Favorite Imperial Acquisition of 2023

[chrisftk]

Ok, we'll try something a little different. There's been a lot of great rifles posted in 2023 (and I know of a bunch of neat things that people got but haven't posted). Let see what everyone's favorite acquisition is.

Here are the rules:
1) One rifle only. No laundry lists or "so hard to pick just one..."

2) Post at least one picture (feel free to link to a thread too if you posted earlier in the year. Sometimes one gets missed and people might like to see)

3) Tell us why it's your favorite. It's not a contest and doesn't have to be something rare!


Here is my contribution. My favorite imperial acquisition this year was the 1915 JPS I bought this spring.



The reason why it's my favorite is that it survived the war in factory matching condition (save cleaning rod) and in generally great shape. It's a hard year to find a JPS of any stripe, let alone this original. Being a Consortium fan and one that appreciates JPS in particular, it was a nice find. To any who missed it, here's the full spread from earlier this year:

1915 JP Sauer & Sohn 5222b

Hi All, I've always been partial to JPS Gew98s, so when this one popped up I went for it. I have another 1915, but it's essentially a Bavarian depot rebuild, so I was hoping for a pureblood to round out my other matching JPS herd. I paid MSRP, but I don't regret it now that I have it in hand...

www.k98kforum.com

 

[joryfreeburg]

Ok…. I will play. I have really fallen for 98a’s. This one is in all matching condition. It’s not a rare Maker/date, but it is in fine condition and good enough to be a text book rifle…

1917 Erfurt Kar98a mm block

Here is a really nice rifle that was offered to me privately kinda out of the blue. I saw just a few quick cellphone photos of it and decided just to buy it. The rifle is in original 1917 form without any alterations or reworking, 100% matching…. I will let the photos do the talking on this...

www.k98kforum.com

 

[Fal Grunt]

Definitely:

S&S 1871 For Further Research

I bought this interesting rifle at an auction recently, and was not the rifle I was watching the auction for. It went for a very reasonable price, and after I started looking at it, the more I looked at it, the further I was drawn in. So drawn in that I completely missed the rifle I had planned...

www.k98kforum.com

Probably the cheapest rifle that will get posted here but I really enjoyed picking it up and researching it. Looking forward to getting the fore end repaired and a load worked up for it. It's uniqueness really made it my favorite. Sometimes the oddball that doesn't fit is more interesting to me than well known, well documented, rifles. Suppose it speaks to my personality!

 

[chrisftk]

It has been a slow year for me and that is fine. I acquired two items. My favorite item is a KS98 bayonet used by the Schutztruppe of Kamerun. I got this bayonet from Ted. Anything Schutztruppen related to Kamerun can be hard to find.

KS98 marked: S.K.7.103. (Schutz. Kamerun, 7 Feldkompagnie, Waffe Nr. 103). Colonial Issue Kurzes sawback with leather grips, made by Erfurt, W07.

View attachment 376379

I said rifles but this gets to count lol!

 

[bnz41john]

I technically acquired four imperial items this year, so to me a better year then last for imperial stuff. Here's to hoping I can finally get a decent mostly original gew98 in 2024!

Here's a project I picked up this year. Almost worthless in comparison to the gems being posted here! Sadly sporterized, but this is the only one I picked up recently with intact receiver markings to show off! Haha

 

[PrayingMantis]

It was tough, but since I posted the 1902 Amberg elsewhere I’ll go with the Dresden, because it was the last i need to complete the maker (Amberg, Danzig, Erfurt, Spandau, DWM, WMO, WOK, Suhler Consortium, Simson) plus assembler (Hannover, Dresden) set. Next to complete the sterns!

Gewehr 98 Dresden Spandau 1916/17 4517

Dresden assembled Gewehr 98 on a Spandau receiver made by Siemens und Halske. Interesting to see the different acceptance throughout. The purely Saxon acceptance seems to be c/K; it shows up on the receiver, triggerguard, and stock. It has many acceptance that typically show up on 1917...

www.k98kforum.com

 

[Warrior1354]

I would say the Erfurt 1911/14 kar98a would be my pick. It was just so completely unexpected, and fresh out of the wood work. Plus a piece I was never on the hunt for. I would have counted another one I bought. But, it's not in my hands yet so it doesn't count to me.

