Spandau 1889 3347

Got a great deal on this Gew 88, came with a bayonet and cartridge box. Original matching except for bolt, which is renumbered to match. The unit mark on the front band is really interesting, Landsturm Headquarters Pioneers? The X'd out unit mark is for the 6 Pioneer Battalion.

I need to consult the Dr Storz book about the single acceptance on the receiver.

Reshot some of the darker photos, hope these are easier to see.

Here is the bayonet. Nice unit mark but no scabbard. I have to wonder if this set was taken directly from surrendering landsturm, since Dr Storz's book shows landsturm equipped with Gew 88, SG71, and older cartridge boxes.

Nice rifle! That was like the deal of the year.

Thanks, Sam. I was pretty proud of myself!

Here's the box. It is an 1874 box with an insert for 8mm.

That's nice indeed. I haven't seen many Gew88's with depot/arsenal lined-thru/restamped bolts that matched.

That's a beauty, hard to beat that. Looks like someone tried to remove the cross bolt in the stock? Maybe cross threaded it trying to put it back in? Hard to tell exactly from the picture. Nice score though I like it.

I like it also, - really a nice group.

The RR is unusual I agree. Looking at others recorded, it seems Spandau/89 usually have two acceptance stamps, this C/S is recorded but others inspectors are too (this inspector is an interesting one; I assume he is the same one that accepted the early MO and later DWM production in 1898-1900). Rifles earlier than this one have two also, this is the only one with one, but in 1890 they went to 3 inspections.

Being the first year of production I suppose they were doing inspection differently, seems most of the arsenals in 1889 were doing the two acceptance-inspection, not sure about Steyr.

feldmütze said:

That's nice indeed. I haven't seen many Gew88's with depot/arsenal lined-thru/restamped bolts that matched.

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Me neither. I wonder if the depot number on the butt, 17, was for Landsturm formations.

8x57mauser said:

That's a beauty, hard to beat that. Looks like someone tried to remove the cross bolt in the stock? Maybe cross threaded it trying to put it back in? Hard to tell exactly from the picture. Nice score though I like it.

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I was also wondering that when I got it. There is no marring or other marks, but the threaded disc is in at an angle. Strange...

Loewe said:

The RR is unusual I agree. Looking at others recorded, it seems Spandau/89 usually have two acceptance stamps, this C/S is recorded but others inspectors are too (this inspector is an interesting one; I assume he is the same one that accepted the early MO and later DWM production in 1898-1900). Rifles earlier than this one have two also, this is the only one with one, but in 1890 they went to 3 inspections.

Being the first year of production I suppose they were doing inspection differently, seems most of the arsenals in 1889 were doing the two acceptance-inspection, not sure about Steyr.

Click to expand...

Thanks for the information, Paul. Really odd that earlier Spandau '89s have two acceptance stamps. Storz shows a Steyr with a single c/K, but Storz gives the impression that Steyr liked to do things differently.

PrayingMantis said:

Me neither. I wonder if the depot number on the butt, 17, was for Landsturm formations.



I was also wondering that when I got it. There is no marring or other marks, but the threaded disc is in at an angle. Strange...



Thanks for the information, Paul. Really odd that earlier Spandau '89s have two acceptance stamps. Storz shows a Steyr with a single c/K, but Storz gives the impression that Steyr liked to do things differently.

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I recall that the recoil crossbolt on gew88's are much like a curved taper on their exteriors. If yours is not inline with the stock contour it either needs to be tightened and/or shimmed to tighten in alignment with wood contour. I think my matching 89 spandau is also a Landstrum.. and I got super lucky in obtaining a landstrum marked muzz cover for it too. I had a 71/84 marked landstrum scabbard but never found a landstrum marked bayonet for it yet.

PS ; the pics are so dark I can't make much of them.

Thanks for the advice, Bill. Someone pointed out a spanner that will work for recoil lugs, just need to order it, then I can line it up with the contour.

Your '89 Spandau sounds really nice! if you ever happen onto another Landsturm marked lid let me know, I have a few extra I could trade. I haven't seen a Landsturm marked SG 71/84 but if by chance I ever do I will drop you a line

I also posted this on the Steyr/Gew 88 forum on Gunboards, was told that it is marked to the Landsturm-Infanterie-Battaillon Oppeln (VI/17) http://antique-photos.com/en/unidatabase/german-empire/452-landsturm-battalions.html
perhaps the 17 on the buttplate comes from the armourer of the unit?

Here are some pictures of the bolt. The handle is bent forward; it looks alright in the gun, on its own it looks quite bizarre. Not entirely sure what arsenal the bolt came from, maybe Danzig? It also has the script B that shows up on Imperial stuff every once in a while.