.....great information from Absolut, as usual.
I have never examined a WWI GEW sniper dated this early. So From that limited point of view:
Just to add a couple, but not all areas that gives me pause for your consideration.
The stock not having grasping grooves is for sure a suspect area to consider. I do know some collectors have said that there are original “as-built” WWI issue GEW scoped rifles that do not have them but this is not common. Although I have not seen one with this early of a date before either.
The numbering on the root of the bolt at the turn down does not appear correct and there are lots of re-numbered and miss-matched parts, some with a marking system that looks incorrect for the time period
as that on the bolt shroud/sleeve .
This has been for sale for a very long time, as stated previously likely for a reason perhaps?
I have never seen a “capture tag” so I can’t tell you if the one on this rifle is legit or not, I hope someone here can because in all circumstances with rare or reportedly rare items, to know authenticating information is priceless.
That said, if you don’t have documentation
that can be substantiated, (I believe each collector needs to decide that on their own) then I think you should always buy the rifle or item itself and never the story.