Novice looking for information on an interesting rifle brought back from WWII German armory

[Jakeman664]

Congratulations on a fantastic discovery and sharing it with the group. This might be the earliest production rifle found.

 

[Patton]

Much thanks to you @Jakeman664 and to all the responders on this thread for all the great information and comments. I have been browsing the web looking at the possibilities of having the stock repaired and the entire rifle restored. Perhaps a shadow box with a vintage photo and brief description of the history. Also, my 1939 K98 bayonet (my uncle brought back) fits it like a glove. I feel like I did as a kid in an Army Surplus store again.

"If everyone is thinking alike, then somebody isn't thinking." ~ George S. Patton

 

[Sauer_Kraut]

I'd honestly just leave it as is, repair the butt if the appropriate wood shows up. Maybe take some of the active surface rust off, but nothing major. You have a really cool rifle.

 

[Absolut]

Using steel wool grain 0000 and oil would make the rust go away and preserve the rifle without harming the original blueing. But make sure to not go to a larger grain.

Edit: now that it seems you found a way to upload pictures .. would appreciate more details. Especially where it is missing the butt.

 

[Patton]

I'd honestly just leave it as is, repair the butt if the appropriate wood shows up. Maybe take some of the active surface rust off, but nothing major. You have a really cool rifle.

Yep, I agree with you 100%. What you suggested is really all the restoration I was planning to do. I'm just not sure I can dissemble the rifle and remove the rust properly so I have been watching a few videos and have found some people that can do amazing things. I'm just considering my options. Thanks again for the feedback.

"Nobody ever defended anything successfully, there is only attack and attack and attack some more." ~ George S. Patton

 

[bill grist]

I have a cut down 29o Butt stock that has the part that you need to repair your duffel cut stock. Does not butt plate, or any metal. BILL

 

[bill grist]

It looks like your Sn: is 534 the cut down stock I have is Sn: 554

 

[mauser202]

Cool rifle, on the rust I recommend bronze wool and oil like Kroil to remove the active rust. Steel wool , even fine stuff will leave marks and wear the bluing.

 

[Patton]

https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0?ui...=att&disp=safe&realattid=18ae73eebac5c6e1daa2
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0?ui...=att&disp=safe&realattid=18ae73eebac5c6e1daa2
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0?ui...=att&disp=safe&realattid=18ae73e55358deaa7ad4

Using steel wool grain 0000 and oil would make the rust go away and preserve the rifle without harming the original blueing. But make sure to not go to a larger grain.

Edit: now that it seems you found a way to upload pictures .. would appreciate more details. Especially where it is missing the butt.

Here are the jpg files:

 

[Patton]

I have a cut down 29o Butt stock that has the part that you need to repair your duffel cut stock. Does not butt plate, or any metal. BILL

Thanks. Would you post some pics? BTW the serial number is "34".

 

[Patton]

I have a cut down 29o Butt stock that has the part that you need to repair your duffel cut stock. Does not butt plate, or any metal. BILL

I am interested in the parts you mentioned but I haven't seen any response to my request for photos. If you are still interested, please let me know.

Also, there was an earlier post that stated that they had a butt plate and some hardware available, but it seems to have been deleted. Hopefully they will read this post and respond because with your stock and their hardware I may have found someone that can cobble the parts together and make a reasonable restoration of this wonderful old rifle.

 

[bill grist]

Here are the photos of the 29o Butt stock... BILL

 

[Mauserken]

Here is the hardware I have.
Ken

 

[Stephan98k]

Congrats, it's a rare Gew M12/34 and not many exist in original condition - your 1938 rifle with broken stock has Sn 34, a 1938 Bubba Sniper has Sn 134 and the offered stock has Sn 554.

I see it similar like Sauer_Kraut and Mauser202, less is more in this case. I have attached a photo of your rifle's ugly younger sister with Sn 134 for comparison, in my opinion the surface of your rifle looks much nicer.

When you look at how the serial numbers are stamped, you could think that the Steyr worker had already too many Jägermeisters in the morning.

 

[Absolut]

When looking at the first image of yours I would think they had two different roll stamps @Stephan98k ... #134 has a font double this thick as with #34. Annoying to look at.

Edit: overall ... If I was him, I'd nevertheless buy the stock from @bill grist and have them jointed again right in the area where the original stock was sawn off. Not much to be lost on either side.

 

[Patton]

Here are the photos of the 29o Butt stock... BILL

Thanks for the response. Apologies for the slow reply. I have some good excuses I won't get into. I suppose the next logical question is how much do you want for the stock? Since I am operating on a cost prohibitive basis and lot of guess work the answer will likely determine whether or not to proceed. I have seen some impressive videos of real craftsmen that can do amazing restorations, but a transplant wasn't among them.

“We’ve been looking for the enemy for some time now. We’ve finally found him. We’re surrounded. That simplifies things.”

-General Lewis Burwell “Chesty” Puller

 

[Patton]

Here is the hardware I have.
Ken

Thanks for the response. I wonder how well it would match up to Bill Grist's butt stock shown in a previous post? I hope I'm not breaking any rules here when I ask you how much would you sell it for?

 

[Patton]

Congrats, it's a rare Gew M12/34 and not many exist in original condition - your 1938 rifle with broken stock has Sn 34, a 1938 Bubba Sniper has Sn 134 and the offered stock has Sn 554.

I see it similar like Sauer_Kraut and Mauser202, less is more in this case. I have attached a photo of your rifle's ugly younger sister with Sn 134 for comparison, in my opinion the surface of your rifle looks much nicer.

When you look at how the serial numbers are stamped, you could think that the Steyr worker had already too many in the morning.

Thanks for the kind words and the photos. They did seem to have trouble with that number 4 stamp or perhaps the worker at Steyr didn't have enough Jägermeisters

 

[Patton]

When looking at the first image of yours I would think they had two different roll stamps @Stephan98k ... #134 has a font double this thick as with #34. Annoying to look at.

Edit: overall ... If I was him, I'd nevertheless buy the stock from @bill grist and have them jointed again right in the area where the original stock was sawn off. Not much to be lost on either side.

Tough decision either way. If I leave it like it is it is original and historic but broken. If I repair it, it loses its originality because of the replacement parts and I have to pony up the dough for the pleasure. I prefer to have a complete rifle but we'll see what kind of $ figure it will take to do it. Do you know a really good gunsmith?

"Nobody ever defended anything successfully, there is only attack and attack and attack some more."

-General George S. Patton Jr.

 

[biggymu]

As rare as your rifle is, the chance of finding almost all the parts to complete it in one place is remarkable. The stars my not align again. Especially a spare stock. Have it professionally completed. Good luck.