GEW 91 info

[7up]

Hi there, not seen many of these come up in the UK. Should i be all over this?

Be interested to know more, so appreciate any info please !

 

[chrisftk]

It's actually not a Kar88... it's a Gew91 (note the siderail and the stacking hook). These were a variant of the Kar88 purpose built for foot artillery regiments. Significantly harder to find. This one also looks to have been rebarrelled at some point post 1903/04 by a depot (note the fireproof on the receiver) these did not leave the factory with a receiver proof. They just had to add one if they did work warranting a reproof after the new requirements came into effect (early Gew 98s also didn't have a receiver proof)

There are some British proofs on the rear sight, but I wouldn't let that bug me in the least.

 

[7up]

Thanks Chris , knew you would likely reply !
This is priced pretty high, £1400.
What cartridge / bullet for this, .323 or .318? Or is it a slug job to see. Can see these are known boom sticks !

 

[7up]

It's actually not a Kar88... it's a Gew91 (note the siderail and the stacking hook). These were a variant of the Kar88 purpose built for foot artillery regiments. Significantly harder to find. This one also looks to have been rebarrelled at some point post 1903/04 by a depot (note the fireproof on the receiver) these did not leave the factory with a receiver proof. They just had to add one if they did work warranting a reproof after the new requirements came into effect (early Gew 98s also didn't have a receiver proof)

There are some British proofs on the rear sight, but I wouldn't let that bug me in the least.

Hi Chris, being a G91 is this a go and get now rifle in your view ?
I fancy another boomstick , but have an eye on that G33/40 as well.

 

[chrisftk]

Thanks Chris , knew you would likely reply !
This is priced pretty high, £1400.
What cartridge / bullet for this, .323 or .318? Or is it a slug job to see. Can see these are known boom sticks !

Don't get hung up on the bore diameter misinformation. These were chambered in Patrone 88.

You'll see a heck of a lot more 33/40s than Gew91s. I would instead ask yourself what you are looking to collect. There are a lot of options in this hobby.

 

[7up]

Don't get hung up on the bore diameter misinformation. These were chambered in Patrone 88.

You'll see a heck of a lot more 33/40s than Gew91s. I would instead ask yourself what you are looking to collect. There are a lot of options in this hobby.

Yep too many, I like pretty much everything !

£1400 is a lot . Will give some thought. Cheers again

 

[Gew 98]

Although the price is a little high but I guess what isn't these days lol. It's a nice original piece with a uncommon maker, most I see are Erfurts including mine. The unit marking translates to 11th field artillery if I got that correct lol. It appears they fought heavily in the eastern front and transferred later to the western front towards the end of the war. I probably would pick it up if I were you.

 

[ernie8]

Even though it was chambered in P-88 , it was cleared to fire S ammo . Since no Gew-91's went to Turkey or SA and it has a German barrel on it and it has no Z stamp . It will have [ 99.9 % chance ] the original .311 land / .3208 groove size barrel . I do not know what ammo you have to pick from [ England ? ] A .318 bullet will shoot in it but I would not spend extra or that if you could get some ammo with .321 dia bullets like the older Remington or Winchester 8x57mm , or if you reload use the .321 Win special bullets . Original S ammo also had a . 321 main body bullet . I would not shoot .323 sS ammo in it . What surplus can you get ?

 

[7up]

Even though it was chambered in P-88 , it was cleared to fire S ammo . Since no Gew-91's went to Turkey or SA and it has a German barrel on it and it has no Z stamp . It will have [ 99.9 % chance ] the original .311 land / .3208 groove size barrel . I do not know what ammo you have to pick from [ England ? ] A .318 bullet will shoot in it but I would not spend extra or that if you could get some ammo with .321 dia bullets like the older Remington or Winchester 8x57mm , or if you reload use the .321 Win special bullets . Original S ammo also had a . 321 main body bullet . I would not shoot .323 sS ammo in it . What surplus can you get ?

Thanks, no surplus it's all gone or sucked up by traders. I once had a SA gew88 with Czech barrel. Think that had .316gd , so i sized down jacketed .323s with custom lee sizer (and lots of lube!) . Just purchased a vitali m1870, just now so money taken a hit. Hmm are kar88s much less desirable than g91s?

 

[biggymu]

91’s are rare enough but with their original stacking hook are not common at all, as many had them removed at a later time.

 

[cj556]

I can't speak for the UK but I've seen matching examples pull north of 2k in the US FWIW.

 

[7up]

a

I can't speak for the UK but I've seen matching examples pull north of 2k in the US FWIW.

That will hurt me know knowing that !!
In comparison , I can get a Kar88 potentially from auction and save a lot of money in doing so, but it sounds like 91's are way up there in rarety ?

 

[cj556]

a

That will hurt me know knowing that !!
In comparison , I can get a Kar88 potentially from auction and save a lot of money in doing so, but it sounds like 91's are way up there in rarety ?

I see probably 5-10 nice Kar 88s for every Gew 91 in the states. IMO this one being a VCS (rarest maker AFAIK) w/ the Prussian eagle is even more neat.

 

[7up]

I see probably 5-10 nice Kar 88s for every Gew 91 in the states. IMO this one being a VCS (rarest maker AFAIK) w/ the Prussian eagle is even more neat.

Thanks ! Right then I'll check to see if its still available one sec. I may well be the minority here, but they do look ugly ?

 

[PrayingMantis]

Thanks ! Right then I'll check to see if its still available one sec. I may well be the minority here, but they do look ugly ?

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but get it in hand and i think you'll appreciate how light and easy to handle they are.
To answer the question though i think they look cool.

 

[7up]

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but get it in hand and i think you'll appreciate how light and easy to handle they are.
To answer the question though i think they look cool.

Thanks, shame they are not so light on the money hah!
Anyhow , lets see if I can overcome my inner demons

 

[biggymu]

I’ve been itching to shoot mine to experience a full power 8mm round in such a light carbine. I think I will lash it to a tree for the first shot.

 

[ernie8]

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but get it in hand and i think you'll appreciate how light and easy to handle they are.
To answer the question though i think they look cool.

Why is he still posting after his remarks yesterday ? I thought there were rules about that kind of language ?

 

[7up]

I’ve been itching to shoot mine to experience a full power 8mm round in such a light carbine. I think I will lash it to a tree for the first shot.

Yeah ive seen the recoil and flames on these, insane, you would easily mistaken them for the artillery back in the day ?

 

[ernie8]

I’ve been itching to shoot mine to experience a full power 8mm round in such a light carbine. I think I will lash it to a tree for the first shot.

Even though many G-91's and K-88's were S stamped and cleared to fire S ammo , that was not popular . They still kept to P-88 ammo even in WWI if possible . With original German WWI S ammo the muzzle blast is very noticeable , with P-88 it is not that bad from my personal test shooting .