1918 Amberg Gew 98M EWB Stamped Rifle

[noeld003]

I picked up a Gew 98 today with an EWB stamp on it. It is a Gew 98 with a modified rear sight with S/42 and the same serial as the reciever/barrel etc stamped on it so I assume an arsenal replacement (upgrade to G98M?). Numbers appear at first glance to match except the bolt, the guy at LGS thought it was a decent rifle except for the "jackass that burned his initials into the stock" which is obviously the Einwohnerwehr Bayern stamp. Question is, what is the value of GEW98 in this config knowing it's history? It is not 1920 stamped

 

[AN-94]

I would like to see more photos of this Gew98M before giving out a value as there are some things that might increase value (bolt being an armorer's bolt, etc.). The stock looks like it might have been lightly sanded to me given how weak the Imperial proofs are but I'd like to see more before owning that claim, especially if there's any depot stamps on the stock. That glimpse of a barrel code looks a rebarrel to me, possibly a JPS/Haenel barrel on the rifle. This one seems to retain the narrow Imperial rear band instead of the later wide band that you often find on these.

 

[Loewe]

Problems...

EWB + Spandau/18 receiver? 1918 Spandau almost always = postwar... the fp supports this in this case (Spandau + EWB is as rare as discovering an honest politician... they simply do not exist - probably...)

*** need more pictures to say more or any certainty.

 

[Cyrano4747]

Were many EWB branded guns put through the 98m program? It feels like the EWB guns are usually a basic Gew98, which makes sense given the timeline.

Any sign of a serial on the stock? My initial thought is that the stock might have been swapped on later.

 

[noeld003]

Here are a few more pics of some of the serials/barrel stamps. There is what appears to be a serial on the stock behind the rear sling swivel but tough to see, and agree it could have been sanded at some point. The buttplate has the same serial, but of course anything could be faked, you just never know. What additional pics would be most helpful in identifying what I've got here? No import marks, forgot to snap a closer pic of the rear sight but can do that too

 

[Loewe]

Do the right side of receiver (will ID the receiver maker at least- S&H were more in use early, Peiper were usually cobble togethers later in the timeline)

Close up of the barrel markings and serial-fp might give some idea of whether this was ever "reworked" from a salvaged rifle; my bet is that this was a build from a leftover receiver, if a Peiper receiver this is more probable. (I agree largely with the nose of Cyrano here...)