1916 gew98 rifle

joshuablevins · Mar 26, 2012

i have a 1916 spandua gew 98 rifle, every single part is matching with serial numbers 95 57, i also have the barrel muzzle (which i understand is RARE). The gun has no pitting or rust and looks and functions very amazing! The stock is a little beat up but like i said before everything on the gun is matching so its all original. I was just wondering how much this rifle could actually be worth (even though im not selling it) I got it from a local dealer for $175, which i knew was a steal because he did not know much about it. Unfortunately i do not have the bayonet but I am looking for one that is made the same year so that this gun can be almost complete. I can post some pictures if that would help.

PrayingMantis · Mar 26, 2012

Picture would help a lot, especially details of the serial number, the receiver top as well as the entire rfile.

By barrel muzzle do you mean muzzlecap? Those are indeed rare, but again pictures are necessary.

Loewe · Mar 26, 2012

To even guess at a value pictures would be needed, do some of the right, left and top receiver, plus any barrel and stock markings. At $175 it is hard to imagine you didn't do well.

Most 1916 Spandau's are made by Spandau, but this was the first year sub-contract receivers start to show up and that can be interesting. Usually they are very late rifles though. Under your serial number (9557) there should be a letter suffix. This will give you a rough range of how early or late it is.

Nice muzzle covers can be tough to find, especially for a good price.

joshuablevins · Mar 26, 2012

ok so i took alot of pictures and this should help, the only part that did not match was the cleaning rod, it has 50 instead of 57 but besides that the rest matches completely.

joshuablevins · Mar 26, 2012

here are the rest of the photos couldnt upload all of them at once but these are hi def pics so it should be easy to see. I really appreciate the help guys i love old military rifles but as far as the gew 98 its hard to find out every bit of information so i need all the help i can get.

Loewe · Mar 26, 2012

Very nice rifle- you flat out stole it at $175.

Do an image of the right receiver?

The lid is a rather rare one, made by Vollmer Werke Biberrach (company of the famous inventor). They are common for the Kar.98a, but Gew.98 ones are very hard to find. Only seen one other for the Gew.98, the 98a lids are fairly numerous from them.

Loewe · Mar 26, 2012

Regarding information, you came to the right place, as everyone that is online, that knows anything comes here or to TP's Mauser forum on Gunboards. Between Dr. Storz book and these two forums, most answers that are known can be had.

Regarding your rifle, forgot to say it is a rather early rifle, an "h" block, about 90k of nearly 400k made (est. about 360-370k, possibly more that year). Remarkably, this is not the high maker that year, both DWM and Danzig surpassed this production, Danzig by a large margin. As common as 1916 dated rifles are, they are not terribly common in "original" condition, - as in factory original. Your rifle, while a little rough in spots, is quite a score really. Both in what you paid vs. value and in how uncommon they are today loose. Often you have to pay big bucks or trade to get a nice rifle.

joshuablevins · Mar 26, 2012

thats what i was thinking, he said $175 and i did not hesitate. but here are two more of the right side, im not sure if the T was carved or stamped. I am glad i did come here i was reading alot of the forums and figured hey these people know exactly what they are talking about so i joined

Loewe · Mar 26, 2012

Thanks!

I track acceptance patterns and this is helpful.

joshuablevins · Mar 26, 2012

no problem you helped me out A LOT so it was no hassel.

Bigdibbs88 · Mar 26, 2012

a very nice rifle indeed, i would be proud to own it :thumbsup:

pdmayton · Mar 26, 2012

She's a beauty, very lucky! What a great price!

PrayingMantis · Mar 26, 2012

Wow: great rifle, awesome price. I'd keep an eye on that dealer, see if anything else comes along.

gergnotwen · Mar 26, 2012

Wow, now that's some history right there! Very nice find. I'd be curious as to the stock markings in the wood that seem to be filled in and their meanings. Enjoy and thanks for posting!

gew8805 · Mar 27, 2012

That... is..... BEAUTIFUL!

A very nice rifle at an exceptional price. You paid for the muzzle cover and got the rifle for about $50. :facepalm:

Congratulations.

WaPrüf2 · Mar 27, 2012

Noseband appears reversed.
G98 muzzlecaps show up on Ebay regularly.

PrayingMantis · Mar 27, 2012

WaPrüf2 said:
Noseband appears reversed.
G98 muzzlecaps show up on Ebay regularly.

Good call. The front bad is reversed, the hook should be towards the rear and the band should lock into place.

gergnotwen: are you referring to the stock acceptances? The first one is a stylised FW, the royal cypher of Kaiser Wilhelm II.

1916 gew98 rifle

joshuablevins

Member

PrayingMantis

Senior Member

Loewe

Moderator²

joshuablevins

Member

Attachments

joshuablevins

Member

Attachments

Loewe

Moderator²

Loewe

Moderator²

joshuablevins

Member

Attachments

Loewe

Moderator²

joshuablevins

Member

Bigdibbs88

"Ach du lieber!"

pdmayton

Active member

PrayingMantis

Senior Member

gergnotwen

Rest In Peace

gew8805

Well-known member

WaPrüf2

RIP

PrayingMantis

Senior Member