German Mauser 98, unknown

Cyrano pretty much detailed everything correctly. The 7 is a gunmakers assembly numbers. Without the original barrel we can't know much more than that.

This is a typical pre-war rifle, probably Suhl area, recycling some Gewehr 98 parts.

It may have even gone through more than one rebuild. Hard to say with the pictures and what is left.
 
Cyrano4747 said:
Well at the very least I'll say the "27" was probably written by a continental European so that's a point in favor of the stock being original to the gun. If the rebarreling had been done over there and later than the majority of the work we're looking at I'd expect it to have been re-proofed. They're a lot stricter about that, especially in Germany.
Click to expand...
Hi Cyrano4747.
Was hoping to possibly ask you a couple more questions if possible?
Was wondering if you can shed any more light on the inspection stamps? One on the firing pin, one on the cap on end of bolt mainly.
From what I have researched they appear to be inspectors stamp from Erfurt arsenal, and not sure if they are the same or different ( firing pin is clear). And I believe, imperial with inspectors initials written in fraktur letters. If you could set me straight on all that, it would be great.
Also there is a stamp bottom of receiver that kinda looks like a bowtie , and have no idea of it meaning. And as you said before, scrubbed and renumbered.
There is the number 7 stamped over what I wonder might be an SS marking. Anything you could tell me about those marks would be interesting to learn as well.
Will attach a couple more pics.
Thanks
 
bert22 said:
Hi Cyrano4747.
Was hoping to possibly ask you a couple more questions if possible?
Was wondering if you can shed any more light on the inspection stamps? One on the firing pin, one on the cap on end of bolt mainly.
From what I have researched they appear to be inspectors stamp from Erfurt arsenal, and not sure if they are the same or different ( firing pin is clear). And I believe, imperial with inspectors initials written in fraktur letters. If you could set me straight on all that, it would be great.
Also there is a stamp bottom of receiver that kinda looks like a bowtie , and have no idea of it meaning. And as you said before, scrubbed and renumbered.
There is the number 7 stamped over what I wonder might be an SS marking. Anything you could tell me about those marks would be interesting to learn as well.
Will attach a couple more pics.
Thanks
Click to expand...

Sorry, can't help you much. Most of the markings you're asking about are manufacturing process marks the meaning of which has been lost to time. You're right that that inspector's mark shows up on Erfurt rifles, but I believe the stamps were issued to the inspector not the factory and as such moved around with the inspectors. I don't know if that one stayed at Erfurt or if it moved around. That said, it's kind of a moot point as we have no real indication if those parts are original to the gun or not. Too much has been scrubbed, really the only thing you can trust to tell the full story on that gun is the receiver.

What do you mean by "an SS marking?" I think I see a 7 overstamped up-side-down on two number 2's on the inside of the floorplate. Again, those are likely just more process stamps.

It would be interesting to see if those process stamps could be better traced, but I'm not aware of any serious work that has been done to trend them. I try to snap pictures of them when I have my guns out of the wood just for my own records, but I've never seen a study done on a forum to try and trend them or anything like that. Frankly, they're of little interest to most collectors for the simple reason that the visible markings on the outside of the gun tell you most of the really important history (manufacturer, year, acceptance, refurb status, etc) and if those markings have been obliterated most collectors aren't interested in the gun. It's certainly an area for further research, but one that I don't think will get too much traction just because of the priorities in the community - knowing what stamps are correct for an Erfurt rifle in 1910 vs 1915 vs a Spandau gun from the same years might help you identify a scrubbed receiver, but that's about it.
 
To give you an idea of how little we can be sure that those bolt parts belong together - it's not uncommon to find bolts that have firing pins, bolt shrouds, safety, cocking piece, etc. that all match each other but don't match the bolt body. It's pretty easily to keep all those parts together in one and throw the assembly into a bolt body if you're rebuilding stuff. It's quite possible that the bolt body, bolt parts, and receiver are all from three different rifles. The people building these sporting guns out of scrap from the war didn't care about keeping them matching the way we do.
 
You are correct, I was referring to the double 2's with the 7 stamped over. Fancy 2's, and I am brand new to all of this, but learning quickly.
And I have no intention on parting with it, or my others. Just want to learn the history and enjoy it.
Been a pleasure, and I might possibly reach out for advice when I get to the next one.
Thanks again.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top