1916 VCS 7074 b

[joryfreeburg]

Well here goes my first photo post of an Imperial rifle. I have been buying a few good Gew98’s here and there when I run into a good candidate for my collection. I have been fortunate enough to make a couple adoptions from Mike as he likes to call them, that helped kick start my Imperial rifles. On this rifle I was nudged into buying it by a prominent Imperial poster here on the forum… Thanks for the shove in the back Chris!!! This rifle is mostly matching sans rear sight leaf, the sight slider, the rear trigger guard screw, floor plate, hand guard, butt plate, and the cleaning rod. It’s interesting to me that the butt plate is unmarked. The butt plate and the receiver were cleaned at one point but I don’t believe to an objectionable level. The stock on this example is a beautiful piece of wood with a cool dark line in the wood on the right side. Hopefully I can muster a passing grade for my first attempt at a Imperial rifle photo post…. As always if I missed something and you want to see it, please ask and I will provide…

Receiver 7074 b
Barrel 7074 b
Front Sight 74
Rear Sight Leaf 99
Sight Slider 68
Ejector Box 74
Trigger sear 74
Front barrel band 74
Rear barrel band 74
Trigger guard 7074
Trigger guard screws 46 rear 74 front
Floor plate 70
Follower 74
Stock 7074 b
Hand guard 47
Buttplate blank
Bayonet lug 74
Cleaning rod 54
Bolt body 7074 b
Extractor 74
Safety 74
Cocking piece 74
Bolt sleeve 74
Firing pin 74

 

[joryfreeburg]

More photos:

 

[joryfreeburg]

Last few:

 

[chrisftk]

Jory, great example from a pretty scarce maker. Individually, the Suhl Consortium firms were low production. Combined, they probably made no more than 500k, which is still small considering the massive output by some of the arsenals, WMO and DWM. Schilling was the smallest of the three. Good Suhlers with original bolt and stock are very tricky.

We've pretty much narrowed down that the three firms in the Consortium cooperated on material production. The crown/b on the bolt and receiver are indicative of Haenel, JPS barrel and the stock acceptance is total Schilling

The rear sight leaf was a very common replacement on these, given it's raised profile and fragility. The floorplate is probably is the second most commonly mm part, anecdotally-extended mags, loss, etc played a role there. I think the buttplate was just very corroded, taking the SN and possible depot stamp with it when it was cleaned. I wouldn't let that bug me. Check the top overhang of the buttplate. There might still be a letter suffix there. If it matches, it's the original BP. Frankly, due to the heavy Depot work on these, I'm happy if the bolt, stock and triggerguard are original to the rifle. The rest is a bonus lol.

Thanks for taking good photos! It's nice to add another suhler. Appreciate you using the datasheet, and you certainly get passing marks for your first Gew98 post!

 

[mauser1908]

That’s a wonderful VCS, Jory! It’s really a text book example. VCS was probably the most crude firm in the Consortium. This rifle displays that well, and I specifically like that about this rifle. The misaligned bolt acceptance and “Gew 98” roll marking.

 

[joryfreeburg]

Hey guys,
I this not the barrel code?

 

[chrisftk]

Hey guys,
I this not the barrel code?

Sure is, I saw it after I wrote my first post--You get a perfect photo score. My mistake lol!

 

[feldmütze]

Excellent pickup & photo spread!

 

[PrayingMantis]

Great score, Jory! Thanks for sharing the photos; i added it to the reference.

 

[joryfreeburg]

Thanks for all the kind remarks guys!

 

[chrisftk]

Thanks for all the kind remarks guys!

Any time man! A VCS in pretty original shape is something a lot of collectors want, but not many have!