My buddy inherited a Gewehr 98 that his grandfather brought back.
What can you tell me about it, so I can pass the info on?
Thanks
What can you tell me about it, so I can pass the info on?
Thanks
Inherited rifle
- Thread starter Clickjack
- Start date
mauser1908
Senior Member
You inherited a damn good one. The firing proof should give away who assembled it, based on the fact it has a six point star it's either a Spandau or Erfurt assembled rifle but the firing proof and acceptance will determine which it is. Please post some photos of the right side of the receiver, left side of the receiver, and buttstock. Again, this is a nice untouched example, matching Sterngewehrs are tough to find.
Warrior1354
ax - hole
A very cool rifle would love to see better pictures when you get time. It is a sterngewehr as others have stated but you will need to show the right side of the receiver to show who did the actual work. Really a very neat rifle
I asked him for more photos.
I know nothing about these rifles. It’s says Spandau on it right about. 1916. What makes it a Sterngewehr? What’s desirable about a Sterngewehr?
Warrior1354
ax - hole
Its a Sterngewehr due to the star marking on top the receiver but the proofs on the right side of the receiver will determine who did the work. The receiver is a Spandau made receiver but Erfurt or Danzig could have assembled this rifle instead of Spandau. The proofs will determine that.
What a Sterngewehr is you ask. Is a rifle made of parts delivered by sub-contractors, or left over parts, recycled parts, you name it. Some of these rifles you may come across have some pretty cool leftover receivers or previous rejected parts. I have seen a few Sterngewehr rifles with 1899 Mauser Oberndorf made receivers that were later used in 1916. And even a few Kornbusch & Co made receivers as well. My personal favorite Sterngewehr rifles are the ones done at the Dresden depot in Saxony.
They were the best looking and generally the highest quality made rifles IMO
In short these are very interesting rifles with unique features. In short your buddy got neat Gew98 rifle!
What a Sterngewehr is you ask. Is a rifle made of parts delivered by sub-contractors, or left over parts, recycled parts, you name it. Some of these rifles you may come across have some pretty cool leftover receivers or previous rejected parts. I have seen a few Sterngewehr rifles with 1899 Mauser Oberndorf made receivers that were later used in 1916. And even a few Kornbusch & Co made receivers as well. My personal favorite Sterngewehr rifles are the ones done at the Dresden depot in Saxony.
They were the best looking and generally the highest quality made rifles IMO
In short these are very interesting rifles with unique features. In short your buddy got neat Gew98 rifle!
Few more photos.
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All matching. Not sure where his grandfather got it. He served in the Navy in WW2. Not sure about his Great Grandfather.
Does the strap look right?
Does the strap look right?
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mauser1908
Senior Member
Looks like a great Spandau assembled sterngewehr. Tough gun to find matching and untouched, the sling is WWI era U.S. rifle sling for an M1917 or M1903.
It may be tempting for your friend to want to try and clean this rifle up, which a conservative cleaning would be warranted with this rifle I tend to carefully clean them when necessary. However, in these cases unless he's very experienced and has conservatively cleaned several comparable rifles it's better you encourage him to just oil it, and leave it alone. I would also advise him not to take it it to the local gunsmith for a "cleaning". With these there's a very fine line between doing what's necessary and over cleaning.
It may be tempting for your friend to want to try and clean this rifle up, which a conservative cleaning would be warranted with this rifle I tend to carefully clean them when necessary. However, in these cases unless he's very experienced and has conservatively cleaned several comparable rifles it's better you encourage him to just oil it, and leave it alone. I would also advise him not to take it it to the local gunsmith for a "cleaning". With these there's a very fine line between doing what's necessary and over cleaning.
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heavy_mech
RKI- Reasonably Knowledgable Individual
Could not agree more. Untouched is only untouched once and you can't put that genie back in the bottle. These are quite desirable 'as is' and you'd likely halve the value the minute you handed it to the gunsmith.
Btw, I love the rifle just as it is. Your friend got a great gift.
I agree with Sam, Spandau made sterngewehr, which isn't uncommon to see them using their own receivers. As said, very tough to find in this condition, the rifle is worth a good sum if left unmolested, - the best advise you can give your friend is to do no "cleaning" and try to keep it in a dry and cool environment. This rifle definitely didn't come back in WWII, it has survived in its current state for a hundred years, if your friend can manage to avoid cleaning it or placing it in a harmful environment it will increase in value, though I could see this rifle pulling $1500 today. (clean it and you can easily halve that value in about half an hour)
What do you guys estimate the value is?
He doesn’t intend to sale. It’s been in his family.
He wants to shoot it. But he doesn’t want to hurt it. Is it ok to take it to the range on occasion? Clean it like a normal rifle afterwards (balistol & patches)?
Others can give you value, Paul already did.
Cleaning, you need to punch the bore first, and the metal needs nothing more than a good wipe down. Good oiling never hurts.
Shooting, yes, this rifle looks very shootable on an occasional sense. I'd put Turk 147 grain through it, and clean the bore accordingly (corrosive ammo).
Check that firing pin, probably 50/50 chance the tip has been clipped.
Superb rifle, very collectable in that condition.
pzjgr
EOD - bombs and bullets
See Paul's post above yours, he is saying around $1500...make sure he understands the advice given...resist the desire to clean it. Collectors want untouched guns...
Its really cool, a veritable time capsule.
Shooting it? Meh, personally I wouldn't, from the standpoint of I'd rather not chance anything breaking on a real collectible gun (not that a lot can break on bolt actions, but it happens)...but I would think its fine to put a few rounds through...mild handloads would be best....
His post apparently showed up while I was typing mine. What do you mean “punch the barrel”
Why would the fireing pin have been clipped?
heavy_mech
RKI- Reasonably Knowledgable Individual
..it will increase in value, though I could see this rifle pulling $1500 today. Loewe certainly knows his way around Imperial rifles so I'd take his word for it.
This can get a little (lot) dicey. I'll admit many people would say do not shoot it. Many knowledgeable collectors. Then there are others who shoot their rifles... all of them however conservatively. Low power rounds, low round counts and no corrosive ammo. As you said a simple wipe down and swap the bore with a fairly benign product such as Ballistol. I'll stop short of saying it's ok under those conditions but I probably would if it was mine.
mauser1908
Senior Member
Assuming it’s mechanically sound, the biggest thing you want to check is to make sure the stock is sound. If it’s overly dry, I wouldn’t shoot it. Most of your problems will come from the stock cracking if it’s too dry or already cracked. You can shoot them as long as the condition warrants shooting them. If he chooses I would take it easy on it, don’t make it the regular range rifle, get a more mismatched example for that. Also have him look under the rear band to make sure it’s not duffle cut.
