It may have been discussed here before, but I'm wondering what the story is on the alternate style letter font used on some M.O. gew 98's. Was this only seen in a given year, s/n range? I have a 1916 M.O. Gew 98 with the different, stylistic font. S/n is 6686 x, and it's one of the Navy Arms imports from Turkey and is mismatched.
Alternate receiver font style on Oberndorf Gew 98's
- Thread starter Stan
- Start date
Fal Grunt
Senior Member
You guys are so autistic, I love it!
There are minor variations in the roll mark, this is commonly seen across many many firearms. Sometimes a small crack, chip, or break can be seen.
This rifle the E font is similar, but the R is not the same.
www.k98kforum.com
This rifle the E and the R are the same.
www.k98kforum.com
It looks like the variation is a late 1916 feature. A quick look at some 1917 guns it is back to what you could call the "standard". I will have to look through some commercial guns and see if I can find any variation or if it is pretty consistent.
There are minor variations in the roll mark, this is commonly seen across many many firearms. Sometimes a small crack, chip, or break can be seen.
This rifle the E font is similar, but the R is not the same.
1916 WMO Gew 98
I won this one at auction recently. Aside from the unnumbered rod and front action screw it’s matching. There are no depot markings on the buttplate and this one was once part of Craig Browns collection. This rifle is my first wartime production Gew 98 and it pairs well with the pre war 1904...
www.k98kforum.com
This rifle the E and the R are the same.
For the index 1916 Oberndorf
Matching to the screws. FF block with late war features, in walnut.
www.k98kforum.com
It looks like the variation is a late 1916 feature. A quick look at some 1917 guns it is back to what you could call the "standard". I will have to look through some commercial guns and see if I can find any variation or if it is pretty consistent.
Takes one to know one! lol.
Just to pile on to Nathaniel... Minute details changed with all the manufacturers over time--- even things like placement of the rollmark, crown design, etc.. Danzig is known for its fireproof variances. Anyway-- good question Stan. Thanks for asking it.
Since pics always help, here's a smattering of some various WMO dates I have in my collection side by side. Here you can really see the variability in the fonts.
Awesome post!