1911/14 Erfurt Kar98a

This 98a carbine was a stroke of pure luck early this month, and from a good friend as well. I received a phone call late in June from a buddy of mine. He bought a small collection of military rifles from a 87 year old gentleman in Kentucky. He was selling his collection to move down to Florida...

www.k98kforum.com

 

[cj556]

For a multitude of reasons this 1905 DWM Gew 98 is my favorite of the year. I’ve wanted an early army issued DWM for a good while, the unit it was issued to saw extensive service in many famous battles and finally I bid on it at auction earlier in the year and lost but it again surfaced on a well known dealers page for less than the auction hammer price. https://www.k98kforum.com/threads/1905-dwm-gew-98-unit-marked.57366/

 

[chrisftk]

Some damn nice stuff in 2023!

@bnz41john -- good to see you looking more at this boring imperial stuff Jack!

@Fal Grunt I still think that thing is wild, but I like any Sauer-related curiousities haha.

@everyone else: I reaffirm all the nice things I said when I saw these the first time. Some really great acquisitions--Much luck to you in 2024.

Who else has something to share?

 

[mauser1908]

Lots of great rifles above! Choosing my favorite acquisition of 2023 was a no brainer. It's this late, blued, Amberg 1918. I sub-collect late war gewehr 98s; a blued 1918 dated rifle has been something I've been trying to add for years.

Broadly, it's one of my favorite rifles for a few reasons. 1. It was made extremely late, Amberg broke into the 'h' block by November. This gun being a low f block was likely made in the autumn of 1918, so very late. 2. The crappy beech stock and visible solder splash under the woodline. 3. The visible tool chatter/ cutter burns on the stock (very rare for an Imperial Era gun).




Here is the link to the post:

Amberg 1918 Bookends, 1117f

Hi Everyone, I've been absent for a while and I've got a couple rifles to post. This late Amberg 1918 is my most recent. This gun was a big deal for me, I enjoy late war items due to the diverse array of features one can encounter. A blued receiver was one that's evaded me for a while now and...

www.k98kforum.com

 

[OzzMan]

My pick for the year is the 1905 DWM I got earlier this year. It’s not matching but it scratched the itch of a pioneer Gewehr. Marked to the 23rd pioneer battalion. From the research I was doing, they were the 2nd West Prussian Pioneer unit. They were a fortress pioneer unit. Founded in 1907 when the higher ups in the German Army were imagining using pioneers armed with trench mortars, flamethrowers, and other special explosives to bust through the enemies fortifications.

 

[Warrior1354]

My pick for the year is the 1905 DWM I got earlier this year. It’s not matching but it scratched the itch of a pioneer Gewehr. Marked to the 23rd pioneer battalion. From the research I was doing, they were the 2nd West Prussian Pioneer unit. They were a fortress pioneer unit. Founded in 1907 when the higher ups in the German Army were imagining using pioneers armed with trench mortars, flamethrowers, and other special explosives to bust through the enemies fortifications.
View attachment 376536View attachment 376537

Hell yeah I'm happy for you brother. I know you have been looking for one of those for quite some time. Been a hell of year for you!

 

[OnlyMil]

Some pretty awesome Gewehr's and Kar's posted up here, what a great year! Nice to see them all collected together.

I only posted one rifle in 2023 and it was something I didn't expect: https://www.k98kforum.com/threads/an-unissued-1889-belgian-mauser-timepiece.56041/

A very nice factory matching Belgian 1889 long rifle by FN. My favorite because it's such a looker and not something you see every day. Don't think I'll ever see another quite like it!

I have a few other rifles that I've been meaning to share but wanted to wait until I had a proper setup to take photos. Good news is that the setup is in, and so should have some stuff posted up soon. Looking forward to even more great threads from everyone in 2024

 

[AN-94]

A bunch of nice rifles posted here, 2023 was a good year for Imperial weapons! I spent the last year learning as much as I could about Imperial rifles thanks to all the rifles that have been posted here but didn't have any luck in getting one. This forum has been a wealth of information that is not often found and a fantastic reference! I did pick this up thanks to some forum members for my birthday which made for a pretty sweet gift to myself. Also got a bayonet but it's still in the mail so doesn't count for 2023. Looking forward to seeing what everyone picks up this year! Here's to hoping for a Gewehr 98 or a Kar 98A for myself for 2024.

