Gewehrfabrik Danzig

[8x57mauser]

Picked this one up, unfortunately missing the scope so I'm going to be on the search for one. really well made and very light, all numbers matching, set triggers are light and crisp, bolt is real smooth. bore is mint. nice tiger stripes. dont really know much about these, just that I wanted a decent one to go with a couple other Mauser sporting rifles I have. This one replaces a lesser example I had also missing scope. (bubba reblue, drilled and tapped for weaver mounts)

the only two real issues are someone put a sissy pad on and lost the original steel buttplate (with how light this rifle is you almost cant blame them) and the rear action screw is slightly buggered as it is stuck and someone tried to remove it.

Here are some lousy cell phone pictures, will take some better ones Tuesday.

EDIT 8/26/14
Better pictures taken today

 

[8x57mauser]

This is the scope I'm looking for, or at least the rings. If anyone has them and would be willing to part with them I'm searching.

 

[Loewe]

These are pretty neat, I have been recording them for about a decade, - at first I wasn't, as they aren't military - but this is the earliest of the variation built around a 98a.

As best as i can tell they made about 9,000 of these and about 1000 .22 sporters shortly after the war. These commercial rifles represent the ultimate fate of the state arsenal, because it was what tipped the balance in the decision to dismantle the arsenal and ship much of the machinery and raw material to Poland. Contrary to Polish collectors enthusiasm for theories of "reparations" or the inevitability of Danzig going to Warsaw, that was not the case prior to December 1920, - Danzig was a League protectorate, the disposition of the arsenal was hotly debated at the time as the city leaders and the league was concern with employment and the revenue the arsenal could provide to the city.

What tipped the balance was the revelation of several arms related contracts being discovered by the league, in the press, - the arsenal had being doing work for Poland since the war ended, the League looked the other way on that for obvious reasons, but the discovery of the arsenal making these rifles and rifle barrels for Mexico was not a pleasant surprise, - after all the league was founded upon world peace and all that crap, but the real deal killer was when Danzig foolishly negotiated a rifle contract with Peru (who was having problems with Chile, and the main players in the League, Britain especially, didn't want a League mandate arming the conflict...).

Anyway, ultimately by December 1920 Danzig's fate was sealed (actual decision July 30, 1921, your rifle would date prior to July 1921, probably 1919-1920 being so early a serial), - the contract with Peru was canceled, the one to Mexico for barrels were allowed and contracts to Poland (France being their enthusiastic benefactor- partner, - the more they caused animosity between Germany and Poland the more the French liked it.. they got the favor returned in 1940 with interest) would continue until the rifle related machinery was dismantled and sent to Poland. Danzig and the leftover machinery would be converted to making bicycles and other unprofitable but peaceful pursuits, which means they were bankrupt empty buildings as often as not.

Anyway, I wrote on some of the details in articles a few years ago. - Rob recently visited the site when he visited Poland a year or two ago, he picked up a little piece of rubble as a souvenir for me, - which is pretty neat, apparently not much is left of the factory, a few buildings and some smoke stacks.

 

[8x57mauser]

Thanks for the info! I really have been getting into Mauser sporting rifles lately. These Danzig rifles are so well made.

you dont by any chance have a good picture of the buttplate of one of these rifles do you? I haven't been able to find a good picture yet so have an idea what I need to make for it.

 

[Loewe]

Well, as you know probably, the stocks come in different styles, - and most people that photograph the rifles do not put much interest in the buttplate, most do not show it at all... or I didn't save many?

I will do a few i saved, maybe it will give you an idea.

 

[Loewe]

another...

 

[Loewe]

Another...

 

[8x57mauser]

Thanks! That helps a lot, looks like its more or less just a thin flat piece of steel. I dont think that will be too difficult to replicate.

 

[Loewe]

Probably why so few take pictures of it... but like your sleeve, they hide serial numbers under the buttplate apparently!

 

[8x57mauser]

Probably why so few take pictures of it... but like your sleeve, they hide serial numbers under the buttplate apparently!

it is rather odd that such a well made rifle would have such a simple buttplate, I would have thought they would have had a nice checkered plate or at least something a little fancier. I have plenty of sheet steel around so it really should be just a matter of taking the buttpad off and tracing the stock and cutting a new buttplate.

