On second thought, here is another, more detailed....
DocAV
Gunboards.Com Silver Star Member
Australia
981 PostsPosted - 12/18/2004 : 11:02:25 PM
There are still some details missing from the "colour scheme" for the Gew98, as at WW I.
Starting from the butt, here we go:
Buttplate:White; Buttplate screws: Blue
Disk (pre 1916) White: Disc-screw Blued.
Dismounting Washer&ferrule (post 1916) White
Butt sling swivel base and screws: Blue.
Receiver Body: White; Bolt latch on side: Blue
Bolt complete: White.
Mag /trigger guard/ Floorplate: Blue; Mag. elevator plate : White
Trigger parts, White, with blue-straw flame finish to trigger curve.
Magazine floorplate latch pin: White
Receiver main and lock screws: Blue
Rear stock screw ferrule : White
Stock Recoil Bolt: usually Blue, have seen some with White head & Body and socket screw.
Cleaning rod retaining plate in forestock :White.
Rear sights: Body and "Hump" and Slide Blued, EXCEPT for side and top plates where numbers are inscribed. These areas are in the White, with the Blue actually blending in after the last Numbers forward.
Bands (sling and "H") Blue.
Bayonet stud socket: White
Retaining Springs for bands "Straw" White or White.
Cleaning Rod : White
There may be some minor variations due to wartime changes, especially in the period 1916-1918, when a lot of smaller parts were simply blued; A lot of Interwar replacement parts were Blued, as were the receivers from the 1920s onwards.
Cleaning : Bronze or brass Brushes/"Wool" with solvent oil/kerosene/Diesel oil. I use Fine Steel Wool #0000;
Patina of Age or "To New Restoration"? depends on the rifle and its History.
I have a Aussie capture ( Stock marked) Gew98, AMN, with rod, that still has most of its original Blueing scheme, incl. the rear sight.
It has been "Restored" to its 1917-capture condition. (The period 1918 -1970 was spent in a veterans hall display, with several coats of Furniture wax. Note I said "1917 capture" condition, Not "1917 NEW factory" condition. There is some field patina on both the Buttplate and receiver, but most of the other parts ( after wax removal) are "as in service".
This restoration was done by Steelwool/ Brass brushes and elbow grease for the metal work, and Hot water, soap, scrubbing brush, and more elbow grease for the Stock wood. Stock was "de-dented" by using a steam iron, although some of the "crushed fibre" dents were not fully expanded, giving it that "trench use" look.
Stock was then BLO treated and rubbed to a medium blond colour (beechwood). A 1917 MauserWerke SG98/05 "Butcher" bayonet rounded off the assembly, as well as an original, if shrunken, leather sling with QD attachment.
Regards, Doc AV
