Third Party Press

Picked this up today at the MVACA show How did I do?

clarkaim

Junior Member
For the last few years I've been looking for a Gew98. My youngest son gets mad when I make him go, "roller coaster sights, un-bubba'd" his little rant that he knows he knows he knows what I'm looking for. My oldest goes willingly and has a good time at a great gun show w/ little beef jerky for sale. I digress. I wasn't looking for all matching but this guy had this w/ the bayonet for a reasonable price and it was ALL matching, I think even the cleaning rod as I can discern an 8 at least. if it doesn't match, it's at least and 80 something, but I can't see that well. Also the receiver is NOT in the white, but it doesn't look blued either, it looks almost like rust, Patina? I'm no expert. Rifling is strong but man is there a ton of sheisse in the bore. Did some Sweets 762, some butches bore shine, G96 (of course) and finally some foaming bore cleaner (let that sit for an hour, all this nasty black stuff came pouring out rather than the usual blue) Ran some Jb bore paste then another treatment of the foamng stuff, not as bad the second time. Bore looks much more serviceable. How did I do guys?
 

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more pics

Here are some more pics. I got hung up loading these on the first thread. Also came with what appears to me an original ww1 sling, the Simpson & Suhl bayonet has a 16 on the spine below the imperial crown thingy. I have to take it apart to rotate the little thread block for the cleaning rod, as it must be catewompous as the rod will not screw in and I can't latch the bayonet with it in.
 

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I nice honest WW1 Gew98 rifle. Danzig did make alot of Gew98 rifles in the year of 1916 but finding one all matching is not too common IMO. Plus you got yourself a nice original sling and a Simson made S98/05 bayonet as well. From my research I believe Danzig made well over 400,000 Gew98 rifles in the year of 1916.
 
Tough to say from pics if receiver is blued but it definitely could just be discolored.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
receiver color is kind of a reddish brown

Did they start blueing these late war or at an aresenal rebuild? my k98s are definitely NOT this color. Should it be in the white? Should I have it cleaned up to no finish (i think not). Like rc k98's I feel like un-pristine examples have more History. I'll take a pic in the sun and see what kind of better exposure
 

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Did they start blueing these late war or at an aresenal rebuild? my k98s are definitely NOT this color. Should it be in the white? Should I have it cleaned up to no finish (i think not). Like rc k98's I feel like un-pristine examples have more History. I'll take a pic in the sun and see what kind of better exposure

That does not look like bluing too me but aged patina on the receiver. Plus they did not blue Gew98 receivers this early and if it was done post war in the Weimer era. The rest of the rifle would have been updated such as the rear sight.

I would like too see a picture of the right side of the receiver where the Imperial stamps are when you get time.
 
I seriously doubt its been re-blued (or blued in anyway), this is typical patina often seen on rifles that haven't been "improved" (cleaned)

If you REALLY must know for sure, disassemble the rifle and view the receiver w/o stock, there will be a contrast that will confirm it one way or the other.

What would be very helpful is better pictures, this last one I can make out a partial C/K acceptance, so this is not a no-suffix rifle, or shouldn't be (if it is it was made later, Jordan owns such a rifle I believe). What is the suffix of the rifle? What does the acceptance look like on the right receiver? What is the acceptance on the wrist, lower buttstock and under the cypher? These things will tell you more about the rifle than everything you have shown.

It looks like a nice rifle, your pictures are not very revealing though...
 
what does "suffix" mean?

I am ignorant as to what that means? does that mean something to do with an Alpha script under the serial like on Lugers? I don't see any and don't know the significance. I am new to this level of detail. Please advise.
 
Still have it too Paul my rifle is pretty close too this one. Little bit earlier then this one though. Kind of neat that my stock has grips and this one doesn't. By the serial number range their about 1811 rifles apart from each other

http://www.k98kforum.com/showthread.php?21864-Danzig-1916
 

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Does your serial number on the receiver have a letter suffix? A letter style character under the numeric (5380) serial. This letter will tell you where in 1916 production this rifle falls (how early or late) With this acceptance pattern it should be quite late, but it is known that every maker had rifles that, for whatever reason, had problems and some early serialed rifles will show up with later acceptance patterns.

Had you shown the fireproof on the barrel (you get a slight glimpse of it in this last picture) it would have helped date the rifle also. The fireproof will also be on the other side of the receiver, next to the serial.

I am ignorant as to what that means? does that mean something to do with an Alpha script under the serial like on Lugers? I don't see any and don't know the significance. I am new to this level of detail. Please advise.
 
Exact rifle I was referring too. These two rifles are the same imo, both serialed in the no suffix range, but finished much later, probably well past the mid-way point of 1916. Very interesting rifles really, though I doubt many would have given much notice to such small details that date rifles beyond what the suffix suggests.

Both are early Danzig/16's, but both were also made much later. Which is why both have survived in such nice condition. Danzig made a buttload of rifles, but 1915's and early 1916 are next to impossible to find factory original.

Still have it too Paul my rifle is pretty close too this one. Little bit earlier then this one though. Kind of neat that my stock has grips and this one doesn't. By the serial number range their about 1811 rifles apart from each other

http://www.k98kforum.com/showthread.php?21864-Danzig-1916
 
more pics and a question?

Here are some more pics that where requested to determine "age" of this rifle. Also, I've got a wierd question on something I have never seen on any Mauser action, whether German, Persian, heck even 1903 springfields do this, but NOT this bolt. While the safety certainly blocks the sear and prevents firing, the unique thing it does not do is lock the action when all the way to the right. The notch in the bolt is intact, but can I guess that the tip of the flag's shaft is damaged or out of spec?
 

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Few things are cut & dry regarding dating by acceptance patterns alone, however both your rifle and Jordan's rifle possess a acceptance pattern not seen until 2/3 through the range for 1916, generally right before Danzig rolls over to double suffix. While your rifle lacks grips, Jordan has them and "generally" that is a mid-late feature for Danzig (not really seen this early)

I can't make out your stocks acceptance clearly, but Danzig was very steady in using a consistent pattern of acceptance throughout 1916, so it probably wouldn't help dating the rifle... Also the presence of two counter stamps on the RR is very uncommon this early, such markings began in the earliest production by Danzig, but generally not under two acceptance stamps until about the rollover to dual suffix.

Anyway, I would say there is a very good argument that both your rifle and Jordan's were finished much later in 1916, probably w-z or maybe even double suffix range, but research is not advanced enough to be too definitive. Stocks especially are hard to nail down to a consistent pattern, too few factory original rifles and many sellers do not show relevant pictures to determine originality.

Re-bolt you would have to do some pictures. Disassembled might be a good idea too.
 
took bolt apart results

the half shaft nib on end of flag was broken cleanly off. Is that something a gunsmith could build back up? I will probably not because I would not want to compromise the steel of the safety, which works perfectly.
 

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