Early made 1889 Erfurt Gew88

Well this was a gunbroker purchase a few weeks ago and another fine rifle too my ever growing Erfurt collection! Anyway I took this rifle apart and it is all matching besides one part. The bolt head. But finding an early made Gew 88 this nice, almost all matching, and has not been Turk marked is tough. Really tough too say the least. Also wanted too add this rifle does have a clipped firing pin so possibly either a War bond rifle or vet bringback.

And being that not many of these early made Gew 88 rifles have been posted here I did a full photo spread on this rifle as well as a data sheet too. It does have two unit markings on it as well. I personally think the X out rear barrel band unit marking is one of the most interesting. It is marked for a Rekrutendepot or a Recruiting Depot. Kind of neat.

Anyway enjoy!

Receiver: 1889 Erfurt 6317
Barrel: 6317
Barrel shroud: 6317
Bolt head: 56
Bolt body: 6317
Bolt safety: 17
Bolt firing pin: 17
Bolt cocking piece: 17
Bolt end cap: 17
Rear barrel band: 17 69.R.R.410
Front barrel band: 17 65. R. 9. 238 Reserve Infanterie-Regiment 65, Kompagnie 9, Waffe Nr. 238
Trigger guard: 6317
Front trigger guard screw: 17
Rear trigger guard screw: 17
Magazine follower: 6317
Clip release: 317
Front sight: 17
Rear sight: 17
Rear sight slider: 17
Rear sight slide release: 17
Rear sight 300 meter adjustment slide: 17
Bolt release: 17
Trigger sear: 17
Buttplate: 17
Stock: 6317
Stock recoil crossbolt: 17
Stock sling holder screws: 17

More pictures:

Damn, that's nice! So hard to find unconverted and un Turked.

That's a really great score, and double unit marked...I'd be thrilled with it!

Last pictures:

pzjgr said:

Damn, that's nice! So hard to find unconverted and un Turked.

That's a really great score, and double unit marked...I'd be thrilled with it!

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Thanks buddy have one more too post up hopefully sometime next week maybe. Still need too add a nice Kar88 or Gew91 carbine too my collection! Gotta love those sleek little carbines!

It is converted, note the S.

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Well, you are right, you just don't see such nice original Gew 88's....I have one, but it is Turked...which, really, packs an interesting history on its own, but its not original German...

I have a great matching Kar 88, double Chevallegeur (sp!) unit marked (Light Cavalry)...the one Clay fixed the stock on...

I may have another matching one for sale in a bit, but the front end is messed up, and the nose cap has had its ears cut off....

plain old dave said:

It is converted, note the S.

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True, but no notch or clip guides, so not "too" converted....

The rifle is a regular Gew-88 , the most common of 88's , and none were Turk marked . It is not Turk marked because the Turks had no Gew-88's , only 88/05's . It does look to be a German WWI bring back rifle , not a South American like most 88's .

Fantastic find! Beautiful rifle and congratulations!

Damn all matching to the screws! Amazing that it stayed together for 129 years without someone messing with it. Great find Jordan.

The rifle has the magazine conversion done to it . Strange as that is usually only found on 88 S rifles . Show some photos of any stampings on the side of the buttstock .

It is an S, is it not??

Great rifle to find matching Jordan! Really is mind boggling to think a weapon this old with the level of detailed numbering they did could be found with all its original parts! I only have the elusive G88b model in my collection right now, I think I showed you

The rifle is a Gew-88 , not a Gew-88 S . It has had the gas flange added at a later date , it has had the magazine cover with top eject added later . It has the s chamber stamp showing the rifle was checked for chamber clearance and cleared for use with S ammo . Most all matching Gew-88 rifles came in from South America , I do not think this one did , I think it may be a bring back from WWI .

I agree with most everyone, this is a really nice and original rifle, very difficult to acquire today. I appreciate the extra effort to detail this rifle, as rare as these rifles can be in upper grades, it is even more rare to have one thoroughly detailed for research.

This is definitely a keeper Jordan, every ax-hole needs to have an Erfurt 88 in their collection! Perhaps when you get a full range of all Erfurt products in your collection you can do a display at some gunshow where all us Imperialists can get together!

Loewe said:

I agree with most everyone, this is a really nice and original rifle, very difficult to acquire today. I appreciate the extra effort to detail this rifle, as rare as these rifles can be in upper grades, it is even more rare to have one thoroughly detailed for research.

This is definitely a keeper Jordan, every ax-hole needs to have an Erfurt 88 in their collection! Perhaps when you get a full range of all Erfurt products in your collection you can do a display at some gunshow where all us Imperialists can get together!

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Your very welcome Paul. I knew the Commission 88 data and research study was a big project started really by Craig and Cyprus. So very happy too help with this endeavor too them both. And in reality taking a Gew 88 apart is not as easy as taking apart a Gew 98 but its not too hard with care and patience. I'll be honest it was a fun little exercise and was very happy too do a complete picture set too.

Have one more Gew 88 I'm going too post up either this week or next week. Bolt mismatched type but has a really interesting unit marking and a neat barrel marking too. Be great for the research department.

And yes the Erfurt collection keeps growing! Still not buying a MG08/15! Not yet would be the correct answer!

The only research project that I am aware of was done by CraigB & Don Ball, good work done on manufacturer dates and ranges, as Craig once told me Don's work was groundbreaking so far as he knew. Of course Don has a whole host of G88 enthusiasts that helped him, but I think Don's work on all the 88 variations was first rate.

I would like to hear more of the work Cyrus is doing, he is a knowledgeable collector and I am sure his work is also first rate.

Sounds good on the bolt mismatcher, I had thought of starting a research thread here to further what Don started about a decade ago, - what I had in mind would be simpler in the sense
that I would focus on acceptance, FP and BC. Not a huge amount of the latter to include (available), so probably manageable.

Warrior1354 said:

Your very welcome Paul. I knew the Commission 88 data and research study was a big project started really by Craig and Cyprus. So very happy too help with this endeavor too them both. And in reality taking a Gew 88 apart is not as easy as taking apart a Gew 98 but its not too hard with care and patience. I'll be honest it was a fun little exercise and was very happy too do a complete picture set too.

Have one more Gew 88 I'm going too post up either this week or next week. Bolt mismatched type but has a really interesting unit marking and a neat barrel marking too. Be great for the research department.

And yes the Erfurt collection keeps growing! Still not buying a MG08/15! Not yet would be the correct answer!

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looks good even better under 5 bills...you having the firing pin repaired?

Yes, hopefully this rifle will speak again. Still need a carbine though!