Gewehr 98 Erfurt 1902 7446d

[PrayingMantis]

I’ve had this beast for over a decade. It came rough as can be, I get it out every once in a while and work on it some. (I stick to Ballistol and bronze wool; it’s time consuming.) Finally I got the rear sight loosened up, so figured time for a new round of photos.

This came out of Arizona, the owner tried to sell the stock on its own, but I talked him into selling the whole Gew. It had a museum accession number on it when I got it. It’s a pretty interesting early Erfurt. Rear sight updated but it lacks the receiver fireproof. The disk had been flipped, so I pried it out and was pleasantly surprised to find an incomplete Ostasiatisches mark.

ERFURT 1902

Receiver 7446d c/E c/L c/N
Barrel 7446d c/D c/D c/D BO. 86.
Front Sight 46
Rear Sight Leaf 46
Sight Slider 46
Sight Slider Tabs unnumbered
Ejector Box 46
Trigger Sear 46
Front Barrel Band 46 c/E
Rear Barrel Band 46 c/E
Rear Barrel Band Loop c/E
Trigger guard 7446
Trigger Guard Screws 46, 46
Floor Plate 46
Follower 46
Stock 7446
Disk O. 158.
Handguard 7446
Buttplate 7446
Bayonet Lug 46
Cleaning Rod 44

 

[PrayingMantis]

Barrel and sights.

 

[PrayingMantis]

Triggerguard, magazine assembly, and barrel bands.

 

[PrayingMantis]

Stock metal.

 

[PrayingMantis]

Stock and handguard.

 

[chrisftk]

Cyrus, great early Erfurt.

Love the likely unused East Asian marking too. Fantastic find! These 1902 Erfurts are good luck. If you recall, it was mine I found an Alpenkorps unit on.

Thanks for re-photoing!

 

[OnlyMil]

Still has the mud from where it saw service!! Righteous. Love that bluing on the barrel hiding under the wood.

 

[OzzMan]

Looks like an Obercommando unit. Or main headquarters army unit.

 

[PrayingMantis]

Looks like an Obercommando unit. Or main headquarters army unit.

I have Jeff Noll’s book, too. When I first got this Gew the speculation was Oberkommando or Ostasiatisches, then someone showed me this bayonet that is marked the same way. Both are Erfurts and are consistent with slightky earlier ones that have full Ostasiatisches marks. Seems more likely that the mark was never completed because the expedition ended, if it had been issued to an Oberkommando unit that wasn’t disbanded it probably would have been completely filled out. Also no other Gews marked to an Oberkommando have surfaced, unless you know of one?

 

[OzzMan]

I have Jeff Noll’s book, too. When I first got this Gew the speculation was Oberkommando or Ostasiatisches, then someone showed me this bayonet that is marked the same way. Both are Erfurts and are consistent with slightky earlier ones that have full Ostasiatisches marks. Seems more likely that the mark was never completed because the expedition ended, if it had been issued to an Oberkommando unit that wasn’t disbanded it probably would have been completely filled out. Also no other Gews marked to an Oberkommando have surfaced, unless you know of one?

What year is the bayonet?

 

[PrayingMantis]

What year is the bayonet?

Can’t remember off the top of my head, but it’s an Alte Art.

 

[OzzMan]

Can’t remember off the top of my head, but it’s an Alte Art.

If you do get the chance, knowing the year would be hopeful.

 

[PrayingMantis]

If you do get the chance, knowing the year would be hopeful.

How so? its aA, that means either 99, 00, 01, or 02.

Check out this website, it shows a few bayonets that were marked after the brigade disbanded: http://www.germancolonialuniforms.co.uk/militaria/bayonets oaek.htm

 

[OzzMan]

How so? its aA, that means either 99, 00, 01, or 02.

If it were a 1902 it would make sense that the unit marking wouldn’t have been completed. Similar to your rifle. If it were a different year than 1902 it would raise further questions.

Interesting link. Thanks for sharing. Always neat to learn more on bayonets.

 

[mauser1908]

It’s a wonderful rifle Cyrus! I would be proud to own an early Erfurt like this. I’m inclined to believe that it’s an East Asian Expeditionary marking, it’s not a mystery that many early Erfurts and Spandaus went specific places like Garde, Ostasiatisches, and Schutztruppe. I think Oberkommando, is a marking almost exclusively reserved for handguns. Maybe extra guards would have carried rifles, but they almost certainly would have been tasked from a subordinate unit and would have showed up armed.

 

[OzzMan]

It’s a wonderful rifle Cyrus! I would be proud to own an early Erfurt like this. I’m inclined to believe that it’s an East Asian Expeditionary marking, it’s not a mystery that many early Erfurts and Spandaus went specific places like Garde, Ostasiatisches, and Schutztruppe. I think Oberkommando, is a marking almost exclusively reserved for handguns. Maybe extra guards would have carried rifles, but they almost certainly would have been tasked from a subordinate unit and would have showed up armed.

Odds are that it is Ostasiatisches, but there is still a chance it’s the Obercommando Army Corps. Either way. It’s neat to see a WIP unit marking. I’d say the mystery behind where it was supposed to go is just as neat.

The guy guarding the door or tent would’ve likely had a rifle. Might do some digging on the Luger forums. I might be able to turn up an Obercommando unit marking on there.

 

[Warrior1354]

We have seen period photographs. Showing Army staff, and military brass. In vehicles that had carbines, and rifles strapped to the vehicles. So it is certainly possible. Hell I'm still surprised I found a kar71 carbine unit marked to a baker. Hopefully more examples come forward one day.

 

[PrayingMantis]

It’s definitely interesting, I’m glad it’s sparked some debate. I’m still open to other theories, but nothing is more convincing than the partial Ostasiatisches. Looking forward to seeing what you can turn up that’s Oberkommando marked, Connor, I did some searching myself and nothing. I think that if rifles were ever marked as such they would have survived in decent numbers and show up from time to time. Being issued and marked is a unit is different than being picked up and used by one.

 

[OzzMan]

It’s definitely interesting, I’m glad it’s sparked some debate. I’m still open to other theories, but nothing is more convincing than the partial Ostasiatisches. Looking forward to seeing what you can turn up that’s Oberkommando marked, Connor, I did some searching myself and nothing. I think that if rifles were ever marked as such they would have survived in decent numbers and show up from time to time. Being issued and marked is a unit is different than being picked up and used by one.

A thought, could be the Obercommando marked guns got their discs pitched first as they would’ve been closest to the depot centers, and would’ve likely had a high rate of passing through the depots. Riding around in a car all day or standing outside a tent while it’s raining can rust these up or ding them up pretty good. Just a theory to why none have turned up yet.