Straight bolt Mauser Spandau 1913 - large ring - restore project

Gerst · Jul 20, 2020

When I was on high school I bought a sporterized” Gewehr 98 Mauser at Ye Olde Hunter in Alexandria, Virginia. I’ve had it ever since. I once bought what I thought was a replacement stock but the ring was too fat and the receiver wouldn’t fit so I sent it back. I think the rifle came from Chile.

I would like to “un-sporterize” The weapon but I need help to find the proper stock and hardware. Where do I start. Which Mauser is this? Pictures attached.

swjXE · Jul 20, 2020

Obviously a German Gewehr 98 Mauser, but it would sure be fun and we could tell you more if you could send decent photos of every aspect and marking on the rifle.
Stocks always eventually turn up on Ebay, :happy0180:

Gerst · Jul 20, 2020

More pics

Here are a few more photos.

Gerst · Jul 21, 2020

1912

My rifle is a 1912 model. Can anyone suggest how I can locate a proper stock?

sprat · Jul 21, 2020

are you a train smith? do you have a lot of experience in rebuilding firearms?

if you answered no to both questions, you will not be restoring the rifle as it is what it is a sporterize mauser and it will NEVER be anything else

I saw a great post on ar-15 today about a 1873 Winchester that was "restored' by a amateur typical abortion worth more if left alone.

after reading your thread, you need to slow down, start researching the old threads here. these rifles will be around and if you give it time you will find the right shooter.

Gerst · Jul 21, 2020

Restoration

I found a stock, hand-guard and the other hardware I think I need. I may be moving too fast but I think I know where I’m going. What the hell. It’s only money!

I’ll be turning a few screws. I’m not messing with the functional parts ofthe weapon, only the “furniture.”

pzjgr · Jul 21, 2020

Well, it was made in 1912, its still a Gew 98, in collector circles its what is known as a Gew 98M, as it received the updated leaf sight in place of the original Lange "Roller Coaster" rear sight.

Honestly, not probably worth the money to restore, as it looks like it was refinished.

The problem is, there is no reliable, just call these guys, replacement stocks available. A lot of Gew 98's were sportered, and a lot of guys restored them over the years. Finding a decent stock, complete with hardware, bands, handguard, etc to restore it will take some hunting and luck...you'd probably just be better off finding a complete one to fit your bill.

Gerst · Jul 21, 2020

Libertytree

pzjgr said:
Well, it was made in 1912, its still a Gew 98, in collector circles its what is known as a Gew 98M, as it received the updated leaf sight in place of the original Lange "Roller Coaster" rear sight.

Honestly, not probably worth the money to restore, as it looks like it was refinished.

The problem is, there is no reliable, just call these guys, replacement stocks available. A lot of Gew 98's were sportered, and a lot of guys restored them over the years. Finding a decent stock, complete with hardware, bands, handguard, etc to restore it will take some hunting and luck...you'd probably just be better off finding a complete one to fit your bill.

I may be fighting a losing battle and possibly got talked into something I can’t handle, but I ordered a Brazilian 1908 stock, a k98 hand-guard (laminate, I know) plus the other “parts” from Libertytree.

The guy at the dealer seemed to know his stuff. He said he would pick out a good stock snd try to match it to the hand-guard. The Brazilian 1908 is a Gew. 98 with only a few differences which can be accounted for and overcome. I’m quite handy and I think I can do a good job. I’m not trying to sell it and it won’t be taken tothe range. I’ll post pictures when I am finished.

Loewe · Jul 21, 2020

It's been re-numbered (re-serialed) which generally equates to shooter. Which is a shame as Spandau/12 is a good maker-date, while made to the d-block most are beaters or worse. Not easy to find in nice/decent condition.

I wouldn't waste time on this one, unless you want a shooter (it is almost assured that whatever you put into such a project will be hard to get back out, and probably take a lot longer... when I was in my 30's and 40's I made a rule to avoid restorations of all kinds, like most rules i broke them often enough but the resultant punishment never changed, - the more I put into the restoration the more I lost and the longer it took to get anything back, to mitigate both results I usually broke the rifle up for parts and sometimes i came close to breaking even - generally to take on a rifle that needs to be improved you should have a very good reason - imo of course)

Gerst · Jul 21, 2020

Loewe said:
It's been re-numbered (re-serialed) which generally equates to shooter. Which is a shame as Spandau/12 is a good maker-date, while made to the d-block most are beaters or worse. Not easy to find in nice/decent condition.

