Gewehr 98 Spandau 1901 6136

Rephotographing still. Had this Spandau 1901 for some time. Metal work is a little rough, but overall the condition isn't bad at all. The unit mark is the best part.

Interesting to me is the Spitzer round updates. Though the receiver did not receive a fireproof, it did get the new rear sight, and the slider is marked with an S by the acceptance.

SPANDAU 1901

Receiver SN 6136
Barrel SN 6136 BI 72
Front sight SN 36
Rear sight SN 40
Sight Slider SN 36
Ejector box SN 36
Trigger Sear SN 36
Front barrel band SN 36
Rear barrel band SN 36
Trigger guard SN 6136
Trigger guard screws SN 36, 36
Floor Plate SN 36
Follower SN 36
Stock SN 6136 Disc 4 GG.R.3.136.
Handguard SN 6136
Buttplate SN 6136
Bayonet lug SN 36
Cleaning rod SN 96

The stock and triggerguard.

I am glad you are doing more detailed pictures, 2011 you did far fewer! (but covered the key features)

Rifles such as these, factory original, are very important, while many early Spandau's are recorded, those that are both largely original and well photographed/documented are rather rare. Quite a few are re-barrels also, though several unit marked have survived. (2.G.G/2.G.G.R and KS especially show up)

I think yours might be the only Spandau/00-01 with its original barrel recorded (3/4 do not show the BC at all, but among those that do I think most are re-barrels, even those that have some of your rifles characteristics...). If you have the rifle handy or better pictures of the BC acceptance it would be good to identify the three acceptance stamps for comparisons. No worries if not as these comparisons probably would lead to no certainties.

I think that most rifles this early received re-barrels, some are obvious, some less so, possibly more formal operations did comparable work and are difficult to differentiate, but relying on FP and serialing/suffix variations are not clear cut and acceptance plays a part. So too subtle patterns of application, which produces some of my suspicions.

Anyway, a rather rare rifle in this condition!

What a wonderful rifle Cyprus love these early pre war Gewehrs! Great pictures my friend. Still need to add a nice early Amberg and Erfurt to the collection one day. First need a Simson Kar98b, and 1914 Spandau, and Colonial Gew98, and, and, it's madness!

Loewe said:

I think yours might be the only Spandau/00-01 with its original barrel recorded (3/4 do not show the BC at all, but among those that do I think most are re-barrels, even those that have some of your rifles characteristics...). If you have the rifle handy or better pictures of the BC acceptance it would be good to identify the three acceptance stamps for comparisons. No worries if not as these comparisons probably would lead to no certainties.

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Thanks for the insight, Paul! I didn’t realize how many were reworked, that is impressive that it has the original barrel. When I did the photos I was lazy and didn’t want to take it apart, so I used the old photo on the barrel code. But, I went ahead and took it apart for new photos, and to oil under the wood, so I added those new ones to the original post.

Warrior1354 said:

What a wonderful rifle Cyprus love these early pre war Gewehrs! Great pictures my friend. Still need to add a nice early Amberg and Erfurt to the collection one day. First need a Simson Kar98b, and 1914 Spandau, and Colonial Gew98, and, and, it's madness!

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Thanks, Jordan! I know what you mean, I have a list of Gews I want, and the more I think about it the longer the list grows! An early Amberg is high on my list, too. Long term I’d like an example of each maker from each major era: Early Features; Prewar; Wartime.

Thanks Cyrus, besides the serialing match, the absence of a FP, the undisturbed RR (or addition of another acceptance) the BC does compare well with a few around it, in 1900 in particular, the unaccountable upper case letters seems common, the "pattern" (placement) also fit, but for some inexplicable reason I thought the acceptance on the RR and barrel should at least conform to one another, - probably because I have been working on DWM/WMO trends and they generally do, but the arsenals are not DWM/WMO and I examined wartime production at Spandau and Erfurt (98a) which is complete, and they rarely match, though are consistent in ranges (same inspector for the barrel).

Anyway, I guess it was a waste of time in that sense, though knowing yours with certainty will help evaluate others to come, - this sort of thing, trends, is a game with the long view!

Thanks for taking the time to disassemble the rifle and doing the BC clearly, it was very helpful!

PrayingMantis said:

Thanks for the insight, Paul! I didn’t realize how many were reworked, that is impressive that it has the original barrel. When I did the photos I was lazy and didn’t want to take it apart, so I used the old photo on the barrel code. But, I went ahead and took it apart for new photos, and to oil under the wood, so I added those new ones to the original post.

Click to expand...

Loewe said:

Anyway, I guess it was a waste of time in that sense, though knowing yours with certainty will help evaluate others to come, - this sort of thing, trends, is a game with the long view!

Thanks for taking the time to disassemble the rifle and doing the BC clearly, it was very helpful!

Click to expand...

Never a waste of time! Any time they can contribute to a study it’s worth taking more photos. It was good to take it all the way down and oil it anyway. Plus, my camera is so much better than the one I had in 2011, so the photos needed updated.