rescued sporter

[damiencain]

recently picked up what I believe is an all matching GEW 98 Erfurt 1916 sporter. Interestingly enough it has matching numbers almost across the board (7308). I did find the number 38 stamped on the safety. but also saw a number 38 stamped under the receiver leading me to believe that it was rebuilt or a part was fixed and added to the number chain? Had a nice Bishop tiger striped stock on it, but I like them in original configuration. Have an 08 Brazilian Mauser stock that I am inletting to make it all look nice. I know I need a cleaning rod, handguard, screws, front and rear band and retainers and the rear swivel and whatnot. Not sure if the original finish (thought it was painted at first) but looks like a very nice even blue that turned a darker brown patina. There is some very light old pitting on the barrel. What should I know about this? I recently restored a 1916 Mauser Orberndorf with the Lange rear sight, so excited to get one with the transitional rear sight similar to the 98K. Any info is sincerely appreciated..

 

[damiencain]

More pics

last of them

 

[Loewe]

It is the original finish, original to the rework-upgrade, - factory original would be a blued barrel and bright metal receiver, but during almost any interwar rework or upgrade, the receiver would have been blued, and that is the case here. It is a little difficult to find a period matching, complete action for one of these upgraded G98's, the vast majority are bolt mismatches at best, yours looks remarkably original parts wise to its original manufacture in 1916. The bolt of course is Bavarian, unquestionable an interwar, period replace bolt, but correct for what the rifle is. It has its original barrel and trigger guard.

Finding a good stock is not easy, nor is it cheap these days, the Brazilian will do you of course, but the rear boss should not have a swivel, the German sling, both wars, had a quick release sewn on the sling that connects to the boss (mount) in the buttstock. This was so that it could be adjusted from a carry to a parade position at the front of the trigger guard.

As to pitting, this is typical, it is rarely a problem, at least if it isn't in the chamber... when the chamber is pitted or corroded, the bolt can lock tight after firing, sometimes damn near impossible to break loose, though with a determined cleaning and cycling-firing, you can loosen it to an acceptable degree for use. Of course, it is difficult to judge your situation on a forum.

 

[damiencain]

surprised

Yeah the overall condition and it's matching status was a huge surprise. I haven't cleaned the bore yet. Was going to soak it all down with motor oil and get any crusties out of it. I know original gew 98 stocks are really hard to find and pricey. I ordered a quick disconnect rear swivel for it. Will look into the front band and everything else. I wasn't sure if the pitting indicated a reblue outside of the arsenal but nice to hear it is original. Thanks for all your help. Oh and on the original stock, would it have had the finger grooves and bolt takedown disc?

 

[Loewe]

While it is highly unlikely to have either, at least when manufactured originally, it is possible it had the take down. It is an oddity for sure (compared to all other makers), but there are a number of Erfurt/16 G98's with take downs that appear to be of the Imperial era, none have the grips so far, but in two cases the stocks are Erfurt acceptanced, serialed to the rifles and have take downs. The majority do not have either and none in the first block like yours.

Not enough examples have been recorded in detail (matching stocks) to know how common it was, but contrary to all the other makers, Erfurt seems to have introduced the take downs earlier and apparently before the grips, at least in the G98 production. The 98a production I have not trended, but i suspect it might follow the normal pattern where grips show up first and much earlier. Possibly because the G98's Erfurt made were later than they seem by their dates and serial numbers (going by their barrel codes they seem not to fit within the same time frame, but again too little information is available - this fact might also be because the blanks for the G98 & 98a may have been delivered to Erfurt with different lots, most G98 are low lots, like this one, 98a run the full range into the thousands..)

That said, the fact that it was reworked-upgraded in the interwar period means it almost certainly received a take down, it is rare for a G98 not to have one added when upgraded.

How is your rear sight marked?

 

[damiencain]

rear sight

A tad bit dark but mostly clear. Rear sight marked with S/42G the serial number and a K

 

[Loewe]

It's been a few days, so I do not recall my line of thought then, but maybe I was hoping for something more exotic!

Thanks for doing the pictures, I hope your project works out!

 

[Das Bolt]

Sometimes what may appear to be a tiger striped stock is actually striped because of the stain used on the wood. I have seen birch stocks like 1022s use that will appear striped after refinishing. The wood itself is not really striped.
So stripes can be an indicator of the wood being refinished.

 

[damiencain]

Here she is

Still missing some minor parts. Have a correct rear band and replacement screw coming in next week. Also need to reblue the rear swivel and install it. Also have a quick disconnect rear sling coming in as well. Will see how she shoots once it is all together. The all matching part still excites me (in terms of major parts and the bolt). Going to try and age the small parts I reblued to match the existing blue. The receiver and barrel look incredible under this light. All I did was clean it with Hoppes, scrub it with a non scouring Frontier 45 pad then oil. Didnt wanna take anything other than rust off the original finish..Someday I hope to find the correct stock for this. For now it will sit in a 1908 Brazilian until then...Oh, on the reworked rifles, were the bayonet lug and butt plate polished? Just curious.

 

[Loewe]

Buttplates were rarely if ever blued, in a few instances the 98a have blued buttplates, police issue seem to have done them on occasion. BL were usually blued during upgrades or reworking anyway. though it would be a bad idea to do so in this case, it would devalue the stock and eventually you might be able to upgrade to a correct stock.

Almost all upgrade or reworks have take downs installed, very rare is a G98 or 98a with the early feature.

 

[damiencain]

Good to know

Will remove the one on there and polish it up to make it correct. I was not sure if they still did fire bluing at that stage on the screws.