or S* indicates a brass case. An arc, or curved line, between the producer code and material code indicates that the Berdan primer pocket has just one flash hole rather than two. A lot number appears at 6 o'clock, and a two-digit year code at 9 o'clock.

   (1937 - 1941)

 "P" codes

Plating agencies codes

        (1941 - 1945)

Producers code