1916 VCS Regimental/Divisional Level Rework?

Hi Guys--

A couple of you told me to "keep em coming", so I will. haha.

I thought I'd post one I've had for years and never bothered posting. I bought it on the forum years ago and it was documented, but not in great detail.

This started life as a 1916 VCS (#988), and was reworked at some point by combining parts from two different rifles. The other rifle appears to have been a wartime (1916) Spandau (#5516), given the C/Z stock acceptance.

The only parts not taking from either 988 or 5516 is a m/m front band, rear sight slider and rear of the bolt.

The theory here is that this was a regimental or divisional level armorer rebuild-- there isn't a depot mark on the buttplate. I also see no signs of Bavarian work, so I highly doubt that's the case (the Bavarian rifles generally don't show any buttplate indicators) The stock has both SN, the old was not lined out.

I'll post another one next that might be more akin a company/regimental level or work.

Here is the data, though mainly just to illustrate which part was from which gun. It's an interesting rework.
,
Receiver 988 g
Barrel 988 g (S&S BJ 156)
Front Sight 88
Rear Sight Leaf: 16
Sight Slider 98
Ejector Box 16
Trigger Sear 16
Front Barrel Band 84
Rear Barrel Band 16
Trigger Guard 5516
Trigger Guard Screws 16, 16
Floor Plate 16
Follower 16
Stock 5516/988
Handguard unnumbered/illegible
Buttplate 5516
Bayonet Lug 16
Cleaning Rod 16
Bolt body: 5516 (lined out) 988 on ball
Safety: 19
Cocking Piece: 19
Bolt shroud:19
Firing Pin: 19
Extractor 16

More pics-- another cool stock repair too.

This is a good example of a non-depot rework. Here is the link to the original discussion on it, in which Paul outlines some thoughts on lower-level repair operations: https://www.k98kforum.com/threads/vc-schilling-rework-ser-988g.1296/

We have discussed this to a fair degree off the forum, but it's worth saying now, there are many examples of reworks that are period but non-matching using salvaged parts. And not only the common parts, like bands, sights, and ejector boxes. Though this one is rework matching--albeit in a non-standard way--some lower level reworks seem to have non-matching stocks. Many collectors would turn their snouts up at something that isn't all factory matching, or even worse, part them out, but its important to save them as-is and post photos of them.

PrayingMantis said:

This is a good example of a non-depot rework. Here is the link to the original discussion on it, in which Paul outlines some thoughts on lower-level repair operations: https://www.k98kforum.com/threads/vc-schilling-rework-ser-988g.1296/

We have discussed this to a fair degree off the forum, but it's worth saying now, there are many examples of reworks that are period but non-matching using salvaged parts. And not only the common parts, like bands, sights, and ejector boxes. Though this one is rework matching--albeit in a non-standard way--some lower level reworks seem to have non-matching stocks. Many collectors would turn their noses up at something that isn't all factory matching, or even worse, part them out, but its important to save them as-is and post photos of them.

Click to expand...

Thanks Cyrus, the next I'll post is an even less sophisticated rework.

PrayingMantis said:

This is a good example of a non-depot rework. Here is the link to the original discussion on it, in which Paul outlines some thoughts on lower-level repair operations: https://www.k98kforum.com/threads/vc-schilling-rework-ser-988g.1296/

We have discussed this to a fair degree off the forum, but it's worth saying now, there are many examples of reworks that are period but non-matching using salvaged parts. And not only the common parts, like bands, sights, and ejector boxes. Though this one is rework matching--albeit in a non-standard way--some lower level reworks seem to have non-matching stocks. Many collectors would turn their snouts up at something that isn't all factory matching, or even worse, part them out, but its important to save them as-is and post photos of them.

Click to expand...

Agree 100%, the value of these to the hobby is worth defending. These examples should certainly be preserved.

chrisftk said:

Thanks Cyrus, the next I'll post is an even less sophisticated rework.

Click to expand...

I actually think this one is quite sophisticated as far as reworks go. It’s a unique gun, I love the renumbering. It’s really a feature that’s not often seen on salvaged stocks, I don’t believe even the large facilities did this often. I’ll post a Mainz job in a few days, I believe the stock is original and has been with the gun since the war. They seem to be rather crude by comparison.

Great topic guys!

I did try to start on new thread just on the depot #16 rifles a few months ago, after I posted that JPS 1917. The two depot #16 pieces I own are complete rebuilds. But maybe a new complete thread just made for these unknown rebuilds, oddballs, or depots were trying to discover more on would be much better.