Check this out. After blowing this one up, low and behold, Gew98s with bent bolts.
Thanks,
B.
Note: Appended page after discussion with CB.
To Stan: corrected mistakes and appended footnotes
Paul even if an early modification, the result would be a Kolonialgewehr. Now figure out which one!I blew up the photo and there are bolt relief cutouts on all visible rifles with bent bolts.I agree - one neat image.
I very much doubt that these rifles have anything to do with Radfahrer-, Schutztruppengewehren and not at all with unfinished sniper rifles.
I’d rather assume that these rifles are somewhat like a forerunner of the K98b, shown during a field test.
Caption translates: infantry group in formation prior the order: stack arms
The number 10 on the boards indicates Infantry Regiment 10 Dresden (Saxony), accordingly the soldiers should have white/green helmet shields.
Jon's comments: Just for the record Lockhoven has studied for more thst 30 years the arms deliveries and use in the German African colonies. He has hundreds of docs about al this along with the Spandau delivery in 1914 for some hundreds of G98 with bent bolts for the mounted troopers in South West africa where they had extra leather scabards made for the 88 rifle with bolts they bent there! So they requested the next load of G98 from Spandau have bent bolts etc. part of the order was shipped but the rest staied behind as thenwar started etc. hans also mentione that it would be A normal depot procedure to bend bolts and do stock work on older g98 to keep guys busy in the period 1920-30 really no big deal here. Regards, Jon
Will follow up with him and see if we can get more data from Lockhoven.
Not taking sides but want to flush this out as much as possible before committing to paper.
Finally someone noticed the darkened receivers.
I am leaning toward an early update to the Gew98 by implementing the Kolonialgewehr mods.