Warrior1354
ax - hole
As the title says this rifle really was brought back from the ashes. Believe it or not this Spandau was picked up from the SOS show. On Friday of the show me, and Marc. Noticed this rifle walking in from the parking lot. With that very noticeable Lange Vizier rear sight, really wasn't hard to spot. We thought the rifle already sold by the time it got to the door, but turns out it did not. The gentleman still had that rifle in his possession. I asked if I could see it, and he said sure thing. This rifle was 100% untouched, never been cleaned, matching except the firing pin, and the bolt cocking piece. I noticed the firing pin was replaced due to the color of the metal. That part did not match the rest of the bolt components. Most likely the original matching one was clipped, and replaced years ago. Then the big question "how much sir"? He said: "well need to move it so $1000 takes it home." So I bought it. Went back to my friend's table, and stuck it under there. Told myself this will be a good winter project.
Later on in the day I ran into my buddy Bill Reed. He was helping me decide, on a nice dated original Gew98 sling. That sling I found in a dealer's display case. Mike Foley always told me, check it those cases! Thank you again for that advise my friend. Anyway, Bill gave me some great points to look for when it comes to these old beauties. If your wondering I did buy that sling, and it's dated too! I asked Bill as we were walking the show would you be interested in a winter project, by bringing back an old Gewehr? He told me "Yeaah" and "hell yeah!" Bill looked at it, and went my goodness. This war horse needs some help. But, I can bring her back and will shoot this one again too. About a month later he started sending me the before, and after pictures. I was astonished, and could not believe this was the same rifle. It was like a Phoenix from the Ashes. This rifle just glowed again. Bill put his love, time, and tears in this rifle. Losing his collection was tough on him, but he still wants to help out fellow collectors in this hobby. Plus he never charged me a dime for the restoration project either. He truly wanted to bring back this old girl like the old days of his collecting. Bill my thanks for your work, and time is so greatly appreciated my friend. Not to mentioned your reloading skills with keeping our old 11mm rifles, and carbines shooting down range. Again thank you so much with this! Your integrity, and character is truly remarkable.
Now what to do with this rifle? It's not mine anymore lol. A new Imperial collector who was a friend of Bill's watched the whole restoration process. He asked about it all the time, and was like: "boy that is a sweet looking Gewehr. Maybe one day I can find a nice one, and hopefully it's not too expensive." So you know what I surprised him by giving him the opportunity to own this rifle. What I told him was: "Well this Gewehr is worth alot of money. I paid some big money for it, and apparently it was captured at the Battle of Verdun. Not to mentioned. When it was test fired at the factory, Kaiser Wilhelm himself. Personally shot this rifle, with that old withered hand of his. Now you can have the cool story for $9000, or you can have the rifle for $1000!
Well sadly he didn't take the cool story option lol!
But a big congrats to him it was his very first Gewehr!
Later on in the day I ran into my buddy Bill Reed. He was helping me decide, on a nice dated original Gew98 sling. That sling I found in a dealer's display case. Mike Foley always told me, check it those cases! Thank you again for that advise my friend. Anyway, Bill gave me some great points to look for when it comes to these old beauties. If your wondering I did buy that sling, and it's dated too! I asked Bill as we were walking the show would you be interested in a winter project, by bringing back an old Gewehr? He told me "Yeaah" and "hell yeah!" Bill looked at it, and went my goodness. This war horse needs some help. But, I can bring her back and will shoot this one again too. About a month later he started sending me the before, and after pictures. I was astonished, and could not believe this was the same rifle. It was like a Phoenix from the Ashes. This rifle just glowed again. Bill put his love, time, and tears in this rifle. Losing his collection was tough on him, but he still wants to help out fellow collectors in this hobby. Plus he never charged me a dime for the restoration project either. He truly wanted to bring back this old girl like the old days of his collecting. Bill my thanks for your work, and time is so greatly appreciated my friend. Not to mentioned your reloading skills with keeping our old 11mm rifles, and carbines shooting down range. Again thank you so much with this! Your integrity, and character is truly remarkable.
Now what to do with this rifle? It's not mine anymore lol. A new Imperial collector who was a friend of Bill's watched the whole restoration process. He asked about it all the time, and was like: "boy that is a sweet looking Gewehr. Maybe one day I can find a nice one, and hopefully it's not too expensive." So you know what I surprised him by giving him the opportunity to own this rifle. What I told him was: "Well this Gewehr is worth alot of money. I paid some big money for it, and apparently it was captured at the Battle of Verdun. Not to mentioned. When it was test fired at the factory, Kaiser Wilhelm himself. Personally shot this rifle, with that old withered hand of his. Now you can have the cool story for $9000, or you can have the rifle for $1000!
Well sadly he didn't take the cool story option lol!
But a big congrats to him it was his very first Gewehr!Attachments
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