This one was posted several months ago and generated some discussion for being the earliest documented army contracted DWM (at least according to @Loewe ) and also for its Württembergische unit mark, the 123rd Reserve Grenadiers. I ended up getting the full story from the seller after they listed it on Gunbroker. They were a member of the VFW and they had elected to dispose of several weapons that were in terrible shape and neglected in order to raise some money. The money went to a good cause, so I didn't feel bad about buying it. The Gew 98s they had were bond rifles-- They also sold a 16 VCS previously. This one matches except the bolt (like all bond rifles), but interestingly the bolt is a single digit "7" SN, which just so happens to be the last digit in the rifle's SN.
I cleaned it up a bit and it really looks nice. Like all bond rifles, it's got a plugged bore and cut bolt face, but still a very interesting example. The originality of all of the parts, minus the bolt is a real plus.
The Württembergische connection is interesting-- what makes it even more so is that my friend has another 1904 DWM to the same unit (#4422 and 123 R. 1. 158). Other than the unit marks, there are no other Württemberg traits. As many of you know, I have a fairly decent collection of Württembergische weapons and militaria (including 3 marked or accepted Gew 98s) I have a few items from the 123rd's reserve/landwehr regiments. Here are a couple:
Back to the rifle in question; here are the data:
Receiver 2187
Barrel 2187 (BO 56)
Front Sight 87
Rear Sight Leaf 87
Sight Slider 87
Ejector Box 87
Trigger Sear 87
Front Barrel Band 87
Rear Barrel Band 87
Trigger Guard 2187
Trigger Guard Screws 87,87
Floor Plate 87
Follower 87
Stock 2187 (123 R 10. 90)
Buttplate 2187
Bayonet Lug 87
Handguard 2187
Bolt body mm
Safety mm
Cocking Piece mm
Shroud mm
Firing Pin mm
Extractor mm
I cleaned it up a bit and it really looks nice. Like all bond rifles, it's got a plugged bore and cut bolt face, but still a very interesting example. The originality of all of the parts, minus the bolt is a real plus.
The Württembergische connection is interesting-- what makes it even more so is that my friend has another 1904 DWM to the same unit (#4422 and 123 R. 1. 158). Other than the unit marks, there are no other Württemberg traits. As many of you know, I have a fairly decent collection of Württembergische weapons and militaria (including 3 marked or accepted Gew 98s) I have a few items from the 123rd's reserve/landwehr regiments. Here are a couple:
Back to the rifle in question; here are the data:
Receiver 2187
Barrel 2187 (BO 56)
Front Sight 87
Rear Sight Leaf 87
Sight Slider 87
Ejector Box 87
Trigger Sear 87
Front Barrel Band 87
Rear Barrel Band 87
Trigger Guard 2187
Trigger Guard Screws 87,87
Floor Plate 87
Follower 87
Stock 2187 (123 R 10. 90)
Buttplate 2187
Bayonet Lug 87
Handguard 2187
Bolt body mm
Safety mm
Cocking Piece mm
Shroud mm
Firing Pin mm
Extractor mm
