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Spandau 1916 Gewehr 98 W/Dust Cover & Night Sights

AN-94

AN-94

Well-known member
I don't know if anyone here was following this auction but a Spandau 1916 Gewehr 98 sold for $4550 today with dust cover and night sights. How rare are Gewehr 98s with "night sights"? Link to the auction listing below.

Lot 14. German Mauser Gewher Mod. 1898 | Proxibid

Bid in a Proxibid online auction to acquire a Lot 14. German Mauser Gewher Mod. 1898 from Diamond S Auction & Real Estate Company.
www.proxibid.com
 

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AN-94 said:
I don't know if anyone here was following this auction but a Spandau 1916 Gewehr 98 sold for $4550 today with dust cover and night sights. How rare are Gewehr 98s with "night sights"? Link to the auction listing below.

Lot 14. German Mauser Gewher Mod. 1898 | Proxibid

Bid in a Proxibid online auction to acquire a Lot 14. German Mauser Gewher Mod. 1898 from Diamond S Auction & Real Estate Company.
www.proxibid.com
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The accessories go for about a grand a piece these days. They aren't super common. The unit mark on a wartime rifle is pretty uncommon as well. I think it went a little too rich for my blood considering it's over 5 grand with the fees, but it was still a nice rifle. I believe someone else here was after it but it went above their price.

If you are curious on the Sudacatis night sights, you can read about the two types here:

www.k98kforum.com

Heavily Accessorized (aka: "Tricked Out") DWM 1916

Hi All, Here's another adoption from Mike. This may have been previously posted, but I thought I would give a fresh photo spread and my observations. While a common maker/date, this rifle is anything but common for a variety of reasons. The most obvious feature is that it came with several...
www.k98kforum.com www.k98kforum.com
 
Thanks, I didn't think that night sights were really a thing in WWI but I guess I learned something new today. I was tempted with that Erfurt 1917 K98 but I didn't get a response back on the bore condition and rear sight numbers.
 
Some years back Hayes Otoupalik had a set of Night Sights for the Gew98 for sale, around 1k if I remember correctly.

The dust cover on this rifle IMHO looks like one of the reproduction ones that have been available for long time now, the copper color and the same manufacturer stamp on all of them is telling.
 
Absolut said:
Some years back Hayes Otoupalik had a set of Night Sights for the Gew98 for sale, around 1k if I remember correctly.

The dust cover on this rifle IMHO looks like one of the reproduction ones that have been available for long time now, the copper color and the same manufacturer stamp on all of them is telling.
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Georg, I'm about 95% the cover on the OPs link is legit. At least comparing it to my examples. The repros had the plum/copper color on the latch and front section. It would have been nice if the auctioneer had included a top-down view, seeing the acceptance would be the "money shot" to me.
 
When I saw that rifle listed at that auction. I knew it would bring pretty much full-blown retail. Not just because of the night sights, and the cover. But it had an original sling, and rod. Plus unit marked. I sat there, and ran the numbers. I was like I'm betting this rifle will probably bring close to $4,500. Because to a collector if you only had to have one rifle in his collection for a gewehr 98. Here it is completed with everything, except the trench mag. But I really think people forget about those premiums. In reality $4,500 doesn't seem out of line with everything on this rifle. When you start adding the 18%, shipping and insurance, or sales tax possibly. That's where things start to get expensive. There was a trench magazine I was trying to go after in there too. I took it to $650. But with only having four pictures that was a big enough gamble alone for me. When somebody went past my bid to over $700. I was like take it. Factor in the premiums and insurance now that magazine is $900. Plus certain items like that with crappy pictures at an auction house I rather see the item in hand.
 
