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A gamble pays off

Warrior1354

Warrior1354

ax - hole
So I bought a couple rifles a few weeks ago on proxibid one of them that I was after was an 1886 lebel and the other one was a gewehr 98. What made that rifle interesting is the receiver date was 1907 / 14 and it was a low serial number with no letter block, made by Danzig. Makes sense using a leftover receiver when they started production again in 1914. I could never get any more pictures of the rifle from the auction listing, they barely posted 5 so I took a gamble. I paid for the rifle what you would pay for a bolt mismatch Gew98. So I kept my fingers crossed for almost 4 weeks and it arrived today. I was ecstatic that my 1886 lebel was all matching and in really nice condition for its age pretty neat that the barrel date shows it was made in 1919. That may explain why the condition was so nice.

But I kept my fingers crossed again and I was so hoping that gewehr 98 was matching and when I pulled it out. I noticed the stock was matching to the rifle as well as the barrel bands and the rest of the components now I was just hoping the bolt was. When I found it in the box turns out it was, and I was so happy. So that makes three of the hardest 1914 dated Gew 98 rifles to own have two more left and I have the entire set. These are just a couple sample pictures I'm posting. I will get a full data sheet and a great picture reference when I get back from the SOS show.

Enjoy
 

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Nice rifle! The start-up production is super cool. I think you did really well. Looking forward to detailed pics.

Sent from my XT1635-01 using Tapatalk
 
You know those auctions with few/poor pictures and a not too complete description can be a crap shoot. Seems like you hit it big time! Very nice that it turned out all matching.
 
I agree of course, a wonderful gamble paid off! A very elusive rifle, the first so far with a leftover receiver being used.

Among the known rifles, this rifle would have to rate fairly high in condition, it is the only confirmed with a matching bolt, - MauserBill owned a nice example, not sure if it had a matched bolt, but it was probably lost in the fire... really, while there are a couple bolt mismatchers, most have problems, are reworks (PeterK has a interwar rework) or are just reports.

This is a keeper and its great you snuck up on it, - serves them right for being stingy with the pictures.
 
Yes Paul was very happy this gamble paid off can't wait to get this rifle completely photographed and posted up on the Forum. And I'm so happy, it's one of the 1914 dated examples I needed. And probably the coolest 1914 Danzig I could have ever owned too!
 
Just wanted to give an update I finally was able to take this rifle apart it is 100% matching besides the original cleaning rod! I can tell it did see service because there is evidence of a dust cover that was on this rifle at one time and there is some light pitting underneath the stock. Going to take some time to clean her up but I'm hoping to get it posted up this Sunday. Barrel was made by krupp by the way Paul.
 
Not that I can tell HM. I think the worst pitting is probably a little bit under the receiver, and around the bolt face you can clearly tell this rifle saw action it did not spend its life behind the lines. Another evidence of action I saw was the dark shadow pattern which clearly looks like there was a dust cover on this rifle at one time. Will take good pictures out of when I get it posted up showing that feature.
 
Loewe said:
I agree of course, a wonderful gamble paid off! A very elusive rifle, the first so far with a leftover receiver being used.

Among the known rifles, this rifle would have to rate fairly high in condition, it is the only confirmed with a matching bolt, - MauserBill owned a nice example, not sure if it had a matched bolt, but it was probably lost in the fire... really, while there are a couple bolt mismatchers, most have problems, are reworks (PeterK has a interwar rework) or are just reports.

This is a keeper and its great you snuck up on it, - serves them right for being stingy with the pictures.
Click to expand...

Paul ; It went up in smoke. They all did. Peter got all the "junk" and salvaged a lot for other collectors.
 
One popped up on Gunboards last year or the year before. I had the serial recorded from one of my visits to your "armory" where I took notes, it had a metal finish problem and I assumed it was in the fire but I didn't have the "proof" (pictures of the exact serial - I had some pictures of your rifles, but often they are partial) so it was a hard sell... but it isn't my problem if he is dumb enough to shoot the thing.

A real shame too, you had a marvelous collection. I am glad I had a chance to see your collection!
 
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