Mauser Köln Grenade rifle

[genkideskan]

In the WTS Koblenz survived this grenade rifle. I know two more in collections.
Any informations?

[gergnotwen]

I'm not sure it's a grenade launcher... Looks more like a line throwing gun for shooting a line from ship to ship. Maybe a Kriegsmarine piece? No grenade sight, but I can't see the other side..

[Loewe]

I agree, a line thrower, - have seen several for sale, and one really neat one based upon a 1914 Mauser Oberndorf receiver.

Not sure if these were made original or conversions, as i have seen nothing in books describing the modell, but this 1914 MO doesn't seem to have the typical fireproof or acceptance, which would indicate to me this receiver was never used for a rifle.

Not sure where I poached the pics, but off an internet auction site, I think in the UK or Germany?

[genkideskan]

Very nice - some more excist. It is no line thrower. There are several dokuments surviving talking about grenade rifles. Mauser Köln received some systems for trials- these systems nerver where used in rifles. A register card of the Mauser Köln collection survived, too. With picture and clearly signed as Granat Gewehr. We wonder about the barrel thread and oval apertures.
The next trick is that Ive found some interesting pics showing very similar rifles used at the german 8cm Mortar in WW2. It is an aiming tube system. Look at the pics.
These training system fired a small 36mm diameter mortar bomb.

[Amberg]

Hello,
no idea what this is, but might be something like a grenade rifle. On Gew.98 basis?
Wolf

[Loewe]

Pretty cool pic Wolfgang!

Makes me have second thoughts about the line thrower, but Heidler's book doesn't have such a grenade launcher? At least not in his first book, - have not gotten his 2nd book.

I collect period pictures too and have never seen such a rifle, until your picture.

[bill grist]

Looks to me from the picts. to be a sub cal. training devise...BILL

[genkideskan]

Simson,

the 2nd edition covers some of the grenade rifle trials.

[Loewe]

Thanks, I look forward to Heidler's new book, he is first rate and deserves all of our support. A first class researcher!

[gew98]

Pretty cool pic Wolfgang!

Makes me have second thoughts about the line thrower, but Heidler's book doesn't have such a grenade launcher? At least not in his first book, - have not gotten his 2nd book.

I collect period pictures too and have never seen such a rifle, until your picture.

Paul ; in the picture it appears to be an 86 lebel action...not a gew98. So could it be an item captured form the french ?.