I wouldn't waste time on this one, unless you want a shooter (it is almost assured that whatever you put into such a project will be hard to get back out, and probably take a lot longer... when I was in my 30's and 40's I made a rule to avoid restorations of all kinds, like most rules i broke them often enough but the resultant punishment never changed, - the more I put into the restoration the more I lost and the longer it took to get anything back, to mitigate both results I usually broke the rifle up for parts and sometimes i came close to breaking even - generally to take on a rifle that needs to be improved you should have a very good reason - imo of course)

I took a closer look at the receiver area and it does look like numbers were stamped in after it was made. I don’t think this was done to enhance its value. I bought it for $25 as a sporterized rifle with a sling that didn’t work. I think it came from South America although there were no markings to that effect.

I just want to restore its military look, not its functionality. The rework will cost more than the gun and probably won’t increase its value but it will look like a military rifle again.

I have a photo of my father on parade in 1925 being reviewed By General von Seekt, the head of the Reichswehr. Dad has a Gew. 98 on his shoulder. He’s in the front row.

Some things you do out of love and respect, not because they are logical or smart. Collecting old firearms and militaria is all about that. Keeping touch with the past is a good thing. Trying to destroy the past is worse than criminal.

Gerst · Jul 23, 2020

Cleaning the bolt and receiver group

I don’t really see rust on this rifle but most of the pics I have seen of Gew. 98’s seem to show silver bolts, receivers, even the ring. Should I leave it alone or give it the vinegar treatment? My first inclination is to make sure the “new” stock is clean and the front and rear bands are clean but leave the “metal” alone.

Opinions and suggestions welcome.

gewehr hund · Jul 24, 2020

Leave the metal alone. While this rifle would have been originally issued in 1912 with an unblued bolt, it was updated in the 1930's to what collectors refer to the G98m (modernized). The most notable differences between G98 and G98m are the updated rear sight and that they blued the bolt. Unless you are going to change the rear sight back to the "roller coaster" sight your rifle would not be correct with a bright bolt.

Gerst · Jul 24, 2020

gewehr hund said:
Leave the metal alone. While this rifle would have been originally issued in 1912 with an unblued bolt, it was updated in the 1930's to what collectors refer to the G98m (modernized). The most notable differences between G98 and G98m are the updated rear sight and that they blued the bolt. Unless you are going to change the rear sight back to the "roller coaster" sight your rifle would not be correct with a bright bolt.

I will follow your advice. I am about to take it apart.

There is a number S/42G and to the front K167 on the rear sight you mention. What does that tell you?

gewehr hund · Jul 24, 2020

S/42 was the secret code for the Mauser plant at Oberndorf G was the date code for 1935. K167 was the Army inspection officer at Mauser whose team inspected the sight. The rear sight would have been supplied to the ordnance system as a spare part and the actual conversion from G98 to G98m was done by one of the Ordnance Depots. There may be a stamp on the under side of the stock wrist or on the take down disk in the stock that would give a clue as to the actual depot that did the work.

Gerst · Jul 24, 2020

gewehr hund said:
S/42 was the secret code for the Mauser plant at Oberndorf G was the date code for 1935. K167 was the Army inspection officer at Mauser whose team inspected the sight. The rear sight would have been supplied to the ordnance system as a spare part and the actual conversion from G98 to G98m was done by one of the Ordnance Depots. There may be a stamp on the under side of the stock wrist or on the take down disk in the stock that would give a clue as to the actual depot that did the work.

I pulled the trigger guard group and the barrel. Here are the photos. I rubbed chalk in the grooves.

Gerst · Jul 24, 2020

gewehr hund said:
S/42 was the secret code for the Mauser plant at Oberndorf G was the date code for 1935. K167 was the Army inspection officer at Mauser whose team inspected the sight. The rear sight would have been supplied to the ordnance system as a spare part and the actual conversion from G98 to G98m was done by one of the Ordnance Depots. There may be a stamp on the under side of the stock wrist or on the take down disk in the stock that would give a clue as to the actual depot that did the work.

A few more pics.

Gerst · Jul 24, 2020

The bolt

Here is the bolt.

Gerst · Jul 24, 2020

Stock

This is one identifying mark I found. It is a crown with an F symbol below, the acceptance mark.

The butt seems to have the number 18. The butt plate has asterisks on the screw heads and what looks like an 11 or a D in a tiny box on the butt plate part to goes on top of the butt.

What does the asterisk On the screw head indicate. The screws on the rear swivel have this also.

I attach photos of these marks.

Loewe · Jul 24, 2020

Spreewerke barrel, most of these were used by HZa Spandau, though the overstruck serials kind of make interpretation difficult. If the mating of the barrel was original (German) it was probably done by SPandau.

Often, if early SPandau, the RR can have counterstamps.

Gerst · Jul 24, 2020

Loewe said:
Spreewerke barrel, most of these were used by HZa Spandau, though the overstruck serials kind of make interpretation difficult. If the mating of the barrel was original (German) it was probably done by SPandau.

Often, if early SPandau, the RR can have counterstamps.

What is RR?

Any ideas on the stock? Is it original to the rest?

Straight bolt Mauser Spandau 1913 - large ring - restore project

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