1916 Spandau depot new photos added 4/11

I'll have better pictures when it arrives from the auction house but scored this seemingly all matching but chopped stock and a yet unknown year and status Berthier with an also cut stock for only $680 after shipping and fees. The bolt on the Spandau is matching but has no suffix (serial is N suffix looks like can't tell from their pics) is this normal or could it be a fake renumber or a depot renumber?

Given the condition of the metal, which matches in toning with no polishing or grinding evidence, I’d lean towards depot. Check the buttplate for depot stamps when it arrives.

I was watching that lot too, If that stock wasnt covered in lacquer I'd have jumped in on it too. Good deal on the lot IMO and two good restoration projects

I was glad it had (what's left of) the original stock my 1914 MO I paid like $600 for just because of the matching action so this is a killer deal as long as the bore isn't a sewer pipe. Stock doesn't look super sanded so hopefully still has all the markings

Looks like an 1916 o-block, if so it is a little early for grips... With a very few exceptions grips do not show up at Spandau until quite late in the dual suffix ranges, but is possible earlier.

I agree with Cyrus, probable ordnance depot work, for a couple reasons but the bolt and stock mostly.

Here's the new photos. The auctioneer was rather hard on the bore rating is actually really good. The Berthier was all matching from 1920. The stock and remaining band is matching the buttplate is serialized. looks like even the barrel might be a replacement which if the stock, bolt, and barrel are replacements I can safely assume the first owner probably met a gruesome end with an artillery shell.

Are there any additional numbers on the buttplate? (Other than the serial number).

Artillery was the big killer, and there are pictures of their grisly toll on men and weapons... taking the stock off is the only way to be sure of the stock and barrel, - but replacing a barrel rarely includes a suffix on the new barrel, the stock is more important in this case

** looks like this was done by a more formal ordnance facility, not some local Pep Boys... CJ is right to be thinking of the buttplate markings.

Nice Score.

Thank you for the input everyone! Was never expecting to get 2 Imperial gew 98s so close to each other as I usually just do WWII so lots to learn about.
The handguard and stock channel are both matching no suffix. The bottom of the barrel has what looks like an Amberg proofs on it. Buttplate has no other markings besides the no suffix serial. To be safe took the buttplate off as well, nothing underneath it on the wood or backside. Trigger looks like it was stamped 84 in error and they overstamped the 1 on it to correct it.

Bavarian rebarrel as denoted by the crown A markings (Amberg Arsenal) & lion proofs. I’ll let the others chime in but I believe this is an Ingolsdadt depot rework.

I'll add to Marc's comment, this could also be an Amberg rework. The wrist would be the way to tell, but this might be too sanded to say. It is definitely Bavarian though, which makes me think the Bolt is plausible, it being from an Amberg.

For comparison Sam recently posted an Amberg rework: https://www.k98kforum.com/threads/spandau-1911-ingolstadt-and-koeln-rework.61086/

PrayingMantis said:

I'll add to Marc's comment, this could also be an Amberg rework. The wrist would be the way to tell, but this might be too sanded to say. It is definitely Bavarian though, which makes me think the Bolt is plausible, it being from an Amberg.

For comparison Sam recently posted an Amberg rework: https://www.k98kforum.com/threads/spandau-1911-ingolstadt-and-koeln-rework.61086/

Click to expand...

Great point, Cyrus! Only contribution I can make is the barrel is extremely late. It corresponds with late Böhler blanks from the tail end of 1917; I think somewhere between the v and x blocks. It’s likely the rework was done in 1918, which I’m fond of.

Good score, and that lacquer on your stock can be removed if done correctly. This was Danzig 1912/15 that had it's stock coated with lacquer. A friend of mine fixed it for me. It's not prefect but, it's far better then it was. Keep your eyes on the trader as well. Sometimes front ends of Gew98 stocks are listed. One just sold last month. Thank you for the pictures and showing the barrel code.

The Bavarian's were more active on reworking and salvaging than all the rest combined, - in current trends they outnumber Prussia and Saxony combined (some neat stuff too and good workmanship for 1918). Add Amberg's rifle production and they were really big players 1917-1918, this is probably a combination of the Prussian arsenals and DWM going hard to MG08/15 and P08 production (the glut of G98 inventories a key factor).

Really WMO and Amberg were the only major players in G98 production by 1918. Danzig went from double buckshot in 1917 to a dribble in 1918, - restructuring was interrupted by collapse at the front (including the home front)

In short Amberg became a big G98 player the last year of the war and it shows in their increased G98 activity in 1918 (including Ingolstadt, which at wars end was a focus of the IAMCC inspections... Bavaria was a cu*t hair from going independent or uniting with Austria... one of the great what-if's of the wars end...)

Warrior1354 said:

Good score, and that lacquer on your stock can be removed if done correctly. This was Danzig 1912/15 that had it's stock coated with lacquer. A friend of mine fixed it for me. It's not prefect but, it's far better then it was. Keep your eyes on the trader as well. Sometimes front ends of Gew98 stocks are listed. One just sold last month. Thank you for the pictures and showing the barrel code.

Click to expand...

That is good work!