Gewehr 98 WMO 1917 1254v

[PrayingMantis]

Decent day for photos so I got to break down and document this pin to rod matching 1917 WMO. This is another nice Gew I got from Mike, and for which am very pleased to be caretaker.

WAFFENFABRIK MAUSER A-G OBERNDORF 1917

Receiver 1254v c/G c/V c/V
Barrel 1254v c/K c/K c/K BS 947
Front Sight 54
Rear Sight Leaf 54 c/U
Rear Sight Base c/U
Sight Slider 54 c/U
Sight Slider Tabs 54, 54
Ejector Box 54
Trigger Sear 54 c/G
Front Barrel Band 54 c/U
Rear Barrel Band 54 c/U
Trigger Guard 1254 c/U c/V
Trigger Guard Screws 54, 54
Floor Plate 54 c/U
Follower 54 c/U
Stock 1254 c/FW c/G c/W B
Stock Wrist c/J c/U
Stock Keel 1254 c/K c/U
Handguard 1254
Buttplate 1254v c/U
Bayonet Lug 54 c/U?
Cleaning Rod 54
Bolt body 1254 c/G
Extractor 54
Safety 54 c/G
Cocking Piece 54 c/G
Bolt Sleeve 54 c/G c/G
Firing Pin 54 c/R

 

[PrayingMantis]

Barrel and sights.

 

[PrayingMantis]

Magazine assembly, cleaning rod (which is matching but probably not original to the Gew), and bands.

 

[PrayingMantis]

Stock wood, metal, and handguard.

 

[PrayingMantis]

The bolt.

 

[PrayingMantis]

Assembly number, 55, observed on the barrel, floorplate, and triggerguard. Mauser Oberndorf M and Y stamps found in a few places.

 

[chrisftk]

That's a nice honest piece Cyrus! Glad you ended up with it and filled that 1917 WMO void. Those are like a rite of passage for the serious Gew98 collectors. The scarce gun that not many realize the scarcity of.

 

[cj556]

Glad you finally got this one Cyrus!

 

[joryfreeburg]

Nice rifle Cyrus…..

 

[Stonek9604]

That is nice rifle, Thanks for sharing

 

[Loewe]

A fine pedigree, Mauserbill, Mike and Cyrus! A very fine example!

 

[Loewe]

I just reviewed its past, Mike owned this jewel and MauserBill wanted it... but Mike kept it due to its originality and therefore rarity.

 

[feldmütze]

I just reviewed its past, Mike owned this jewel and MauserBill wanted it... but Mike kept it due to its originality and therefore rarity.

As I recall this was an SoS pickup from many years ago.

 

[biggymu]

Never having tried to find an example of this year/maker, I didn’t realize how scarce it is. Very interesting and congratulations!

 

[PrayingMantis]

Thanks, everyone! It is a great Gew and I count myself fortunate to have it.

Sam, Chris, and I were discussing this recently. It is a challenging maker/date to find. A few have been lucky to snag one for their collections, so they’re well represented here, but it’s not an easy one to find and you should really be glad to have it once you do.

 

[mauser1908]

Cyrus, this was an excellent pickup, a nice honest example! It’s always a celebration when someone adds a matching WMO/17. They certainly have an aura around them, they’re probably my favorite maker/date. Mike sure has an eye for crispy beech stocks.

 

[feldmütze]

As I recall this one had worn an action cover at one time as it exhibited the telltale black stained wood below the barrel/in front of the receiver.

 

[OnlyMil]

Thanks, everyone! It is a great Gew and I count myself fortunate to have it.

Sam, Chris, and I were discussing this recently. It is a challenging maker/date to find. A few have been lucky to snag one for their collections, so they’re well represented here, but it’s not an easy one to find and you should really be glad to have it once you do.

Very cool rifle Cyrus! I didn't realize the German 1917 WMOs were so rare. Because most of rifles were sent to Turkey? Are the German issue ones rare or just the 100% matching German issue ones?

I guess to rephrase the question, why/what makes 1917 WMOs so rare?

 

[PrayingMantis]

Very cool rifle Cyrus! I didn't realize the German 1917 WMOs were so rare. Because most of rifles were sent to Turkey? Are the German issue ones rare or just the 100% matching German issue ones?

I guess to rephrase the question, why/what makes 1917 WMOs so rare?

Thanks, Alex! Sam can perhaps address this best, but essentially for the number produced by WMO in 1917, not many survive in imperial trim. Many were sent to the Ottomans and were reworked in Turkish service while a large portion of those that were used by the Germans were reworked in the Weimar era. You see probably one for every twenty 1916 WMOs.
The fact that Bill Reed was after it is a good testament to the rarity!

 

[Loewe]

As I recall this was an SoS pickup from many years ago.

JAG show 2004 based upon emails, Bill said he lost it because you got to it first and tried to trade you for it. Apparently you two were at the show together. Nice rifle, - that Bill wanted it so badly speaks volumes!