1907/16 Dresden SternGewehr

[MichaelWC]

I've had this rifle in my collection for a while. I got this Gew 98 back in 2013. This was my very first pre-WWI Gew 98. The rifle was assembled in 1916 atDresdenwith a 1907 dated Mauser Oberndorf receiver. It's a little bit of a mixed monster but that is okay with me. Going off the lower end of the receiver it was probably in a vise at one time. The stock of the rifle has a duffel cut. The rifle was probably brought back as a trophy during World War I or World War II. I will never know.

Stern, or Star is very clean and looks great. I do enjoy that the star is made up of six diamonds. I haven't seen many sterngewehrs with this type of star. Or I just haven't been paying attention.

The overall condition of the rifle is good. The rifles been cleaned up a little bit. The stock does have some cracks by the butt played.

WAFFENFABRIK MAUSER A-G OBERNDORF A/N 1907/16
Receiver- 9629C 4129 1
Barrel- 4129 1
Front Sight- ?
Rear Sight Leaf- 12
Sight Slider- 29
Sight Slider Tabs- 29
Ejector Box- 29
Trigger Sear-
Front Barrel Band- 44
Rear Barrel Band- 87
Trigger Guard- 769 4129 1
Trigger Guard Screws- 63/29
Floor Plate- 29
Follower- 29
Stock- 4129
Handguard- ?
Buttplate- 4129 1
Bayonet Lug- 29
Cleaning Rod- ?
Bolt Body- 4129
Extractor- 36
Safety- 85
Cocking Piece- 74
Bolt Sleeve-
Firing Pin-?

 

[MichaelWC]

More photos

 

[Loewe]

Quite an interesting rifle, the obliteration of the original serial seems common to the Dresden's that are based upon early pre-war salvaged receivers. Not sure why they go to this extreme but several like this are recorded.

This rifle looks authentic, period work, but I think the bolt is a later addition during the war. for all Dresden suffixed (including other 1 blocks) rifles have it on the bolt also. possibly when the buttplate picked up some modifications. The cancelled "16" under the Saxon Cypher is strange but possibly something done at a depot?

Anyway, while these pictures are pretty good, you might do more, specifically the RS of the stock, does it have the Saxon Cypher and acceptance, the barrel serial also, - I will do some further comparisons to other Dresdenr SG's but I am curious regarding the bolt and the appearance of the buttplate...

Just something to think about... these pre-war salvaged receivers are especially interesting. I still own a Dresden myself, fully matching bit a real dog, been through a great deal but I had to keep it as its a Simson/16 receiver and has a really nicely marked stocks and BP cypher... these Dresden's and Saxon rifles in general saw serious use, - perhaps there is a lot of truth to the claims or assertions at the end of the war that Bavaria and Saxony carried more of the burden proportional to Prussia's.

*** Würt's too! I think I read in a English Officer's report, as an observer at the end of the war, he stated a Württemberg unit was the finest disciplined unit he saw during the great retreat after the armistice.

 

[PrayingMantis]

Mike, if you get a chance, could you take this out of the wood and photograph the acceptance under the original acceptance and the barrel code?

 

[MichaelWC]

Yes I can.