Spandau 1902 Gew98m

[CM0087]

Gew 98m’s hardly appear in Australia, so when this one popped up i grabbed it despite it having issues and being a bit of a mutt. It’s a good place holder for the foreseeable future and a shooter.

It’s started its life as a 1902 Spandau, serial 154 hh(?). Has E/6 waffenampts alongside the imperial ones on the barrel. Also has an odd marking on the barrel unlike a typical barrel code which i see on my other mausers (K68S), alongside an “S” inside a triangle.

Matching parts are:
Barrel: 154
Receiver: 154 hh
Bolt latch: 54
Follower: 54 (k98 style with last round hold open)
Rear sight: 54/S42G- K98 style with the wrap-around sleeve.
Trigger guard: 154/renumbered piece
Stock bands: 154
Butt plate: 154
Front sight: 54
Stock/hand guard: 154/renumbered.

Cheers
Chris

 

[DWM1915]

Thanks for posting, the barrel is a Simson replacement from the Weimar period, the S in a triangle is their stamp from this tiem and then the e/6 proofs, the K68S is the steel lot number for the barrel, normally these marks are on the underside but look pretty typical. The barrel serial number font differs from the receiver as they renumbered it at the same time. You may look around the keel or wrist for any stamps, the rife went through a significant overhaul at some point and a depot mark should be there. Interesting receiver, I didn't realize Spandau went to double letter blocks that early in production.

Is the bolt matching?

thanks, Nick

 

[Loewe]

This is interesting, though clearly not related to Spandau production in 1902, they made a very modest number that year, and this is probably something that came out of Erfurt (the FP & exceedingly high suffix points that direction, - but their G98 wartime production was modest also... no maker during WWI that carried this style FP and high suffix "normally"... This FP is unique to Erfurt supervised firms, Erfurt, Suhl makers, Dresden, none came close to the hh-block with G98 production)

Really the right receiver is the only option for offering a clue, but probably several things are working with this rifle, maybe originally 1902 Spandau production (originally a 1902 would not have a receiver FP here) then rebuilt in 1915-1916 as many early receivers were, then subsequent work that involved reserialing the receiver, possibly a salvaging (wartime salvaging can often be weird and inexplicable in how they came to be - during WWI especially, while the nazis were spendthrifts, Imperial and Republican era can go to extremes salvaging components and violating "norms" typically encountered)

Anyway, do the right receiver and closely examine the receiver for older markings, signs of a scrub or worn old serial, or overstruck serailed numbers, suffix or acceptance on the RR)

** the RR will confirm the receivers "origin", the FP is less important as in 1902 no such application would have been done and the Efp would have been common, the really weird thing is the serial and suffix, which is impossible prior to the war and not related to this make and potential makers using this style FP

 

[CM0087]

Thanks for the insight, guys.
The bolt probably isn’t worth photographing- bolt body and extractor are as rough as the rifle (unnumbered with an imperial marking or 2). The bolt shroud is from a Turkish Mauser and the cocking piece looks like it was made last week.

Loewe, i have attached a pic of the right receiver. There is a pronounced “S” on the stock, underneath the take down disks and also on the butt plate. The stock is almost black in colour. I’m not sure if this is a shitty old coating someone applied in their wisdom, or just the natural aging of the timber. Either way, any markings on the wrist or keel are unfortunately all but gone.

Cheers
Chris