Need some stock advice

[damiencain]

Purchased a 1916 dwm gew 98. Barrel matches receiver. Nearly zero finish. Severely sanded sporterized stock. Purchased a 98 mauser stock with hardware and noticed that the barrel comes to the end of the bayonet lug (bayonet lug slightly overhangs the barrel). The overall stock length is 43.5 inches. The barrel has a Lange sight and two barrel steps. Second barrel step is 1/4 inch away from the front sight. . The barrel length as measured from the receiver is just under 25 inches. The front sight looks original. Not 100% sure what I have. Trying to get pics up to assist...
Thanks in advance

 

[damiencain]

reference pics

Here you go. There are marks that indicate someone tried to remove the barrel. Unsure if Bubba or arsenal done. Unsure if barrel removal was successful.

 

[damiencain]

matching parts

Rear sight matches trigger matches bolt release. Rest is non matching. Butt plate looks like it has regimental stamps (or had)

 

[Loewe]

The barrel should be a little over 28 inches, your barrel has been shortened and some knucklehead left marks behind that shows he tried to remove the barrel improperly... can you do a picture of the right side of the receiver and the barrel code that should be on the barrel?


The buttplate markings are depot markings, not unit markings. It doesn't match though, so no help there.

A 98k barrel (exposed) is about 23 inches, you might try and find a 98k stock, it would do you better in this case, - a good rule of thumb dealing with Modell98 German military rifles: essentially the difference between a G98 and a 98b is a side sling arrangement and bent bolt, the difference between a 98b and 98k is 6 inches of barrel.

 

[damiencain]

Was afraid of that

It fits nicely in a k98 stock but sticks out more than I like at the end. I may end up trying to modify the long stock to fit. Wasn't sure if the barrel marks were Bubba or arsenal done. Reason being I have seen Turkish rework rifles with the same marks. Regardless gonna try and see what I can make out of it. Here are shots of the barrel marks as requested

 

[Loewe]

Could be Turk I guess, I have seen many oddities come out of the Turkish imports.

Regarding the barrel markings, I should have said look at the barrel in front of the rear sight, often the barrel code (steel maker) is located in front of the rear sight. Böhler steel was the main supplier, or so it seems, which makes sense as that seems to be the case with their P08 production and they probably had a successful relationship prior to the war. Naturally they would want to continue through the war.

Personally, if it were mine, I would probably shorten the barrel to 98k, but you could replace the barrel or shorten the G98 stock, though that would depend on the stock (a nice stock is probably worth more than the finished rifle if you do that). Thanks for the extra pictures, very helpful!

Do show us the finished product, after you decide what is best for the rifle!

 

[damiencain]

lousy gunsmiths

Here in the vegas area not too many good gunsmiths I would trust to do the work. Most are preoccupied with black plastic tactical bolt on guns. I shortened the nose and carved out the relief for the bayonet lug. Have some more finishing to do and in letting of the stock for the receiver and trigger guard. Way too tight to fit right now. The stock is interesting. Looks like a home job but overall very nice. Just rough inside the receiver area. Sending the metal out to be bead blasted. Going to polish the receiver and rust blue the barrel. Still have to carve a channel for the front band as well. Will give it a nice walnut stain. The work won't be too obvious at first in terms of the overall length. Have to buy a shorter cleaning rod too.

 

[Loewe]

I agree, it isn't too noticeable at first glance, - in over 30 years of collecting Modell98 German military rifles, I have only met a handful of gunsmiths that knew even the basics about working with them, most seem competent only for converting one to a hunting rifle.

I am a little curious how it shoots, - have you shot it at all?

 

[damiencain]

Not yet

Curious at my point of impact being that that sight is no longer calibrated to the length of the barrel. Overall not a bad looking bore. Will scrub it out and probably use cast bullet loads to shoot it. Probably should have put a few rounds downrange before I went through all this trouble. Wasn't satisfied with the fact that only the action screws were holding it all together. No upper handguard (retainer ring has also been ground off) and no front or rear bands. The stock was starting to crack so looks like someone shot it after the butchery. Gonna check headspace as well when I get it back. I finished inletting the stock and fixed a few small cracks. Will stain and seal tomorrow. The blaster will take a few days. Alot of old pitting so have my work cutout for me..

 

[Loewe]

I was thinking the same thing... I also agree to thoroughly check it out before testing, as the gouges shows the barrel had been tampered with, someone took it off, or tried too, and they didn't know what they were doing. Best to double check b4 test firing.

If you have the inclination, I still would like to see or know the barrel code? It should be in front of the rear sight, wartime DWM usually are... mostly curious if it is a Böhler (BO) barrel.

 

[damiencain]

sent it off

When I get it back from the bead blaster later this week I will look for the barrel markings. Was way too much rust and crud to get a good shot of what was stamped there. Finishing up the stock today...

 

[damiencain]

The beast is now a beauty

And the finished product. Polished the receiver and bolt, the barrel blue is original. Rebarreled with a correct 29 inch barrel (original had been cut down to 26 inches). Purchased, bead blasted and refinished the barrel bands, bayonet lug, rear swivel, band retainers and trigger guard. Polished the butt plate and fire blued the screws, reproduction cleaning rod. Not original or matching but a far cry from the sanded and cut down dog I bought originally. Happy to have a representative piece from that era

 

[JimF]

VERY nice looking Mauser . . . .

May I suggest you remove the bayonet lug and polish it BRIGHT . . . . like the receiver. --Jim

 

[damiencain]

Was thinking of that

I have seen some gew 98s with the bayonet lug polished. And some without. Hard to tell if the ones without were blued or patina from the years of exposure. I wanted this thing to look factory correct if possible. Gonna take it out this weekend for a spin. Thank you for the advice. Will probably do that here in the next few weeks once I finish up some other projects. The best part of this build is it only cost me around 300.00!
Happy holidays!