1912 Erfurt depot reworked Kar98a

[Warrior1354]

Been wanting to get this carbine posted up for quite some time. Did a trade deal with a good friend of mine last year for this one. Anyway it's quite the war horse to be honest. I was in the market at the time for an early Erfurt carbine and this one was offered up to me a 1912 Erfurt. With only around 15,000 made I believe it was a worthy addition to my Imperial collection of mine. Plus I like Erfurt!

For an early carbine you can clearly tell this piece was used it did not spend time in the barracks that's for sure. For starters a replacement stock was matched to this carbine. Next a new bolt group was matched to it as well. They scrubbed the old bolt root numbers off and renumbered it to match this carbine, but you can still make out the old letter block number on the bolt root. And next the rear sight ladder was replaced and numbered to match, as well as the follower and floorplate. Those two components were not matched to this early carbine, but I guarantee they are replacements. Even with all those replacements alot of this carbine's factory original parts are still present, such as the barrel. Interesting depot too #16, not a recorded one either most likely a small facility. Still I am quite happy with this piece, and it makes three 98a carbines in my collection too!

On a small note I noticed a number X letter stamp on a few parts. I'm curious of that seen that before.

Still hoping to add a Kar98a Amberg and Spandau to the collection one day!

Receiver: 1912 Erfurt 2729
Barrel: 2729 KR. 36
Front barrel band: 29
Lower barrel band: 29
Front Sight: 29
Stacking hook: 29
Stacking hook nut: 68
Stock: 2729
Handguard: 2729
Trigger Sear: 29
Rear sight base: 29
Rear sight ladder: 29
Rear sight ladder slider: 29
Trigger guard: 2729
Trigger guard screws: both 29
Floorplate: 69
Follower: 69
Bolt release: 29
Bolt handle: 2729
Bolt gas shield: 37
Bolt safety: 37
Bolt striker: 37
Bolt firing pin: 37
Bolt extractor: 37
Buttplate: unnumbered depot #16

 

[Warrior1354]

More pictures:

 

[Warrior1354]

Last ones:

 

[Warrior1354]

And my personal favorite some cool pictures from Imperial, Weimer, and WWII era.

1. Imperial era soldier with 98a carbine
2. German soldiers with 98a carbines picture dated 1940
3. Backside of the picture
4. German Reichswehr soldiers with 98a carbines
5. Rifle Qualification with a 98a carbine
6. Another Imperial era soldier with 98a carbine

 

[cj556]

Neat Kar Jordan. Funny how both you and Chris post these depot reworks at the same time.

 

[Warrior1354]

Neat Kar Jordan. Funny how both you and Chris post these depot reworks at the same time.

Weird how that works sometimes lol!

Needed to get this one posted up and finally had a free day to do it!

 

[chrisftk]

Jordan-- very cool rework! Thanks for posting.

Sent from my moto g power using Tapatalk

 

[Loewe]

Wanted to review trends on this one before comment, especially because I had a prior record of it... I hope Peter is doing well, he had this rifle for a long while, over 15 years...

The stock is probably very late 1916 or early 1917 production, grips took awhile to show up, well into 1917 and the acceptance places in double suffix 1916 to pretty well into 1917. Naturally, its application here was probably later, good bet 1917 or later. Erfurt was really known for two things, huge numbers-capacity and retaining early features long after others had adopted them, clearly they had a lot of old stock on hand till late, though this ordnance spare stock use has nothing to do with Erfurt directly. Just that no grips and no TD doesn't mean much dating its time of production or when this stock found its way onto this action.

 

[Loewe]

BTW, 1912 & 1913 Erfurt are two of the leanest years for Erfurt 98a production, Danzig was the big boy during this time frame. Actually pre-war Danzig was the most prolific makers of the 98a.

 

[Warrior1354]

From what my buddy told me Peter is doing alright Paul. He got this rifle from him years ago and he wanted me to have it in the end being I'm the Erfurt guy! He did tell me I still need an Amberg and Spandau Kar98a in the collection!

I told him sure thing will just put that on my holy grail list with the colonial Gew98!

 

[Loewe]

Peter had a Amberg and Spandau at one time, though I know he has been letting things go... he was a mentor to me a couple decades ago, and he is a first rate man, one of the old breed like CB.

 

[MichaelWC]

Great find Jordan. It's in great condition to. I still need to add one of these to my collection. One of my friends in Australia just acquired Kar98a used by the Schutztruppen in the DOA or German East Africa.

 

[SG Mumford]

1912 JP Sauer

Hi,
New to the site. I have a WW1 German rifle that is fully functional. Took it to a gun smith today and he was shocked at how clean the bore was and in general the overall condition of the weapon. I do reload however, I am a little unfamiliar with 8.57 with regards to the proper cartridges. What is the proper cartridge for this gun? My gun smith is going to verify the bore size so I load the proper bullet.
Looking forward to post some photos once I figure out how to do it, lol.

 

[SG Mumford]

1917 JP Sauer & Son

 

[Warrior1354]

View attachment 262987View attachment 262988View attachment 262989

To tell you the truth your rifle needs it's own thread in the Weimer section. It's kind of special to be honest. For one it's a JPS 1917, which was the last year for JP Sauer production during the Imperial era. So not many were made and are quite rare to find if their all matching and without problems.

Second it was accepted for German service in 1920 for the Reichswehr so it got a new service life. Most likely was left in the depots during the Post war period would explain why it was accepted for military service and thank goodness was not destroyed either.

And third your rifle was later updated in the 1930s for the German Armed forces. The rifle looks like it got a new barrel, an updated rear sight, and the updated wide lower barrel band. So please post some good pictures of your wonderful Gew98m and I should be able to tell you more. Look for stock proofs, matching numbers, proofs around the barrel and receiver area, etc.

By the way be careful with that original sling that leather is old and can be very fragile.