Amberg 1916 - Matching - Stock Question - Untouched?

[PatickD]

Hi guys,

Recently picked up this really nice 1916 Amberg Gew 98. All matching (externally).

The stock has me stumped though. I can’t tell if it has been lightly sanded and or cleaned? The stock is very smooth to the touch.

I have 20 days to send the rifle back. If it is indeed messed with. I was hoping this was going to replace my 1917 Amberg (will sell that one here). As overall this is in better condition.

Thanks for any thoughts,
-D

 

[PatickD]

More photos:

 

[biggymu]

Nice rifle! From the pictures, the way the sheen appears evenly across the wood surface it almost looks like a satin finish was applied. Sprayed on and then rubbed or tongue oil? The valleys in the grain look filled somehow. The gloss in the ends of the finger grooves.

 

[PatickD]

Nice rifle! From the pictures, the way the sheen appears evenly across the wood surface it almost looks like a satin finish was applied. Sprayed on and then rubbed or tongue oil? The valleys in the grain look filled somehow. The gloss in the ends of the finger grooves.

I was almost thinking something was applied. Then removed.

I’ve seen a few examples that also appear to have water damage that make the cartouches softer.

If it is indeed messed with, that’s a shame. Bore is excellent. Even the cleaning rod is matching.

Thanks for the thoughts,
-D

 

[biggymu]

If it had indeed been messed with, it is tastefully done and doesn’t detract too much from a nice example of a rare maker/ date. Congratulations by the way

 

[PatickD]

No pitting (externally). Parts are mostly in the “white”. Probably the highest condition one I’ve handled. Crappy photos of said rifle:

 

[Philip]

I guess we have reached a point that if a firearm was heavily used it was “messed with”. It’s a natural progression of things when mint unissued becomes the baseline. On a stock like this it is very subjective (Academic word for guesswork) as to what wear and care something received during its service life and what might have been done to to it after it left service. We know that the US army TM on M1 rifles ( and all other rifles) instructed soldiers to use sandpaper/Emory cloth ….which is sand paper, to remove rough scrapes in stocks, wipe down with wet or damp cloths to clean and wipe with raw linseed oil….so they were directed to “mess with them”. We also know that German soldiers oiled, waxed and polished stocks as a fairly common practice particularly but not limited to the 1920s-30s. We know this because many photos of said rifles in period photos almost cause retina burns and more so because repeated regulations instructed them to quit doing it!! Instead they were to occasionally lightly oil with linseed oil or a few others depending on what was available…..that is the period directives not gunshow or forum lore.

 

[PrayingMantis]

1916 Amberg 155p

Thought I would post pics of a recent pickup, I’ve finally been able to find and add an Imperial GW 98 back to my collection. I sold off my Imperial Rifles several years ago to fund other purchases and regretted almost immediately. I’ve been looking for a nice matched example for a few years and...

www.k98kforum.com

 

[OnlyMil]

If only these rifles could talk, am I right? It's difficult to say for certain what this rifle has been through, other than the War. From my novice opinion, it appears to be a "cleaned" example. Maybe someone in the 80s found it in an attic or a barn, and it had some rust so they "cleaned" it. I am a little surprised to see how evenly the barrel bands and triggerguard have worn. Maybe the finish wore off naturally? Looking at the stock, there appears to be scoring marks at least on the right side of the butt, but I am no expert. This rifle was not sanded and then refinished into oblivion like a lot of stocks I've personally seen. The finger grooves look slightly rounded? Albeit I have a Danzig G98M that has a very light stock and similarly rounded finger grooves that I know rather confidently was not sanded. The markings are just worn.

This is still a matching rifle. Looks factory matching too. If the bore is immaculate, it would make for a great all-matching shooter. Unless you paid some crazy price, I'd say it is worth keeping if you can hold on to it.

 

[PatickD]

If only these rifles could talk, am I right? It's difficult to say for certain what this rifle has been through, other than the War. From my novice opinion, it appears to be a "cleaned" example. Maybe someone in the 80s found it in an attic or a barn, and it had some rust so they "cleaned" it. I am a little surprised to see how evenly the barrel bands and triggerguard have worn. Maybe the finish wore off naturally? Looking at the stock, there appears to be scoring marks at least on the right side of the butt, but I am no expert. This rifle was not sanded and then refinished into oblivion like a lot of stocks I've personally seen. The finger grooves look slightly rounded? Albeit I have a Danzig G98M that has a very light stock and similarly rounded finger grooves that I know rather confidently was not sanded. The markings are just worn.

This is still a matching rifle. Looks factory matching too. If the bore is immaculate, it would make for a great all-matching shooter. Unless you paid some crazy price, I'd say it is worth keeping if you can hold on to it.

Good point, thanks for taking the time to mark up the photo. I see exactly what you are talking about.

I paid about $2300-ish for the rifle.

Not sure what I will do with the rifle yet…

 

[ottodog8]

I would describe the stock as lightly cleaned. It is too smooth, and the edges of the grasping grooves are slightly rounded. The markings are still very legible. If the metal had a lot of finish, the stock would be problematic.But not in this case. Looking at the whole package, it”s a nice looking piece. The cleaned stock detracts, but only slightly in this case.

 

[OnlyMil]

Good point, thanks for taking the time to mark up the photo. I see exactly what you are talking about.

I paid about $2300-ish for the rifle.

Not sure what I will do with the rifle yet…

No problem, Gewehr 98s are a minefield after all.

 

[luftpirate]

If I had to guess it looks like it had some thick shellac or urethane on it that was later steel wooled or lightly sanded off leaving all the pores. depressions, cartouches, filled. I have one that looks exactly like that. It doesn't bother me as much as a sanded k98 stock, for some reason there seems to be a lot of gewehr stocks that look like this.

 

[PatickD]

Thanks for everyones thought and confirmation. My gut told me it was cleaned. Once I had it in hand.

I couldn’t tell from the photos of the listing though. Sometimes worth gambling, and loosing.

I will be sending it back. Unless someone wants to buy it for $2300 shipped (less than my OG cost) lol?