 

[FREEDMAN1979]

hello all! This one is my personal favorite and first K98a for me. Unfortunately it looks like the bluing has been touched up and someone attempted to cold blue the bolt… however it’s all matching and has an amazing bore. I was a little bummed I couldn’t find any unit markings on the rifle however I’m happy that it shoots well! Also I’m new to K98a’s, please if anyone sees anything interesting in the pictures let me know as I’m still researching all the markings on it!

 

[chrisftk]

hello all! This one is my personal favorite and first K98a for me. Unfortunately it looks like the bluing has been touched up and someone attempted to cold blue the bolt… however it’s all matching and has an amazing bore. I was a little bummed I couldn’t find any unit markings on the rifle however I’m happy that it shoots well! Also I’m new to K98a’s, please if anyone sees anything interesting in the pictures let me know as I’m still researching all the markings on it!

Looks like a nice example of a wartime Erfurt 98a. They made a lot of them during 15-18, but yours looks to be in pretty good condition.

Are you sure it's cold blue on the bolt? Does it have the distinctive cold blue smell? People mistake 100 years of patina for bluing all the time. Here's how you can tell--- take the bolt out of the rifle and go to town on it with BRASS, BRONZE or COPPER wool (NO STEEL!!!!)--- cold blue gets shredded and removed by soft metals like brass or copper. If it doesn't come off from that it's just patina and can be left alone.

Regarding unit markings- don't be disappointed, wartime unit markings are very rare-- the practice was abandoned on a large scale on the outbreak of war. While it continued at some level, it became significantly less frequent and the standards changed. I do have two unit marked 98a from 16-17, but they are very much the rare exception rather than the rule. Unit markings can be a bit overrated too-- while neat to have, I'd never tun down a righteous gun because of lack of one.

Please do a detailed thread on your rifle if you have time-- from the limited pics, the markings look pretty textbook to me.

 

[FREEDMAN1979]

Looks like a nice example of a wartime Erfurt 98a. They made a lot of them during 15-18, but yours looks to be in pretty good condition.

Are you sure it's cold blue on the bolt? Does it have the distinctive cold blue smell? People mistake 100 years of patina for bluing all the time. Here's how you can tell--- take the bolt out of the rifle and go to town on it with BRASS, BRONZE or COPPER wool (NO STEEL!!!!)--- cold blue gets shredded and removed by soft metals like brass or copper. If it doesn't come off from that it's just patina and can be left alone.

Regarding unit markings- don't be disappointed, wartime unit markings are very rare-- the practice was abandoned on a large scale on the outbreak of war. While it continued at some level, it became significantly less frequent and the standards changed. I do have two unit marked 98a from 16-17, but they are very much the rare exception rather than the rule. Unit markings can be a bit overrated too-- while neat to have, I'd never tun down a righteous gun because of lack of one.

Please do a detailed thread on your rifle if you have time-- from the limited pics, the markings look pretty textbook to me.

Thank you! I’ll post a thread on it with some more pictures. Bolt definitely smells like cold blue and is coming off with a rag and light pressure.

 

[RoscoeTurner]

My favorite imperial rifle acquisition would have to be the all matching 1916 Danzig Gew98 I purchased at the AGCA show in October. Still have to make the time for taking photos of it.

 

[ChrisG43]

My 1888 Spandau, I'm more of a WW2 collector, but obviously couldn't pass this up...

 

[RoscoeTurner]

Lots of great rifles above! Choosing my favorite acquisition of 2023 was a no brainer. It's this late, blued, Amberg 1918. I sub-collect late war gewehr 98s; a blued 1918 dated rifle has been something I've been trying to add for years.

Broadly, it's one of my favorite rifles for a few reasons. 1. It was made extremely late, Amberg broke into the 'h' block by November. This gun being a low f block was likely made in the autumn of 1918, so very late. 2. The crappy beech stock and visible solder splash under the woodline. 3. The visible tool chatter/ cutter burns on the stock (very rare for an Imperial Era gun).


View attachment 376452View attachment 376453View attachment 376451View attachment 376450

Here is the link to the post:

Amberg 1918 Bookends, 1117f

Hi Everyone, I've been absent for a while and I've got a couple rifles to post. This late Amberg 1918 is my most recent. This gun was a big deal for me, I enjoy late war items due to the diverse array of features one can encounter. A blued receiver was one that's evaded me for a while now and...

www.k98kforum.com

What type camera and lense are you using for the full length photos?