Birdguy58
Well-known member
Found an interesting Gewehr98 a while ago, a 1916 C.G. Haenel Suhl, maybe the scholars could use the information for trends. After cleaning the dirt and grim off, found the metal is actually pretty nice. But the stock has issues. Deep crack at the wrist and it must have been sitting quite a time in water as the butt is rotted and the buttplate has rusted away, was not included with the rifle. Some guy had driven 2 long brads into the wrist area to hold the thing together, I pulled the brads out; could have been a lot worse. What a shame, it's a beautiful piece of wood. Looks a little naked on top as there is no handguard. I bought it knowing full well it was a wreck but found it not too awe full bad!
It came with an Amberg Bolt, one that I had identified by the lion crest. Bolt is all matching to itself, turned out to be the worst of the metal parts.
And now for the barrel, the bluing is still quite good probably better than 70%. The bore is dark especially in the grooves didn't spend much time scrubbing it out yet, strong rifling but looks rough. Muzzle end has been counter bored by a lot! To the tune of 11 1/2" Never seen a counter bore that deep before. Why so extreme? We checked out the chamber, and all the diameters are inside the safe zone as shootable, not counter bored at that end. We indexed the full length of the barrel looking for any bulges, didn't find any. And the barrel is perfectly straight, we considered maybe a bend at the muzzle, but none there.
The counter bore has been done a while ago, a bit crude and well oxidized turning to a black patina, but not pitted. Do you think rifle grenades could have something to do with this?
If I missed something in the photos you might need, let me know, I'll post it up.
barrel, receiver serial #8862a
stock marked inside and out 8862
trigger guard 8862
floorplate and follower 62
front trigger guard screw 14
rear trigger guard screw 62
front band, rear band 62
trigger assembly 62
bolt stop 62
front sight 62
rear sight 62
rear sight base 62
It came with an Amberg Bolt, one that I had identified by the lion crest. Bolt is all matching to itself, turned out to be the worst of the metal parts.
And now for the barrel, the bluing is still quite good probably better than 70%. The bore is dark especially in the grooves didn't spend much time scrubbing it out yet, strong rifling but looks rough. Muzzle end has been counter bored by a lot! To the tune of 11 1/2" Never seen a counter bore that deep before. Why so extreme? We checked out the chamber, and all the diameters are inside the safe zone as shootable, not counter bored at that end. We indexed the full length of the barrel looking for any bulges, didn't find any. And the barrel is perfectly straight, we considered maybe a bend at the muzzle, but none there.
The counter bore has been done a while ago, a bit crude and well oxidized turning to a black patina, but not pitted. Do you think rifle grenades could have something to do with this?
If I missed something in the photos you might need, let me know, I'll post it up.
barrel, receiver serial #8862a
stock marked inside and out 8862
trigger guard 8862
floorplate and follower 62
front trigger guard screw 14
rear trigger guard screw 62
front band, rear band 62
trigger assembly 62
bolt stop 62
front sight 62
rear sight 62
rear sight base 62
