Gew 88 Rescue

[chrisftk]

I picked up this one a while back for a rather inexpensive price. It was a matching (except replaced bolt head) 1890 Ludwig Loewe with a cool Ostpreussen Landsturm unit marking on the siderail. While not something I collect heavily, I have a soft spot for 88s.

The issue was that the rifle was covered in dried grease and surface rust. While I don't advocate heavy cleaning, I have a conservative method I have used effectively in the past. I degrease the metal with denatured alcohol (DA) and take a combination of brass wool and a flattened 8mm brass casing to scrape the surface, wipe with DA, scrape/rub, wipe with DA and so on. The idea being that the brass will not scratch the steel and bluing, but is very effective at extraction of rust. If you degrease, it literally falls right off as a fine powder.

In any case, I have some before/after. It made for a fun afternoon. There is a nice patina left behind on the metal and really displays well with my other 88s.

Sent from my XT1635-01 using Tapatalk

 

[heavy10]

I have its brother, a matching 91 Loewe with the same unit mark, about 150 rifles before yours.

CB said "Probably Landsturm (Infantry Battalion) Opeln, 1. Komp., Waffe Nr. 80".

 

[mauser1908]

Great Job Chris!

 

[chrisftk]

I have its brother, a matching 91 Loewe with the same unit mark, about 150 rifles before yours.

CB said "Probably Landsturm (Infantry Battalion) Opeln, 1. Komp., Waffe Nr. 80".

You know, I totally didn't make the Opeln connection. It wasn't in Jeff's book and my mind immediately went to Ostpreussen

Sent from my XT1635-01 using Tapatalk

 

[cj556]

Nice save Chris!

 

[Loewe]

Can you do the lower bolt flat? Like to confirm the FP and acceptance, - so far all are quite unique (to one another) and I would like to confirm the trend. The FP is very distinctive, which is true of most of the makers.

 

[swjXE]

Great rescue, done with just the right amount of care.
Are you thinking of taking it to the range?

 

[Warrior1354]

You know I just can't help but keep coming back and looking at this rifle, Chris did such an awesome restoration. You should be quite happy my friend what a great looking rifle.

 

[chrisftk]

Can you do the lower bolt flat? Like to confirm the FP and acceptance, - so far all are quite unique (to one another) and I would like to confirm the trend. The FP is very distinctive, which is true of most of the makers.

Hey Paul, here you go:

Sent from my XT1635-01 using Tapatalk

 

[chrisftk]

You know I just can't help but keep coming back and looking at this rifle, Chris did such an awesome restoration. You should be quite happy my friend what a great looking rifle.

Thanks buddy! It was very cathartic to clean it up. Haha

Sent from my XT1635-01 using Tapatalk

 

[Loewe]

Thanks Chris, Loewe bolts (FP) are very unique and interesting, it seems all the makers were slightly different, much like with the G98 but more profoundly, much more distinctive.

 

[PrayingMantis]

Catching up on missed Gewehrs for the reference thread, somehow i missed this one. Wonderful save, Chris! and, while it's not as close as Ken's, i have an 88 marked to the same battalion!

http://www.k98kforum.com/showthread.php?11874-Spandau-1889-3347

 

[Jeff Noll]

Isn't this marking police?