WMO 1917 Maple Stock

Hi Everyone,

This is one that I picked up several years ago and the original photo spread was a bunch of crap so I redid them. This is probably my favorite rifle, certainly one of the most rare items I own, maybe the rarest.

On to the gun, there are only two others known, so not a ton is known about these. Maple likely never made beyond the experimental use, it’s too hard to be a durable medium for stock construction. My guess is these were heavily prone to breakage causing the project to be abandoned.

This gun is all matching less the bolt sleeve, and went through a depot “rework” at Rastatt. I’m not totally sure what was done, my thought is there may have been some damage to the comb that was smoothed out. That also could have been the reason for the c/RC on the keel. It has a nice late war appearance with the Kronengrund/ Kronenol stock finish. This gun really exemplifies the rapid deterioration WMO experienced going into 1918. This one was most likely made in December of 1917.

Receiver SN: 43aa
Barrel SN: 43aa Barrel Code: BS 15
Front sight SN: 43
Rear sight SN: 43
Sight Slider SN: 43
Ejector box SN: 43
Trigger Sear SN: 43
Front barrel band SN: 43
Rear barrel band SN: 43
Trigger guard SN: 43
Trigger guard screws SN: 43, 43
Floor Plate SN: 43
Follower SN: 43
Stock SN: 43
Handguard SN: 43
Buttplate SN: 43 aa, Rastatt depot marked
Bayonet lug SN: 43
Bolt body SN: 43
Extractor SN: 43
Safety SN: 43
Cocking piece SN: 43
Bolt sleeve SN: 30
Firing pin SN: 43

That’s a great rifle Sam….. I love the maple

Wonderful condition. The cartouches are very sharp in that wood.

Lovely rifle, and that's really cool, I haven't seen an A marked stock before

Fantastic example. The stock is killer.

Magnificent example, one of, if not the finest WMO/17's known... the stock is just the cherry on top! A very rare rifle in this condition...

Maples fall in the last ranges of 1917 (one WMO/18 is also suspected, in the i-block which is the last indisputable block for WMO; some rifles after this i-block exist but the pictures make this speculative, at least in my notes...

1917 WMO 629 y – (A)(G-TD) Cypher / C/O / C/W / “A”, Wrist C/W (faint), Lower (629) / C/K
1917 WMO 1653 y – (B)(G-TD) Cypher / C/O / C/W? / “B” (probable match)
1917 WMO 2606 y – (B)(G-TD) Cypher / C/O / C/W / “B”, Wrist C/W, Lower (2606) (buttplate C/Z / 2606)

1917 WMO 7739 z –(buttplate C/Z / 7739)

1917 WMO 43 aa – (A)(G-TD) Cypher / C/O / C/W / “A”, Wrist C/W (faint), Lower (43) / C/K
1917 WMO 509 aa – (B)(G-TD) RS- n/a, Wrist C/W, Lower (509) C/K(R) (buttplate C/Z / 509) (TBP- aa)

1917 WMO 4638 bb – (A)(G-TD), Lower (4638) / C/K (walnut, possible maple)

MountainGew said:

Lovely rifle, and that's really cool, I haven't seen an A marked stock before

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it is rather cool, as rare as a honest politician, this is rare and in spectacular condition

Sam, I never get tired of seeing that one. This is definitely the "estate gun" from your collection for me. ;-)

I would not say that maple is too hard, I just finished up carving a maple stock for a longrifle. Tough wood to carve but in my experience, beech is much harder on carving tools.

Beautiful rifle by the way!

Very cool rifle Sam!

An all-around stunner of a rifle Sam, that's for sure. Not much else to say!!

Sam, that's a fantastic, rare gewehr! Thanks for the pics.

That is a stunner for sure, never seen a maple stock on a Gewehr 98 before but it sure looks gorgeous on your rifle! Congrats on a really nice rifle, that has to be a dream rifle for any Gewehr 98 collection!

Could stare at that rifle all day haha gorgeous example I never knew Maple stocks was a thing with Gewehr 98's.

Thank you for the kind words, everyone!

That's really cool! I would be proud to own that!

I Always enjoy seeing this one Sam.