Third Party Press

Odd 1916 Erfurt TPS

flynaked

Repo Field Gear Collector
Just picked this one up, it’s fairly original, save some m/m small parts and the missing HG. I’m a bit puzzled by it though. Many of the major components have an additional c/RC, to include, the Receiver (x2), barrel, sight base, TG, bolt body, and cocking piece. Both the TG and FP have an asterisk stamped internally as well. The bolt looks to have had the c/RC stamped right over the FP. The receiver looks to have been either jigged wrong or simply milled wrong as the receiver sides are both over and under cut respectively. Additionally there is both a “+” near this flaw, as well as what looks to probably be another c/RC on the side of the receiver lug. Looking forward to your thoughts on all of that.

The TPS is numbered internally and is a little tougher to read externally and has a grease line filled in at the wood line. The front band I suppose is a factory error as it is numbered 86 instead of 85, it’s in identical condition to the rear band and such, so I’m not sure it’s replaced, I am puzzled by the c/H on it though?
 

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I’ll post some internal part pictures here in a bit.
 

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Fantastic find! Very nice example of a two piece stock. I have never seen so many RC parts on one Gewehr before though, it’s almost like Erfurt stuck all of them that had been set aside on this assembly.
Yeah I was thinking this reminds me of the WW2 BLM "Circle A" rifles.

Awesome piece buddy, so glad you snagged it!

Sent from my moto g power using Tapatalk
 
Thanks guys and for the info Cyrus, I wasn’t sure what to make of the band. Here are some more pictures of this crude receiver, it has quite a lot of the passivation remaining. Is an asterisk used in the same sense during the imperial era?
 

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Clay that is a wonderful Erfurt! Interesting Bohler barrel, I wouldn’t expect that on a wartime Erfurt.
 
What a nice untouched wartime Erfurt Gew98. Over the years these have been tough to locate for sale, took me awhile to get my dated 1916 example. Really a nice Erfurt Clay congrats to you!
 
Probably very late 1916 or 1917 production, - there are two TPS in the Erfurt/16 d-block also (G98, Erfurt 98a TPS are more common 17-18), very rare otherwise (though several 3-suffix sterngewehrs are known)

Very interesting rifle because it contrast so sharply from Erfurt 98a production in 1916, both in RR acceptance and stock variation. Typically this RR is not seen on 98a production, though a combination of these characters do come up in 1916, just not together in this pattern. The stock is the most interesting in that there are very few 98a with a TD but no grips and generally grips came first (in 1917, rare in 1916, not all that early in 1917 either...)

However all that said, this rifle (stock no grips w/TD) is common enough in Erfurt G98 production in 1916, rather rare too, this is actually the highest known and confirmed non-sterngewehr Erfurt G98. Only two Erfurt/17 G98's known and both are reports or very few pictures. These latter are probably sterngewehrs, as all confirmed Erfurt/17 G98's are sterngewehrs and clearly defined (rather rare too, - oddly all in the no-suffix or 1-suffix ranges, where most Erfurt/16's (sterngewehrs) are higher suffix ranges!)

** Really, Erfurt G98 production is little known or understood, some group these among sterngewehr production, just lacking a star, but I think these are a distinct Erfurt variation. Possibly these led to the sterngewehr program, pre-date it and evolved into it. Might explain the early introduction of the Erfurt/17 G98's in the no-suffix and 1-block ranges, whereas the latter blocks take up the Erfurt/16's, possibly rejected from the early program. Hard to say, but one thing is for sure Erfurt G98's are not common.

*** re- Böhler barrels on Erfurt, Sam is right, unexpected by me as well, Böhler is fairly common in 1917-1918 Erfurt 98a production (not the most common though), but only 9 Erfurt's recorded before 1917-1918 using a Böhler barrel. (that is 1901-1916 only 9 recorded, a third are 98a, - of the wartime G98 production only a sterngewehr which is probably 1917 production and Erfurt/16 no-suffix and an a-block) Very uncommon to find a Böhler barrel on a Erfurt until 1917 (Erfurt liked BSI - Bergische Stahl-Industrie-Gesellschaft, Remscheid much like WMO, who identified BSI as "BS")
 
Probably very late 1916 or 1917 production, - there are two TPS in the Erfurt/16 d-block also (G98, Erfurt 98a TPS are more common 17-18), very rare otherwise (though several 3-suffix sterngewehrs are known)

Very interesting rifle because it contrast so sharply from Erfurt 98a production in 1916, both in RR acceptance and stock variation. Typically this RR is not seen on 98a production, though a combination of these characters do come up in 1916, just not together in this pattern. The stock is the most interesting in that there are very few 98a with a TD but no grips and generally grips came first (in 1917, rare in 1916, not all that early in 1917 either...)

However all that said, this rifle (stock no grips w/TD) is common enough in Erfurt G98 production in 1916, rather rare too, this is actually the highest known and confirmed non-sterngewehr Erfurt G98. Only two Erfurt/17 G98's known and both are reports or very few pictures. These latter are probably sterngewehrs, as all confirmed Erfurt/17 G98's are sterngewehrs and clearly defined (rather rare too, - oddly all in the no-suffix or 1-suffix ranges, where most Erfurt/16's (sterngewehrs) are higher suffix ranges!)

** Really, Erfurt G98 production is little known or understood, some group these among sterngewehr production, just lacking a star, but I think these are a distinct Erfurt variation. Possibly these led to the sterngewehr program, pre-date it and evolved into it. Might explain the early introduction of the Erfurt/17 G98's in the no-suffix and 1-block ranges, whereas the latter blocks take up the Erfurt/16's, possibly rejected from the early program. Hard to say, but one thing is for sure Erfurt G98's are not common.

*** re- Böhler barrels on Erfurt, Sam is right, unexpected by me as well, Böhler is fairly common in 1917-1918 Erfurt 98a production (not the most common though), but only 9 Erfurt's recorded before 1917-1918 using a Böhler barrel. (that is 1901-1916 only 9 recorded, a third are 98a, - of the wartime G98 production only a sterngewehr which is probably 1917 production and Erfurt/16 no-suffix and an a-block) Very uncommon to find a Böhler barrel on a Erfurt until 1917 (Erfurt liked BSI - Bergische Stahl-Industrie-Gesellschaft, Remscheid much like WMO, who identified BSI as "BS")

Very interesting information Paul. This rifle has an awful lot in common with my early "3" suffix 1916 Sterngewehr. (Except a Krupp barrel on mine)

Given the observations we have, it would make sense that the Sterngewehr program grew out of standard production; particularly with the high level of other production Erfurt was handling at the time. Maybe a "relief valve", so to speak?

Sent from my moto g power using Tapatalk
 

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