 

[Amberg]

Some scopes for the Danzig sporters.
The OIGEE scope is matching to my Danzig rifle.
Please note that the Gerard Mod. K and the Gerard Mod. G show different distances between the rings!

 

[8x57mauser]

Some scopes for the Danzig sporters.
The OIGEE scope is matching to my Danzig rifle.
Please note that the Gerard Mod. K and the Gerard Mod. G show different distances between the rings!

nice looking ones. If any of the other two are extras and you are willing to sell I'd be interested in buying one to complete my rifle.

thanks for posting them!

 

[8x57mauser]

Here are a few of it with another small ring 98 sporter I have.

 

[8x57mauser]

Took it to the range today, 100 meters off the bench. My own hand loads, 180gr nossler ballistic tip over 46.7gr imr 4895. That's 5 rounds. If this is what it can do without the scope I really can't wait to get a scope for it.

 

[8x57mauser]

Had some down time the last few days so decided to stop putting off dealing with the seized/buggered rear action screw. It was a fight, ultimately ended up drilling out the head of the screw just to get the action out of the stock. Put a set of vise grips on the shank of the screw and it wouldn't budge. Little heat, some PB blaster, still nothing. Let it soak overnight, little more heat.....and......it snapped off flush in the tang of the receiver. Drilled the rest out and now I just need to track down a rear action screw for a Mauser sporting rifle without locking screws.

As I suspected, the stock matches the rifle along with the trigger guard, trigger group, and naturally the barrel.


The good news is that I have now aquired an Oigee scope for it, just waiting for it to arrive. Here are the rather lousy auction pictures. (Thanks Vaughn for the heads up on the scope) Probably paid more than I should have for the scope but really wanted to complete this rifle and take it hunting this year.

 

[8x57mauser]

Scope arrived today. Surprisingly it fit fairly well. A little snug so I might have the front ring moved back just a hair but honestly I don't really think its needs it.

I thought/it was listed as a 4x scope, I was pleasantly surprised to find that it is in fact a 6x scope. Any idea when it was made? Markings are as such/pictured:

Top of scope - OIGEE Berlin
right side - D.R.P. Nr 305004
left side - LUXOR 6x 108503

Came with original Oigee lens caps, the strap is broken but I have some old black leather slings that i can cut a fresh strip of leather from and repair them.


Here is an overall, rifle looks good. I will add that compared to the 4.5x Gerard scope on my double claw sporting rifle this Oigee is a monster, heavy, bigger and longer by at least 1.5"

 

[8x57mauser]

Dug through my old leather bits found one that matched the caps. Cut a new strap stitched it to the caps and all fixed.

Figured since the original Oigee marked caps were in good condition no point in tossing them.

 

[8x57mauser]

Was watching the 1930 All Quiet on the Western Front movie tonight, look what I see in the hands of the French sniper at the end.



http://youtu.be/nMlDPsRwZE4

 

[lmr]

Part missing

Hi
I do have one like you with scope , but not the original and the front base is badly fixed. I also miss the little piece that goes in the front grip.
you post the picturo of it coming out to one side.
Could you send me picture of it, out of the woodstock, i will try to make it.
I posted some info about this model in particular here is part of it.

" very scarce German Danzig factory Mauser M.1898 sporting rifle in 7.92 x 57 mm caliber. Manufactured by Gewehrfabrik Danzig shortly after the end of the Great War, as indicated by markings on the receiver rail and by the proof markings on the receiver ring. Sporting rifles of this pattern were manufactured in very limited numbers by the Danzig factory in 1918/1919. The lack of the military orders forced the Danzig factory to manufacture guns for the civilian market. Shortly after, the Danzig arsenal ceased to exist. Based on the Versailles Treaty all the machines were moved to Warsaw, Poland in 1920, in order to create the rifle factory there. The Danzig sporters utilized strong Kar.98AZ action with small ring receivers. Since Danzig sporters were arsenal made, they bear no commercial proofs, but Imperial German stamp, "Prussian Eagle" (stamped on the left side of the receiver ring, on the barrel under the wood, as well as on the bolt). "

I found it here[

http://www.collectiblefirearms.com/RiflesMauser.html

Thank you
LMR