The link to the DWM | 1916 Gew98 in the "bb" block is reminiscent of my own in the six thousand "dd" range. Rifle came to me with breech cover clip only and impressions of the rod on the stock indicate it was on there for a long time. It also had a new, commercial M98 floorplate, follower and spring recently installed as well. Odd to find those components missing from a otherwise matching and issue-condition Gew98. Made me think it might have been sporting a trench mag in the past, so found a "Crown | J" marked one to replace the commercial components and breech cover. Got a set of night sites (the zinc pattern) as well, but did not mount them (all c.a. 1988).
 
pwcosol said:
The link to the DWM | 1916 Gew98 in the "bb" block is reminiscent of my own in the six thousand "dd" range. Rifle came to me with breech cover clip only and impressions of the rod on the stock indicate it was on there for a long time. It also had a new, commercial M98 floorplate, follower and spring recently installed as well. Odd to find those components missing from a otherwise matching and issue-condition Gew98. Made me think it might have been sporting a trench mag in the past, so found a "Crown | J" marked one to replace the commercial components and breech cover. Got a set of night sites (the zinc pattern) as well, but did not mount them (all c.a. 1988).
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I've had a couple like that over the years too. The Spandau 1913 I got earlier this year only had the front of the Dustcover. I happened to have a spare rear portion I put on. They made a ton of the dust covers, and I own several rifles with staining from the clip on the wood. My guess is the vets had no patience for these things and the vast majority were junked.

My rule of thumb on m/m floorplate and follower is it very likely sported an extended magazine.. similar to bolt and floorplate group mm k98k very likely having an ERMA kit installed.
 
BTW, regarding the night sights, got a extra front blade with "bulbous" shape (as opposed to the rectangular leaf which was on the set I acquired). Two different makers or one blade being early and other of later production?
 
I was watching this one closely. I have bayonets marked to Infanterie Regiment Nr. 164 (https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/4._Hannoversches_Infanterie-Regiment_Nr._164) and would like a Gew to accompany them one day. Like others above, I think the accessories killed it. $5500 (after fees, taxes and shipping) is full retail or more for each accessory and the Gew. Not what you expect from a package deal. I hope whoever got it is happy with it, it’s a nice Gew and the night sights are uncommon, but it was no deal and none of those accessories are unobtanium.
 
pwcosol said:
BTW, regarding the night sights, got a extra front blade with "bulbous" shape (as opposed to the rectangular leaf which was on the set I acquired). Two different makers or one blade being early and other of later production?
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Are there any markings on it? It may be one of the earlier ones.
 
PrayingMantis said:
I was watching this one closely. I have bayonets marked to Infanterie Regiment Nr. 164 (https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/4._Hannoversches_Infanterie-Regiment_Nr._164) and would like a Gew to accompany them one day. Like others above, I think the accessories killed it. $5500 (after fees, taxes and shipping) is full retail or more for each accessory and the Gew. Not what you expect from a package deal. I hope whoever got it is happy with it, it’s a nice Gew and the night sights are uncommon, but it was no deal and none of those accessories are unobtanium.
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For that price to make any sense it needed an ersatz sling and an extended mag too.
 
AN-94 said:
Thanks, I didn't think that night sights were really a thing in WWI but I guess I learned something new today. I was tempted with that Erfurt 1917 K98 but I didn't get a response back on the bore condition and rear sight numbers.
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If you get a chance, pick up Storz’s book on the model 98, he examines the accessories in some detail.
But that might not have been the best venue if you’re looking for something with a good bore for shooting.
 
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Tbh. How does one know it came with those accessories from the factory? A past collector could’ve added those to the rifle in order to bolster the price more.
 
OzzMan said:
Tbh. How does one know it came with those accessories from the factory? A past collector could’ve added those to the rifle in order to bolster the price more.
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Absolutely added by a collector, that was never an expectation, that’s not how Gewehre were made nor issued. Different companies made the different accessories. At best you can hope a Gew came off the battlefield with a sling or other accessory, but even that’s not common and when a Gew is sold with accessories value is not based on that assumption.
(Though when you do find a Gew with an accessory, typically a sling, that was put on it in the period people are usually willing to pay more.)
 
Personally, I am highly suspicious of the unit marking. While the stock is right (configuration for this range and acceptance) I suspect the unit marking is not original.

Often when they have original action covers they leave markings on the stock. Still a nice rifle, but grossly over priced.
 
Loewe said:
Personally, I am highly suspicious of the unit marking. While the stock is right (configuration for this range and acceptance) I suspect the unit marking is not original.

Often when they have original action covers they leave markings on the stock. Still a nice rifle, but grossly over priced.
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Just curious why you suspect the unit marking. The 164th may have been a unit that continued marking their weapons during the war. I own a 1917 dated Artillery Luger that is regimentally marked to the 164th.
 
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