1909 Spandau Gew 98 4497a

[chrisftk]

Happy Independence Day Eve everyone,

A friend here tipped me off this one popped up with Legacy on a random Friday afternoon and was under-priced and under-described. It turned out to be much better in person.

1909 is a tough year for Gew98s; WMO made a very small number (5k if the records are accurate) and the Berlin manufacturers (DWM and Spandau) both cracked mid way into the "a" block; so fairly light overall. I've got a wonderful DWM from Mike F's collection, so these pair well. It also helped complete a nice set of 09-13 Spandau for the "dead years" as Sam calls it.

This example was nice for data because it has the factory stock, barrel, bolt and complete triggerguard assembly. There are a couple of m/m small bits (handguard, front band, cocking piece and safety.) There's a 5/Koblenz stamp on the buttplate, but no major signs of rework.

In any case, here are the data:

Receiver 4497a
Barrel 4497a (BI 363)
Front sight 97
Rear sight leaf 97
Sight slider 97
Sight buttons: 97. 97
Ejector box 97
Trigger sear 97
Front barrel band mm
Rear barrel band 97
Trigger guard 4497
Trigger guard screws 97 front, 97 rear
Floor plate 97
Follower 97
Stock 4497
Hand guard mm
Butt plate 4497a
Bayonet lug 97
Bolt body 4497a
Extractor 97
Safety mm
Cocking piece mm
Bolt sleeve 97
Firing pin 97

 

[chrisftk]

Remaining pics

 

[joryfreeburg]

Nice honest prewar Chris……. I bet you were happy when you unpacked that one…… congrats

 

[AN-94]

That's a sweet prewar Spandau, having the factory bolt, stock, and triggerguard assembly is pretty awesome on a prewar rifle like this. A bit surprising that there's no unit marking on the disc but still, a very nice stock on it. Congrats on picking this one up!

 

[Cyrano4747]

Very nice. Are you going to flip the disk and see if there's anything under it?

 

[chrisftk]

Nice honest prewar Chris……. I bet you were happy when you unpacked that one…… congrats

Thanks Jory, I was. I had a placeholder 09, but this was definitely an improvement.

That's a sweet prewar Spandau, having the factory bolt, stock, and triggerguard assembly is pretty awesome on a prewar rifle like this. A bit surprising that there's no unit marking on the disc but still, a very nice stock on it. Congrats on picking this one up!

That's a little misconception that most pre-wars should be unit marked. I see and own plenty without markings

Very nice. Are you going to flip the disk and see if there's anything under it?

Sadly, I don't think it'll turn up anything. There's an acceptance on the outward facing side. Still, I generally check if I can do so. I have had a couple rifles that had unit markings on the non-accepted side

 

[mauser1908]

Great rifle Chris! Damn tough to find, especially factory. Glad a good buddy was able to help you out!

 

[Jdt]

What a cool example! Congrats Chris

 

[chrisftk]

Great rifle Chris! Damn tough to find, especially factory. Glad a good buddy was able to help you out!

What a cool example! Congrats Chris

Thanks guys,. Going off memory, but I think theres around 10 or so documented for Spandau this year @Loewe probably has a more precise figure.

 

[Loewe]

1909 Spandau 586 C/G C/C C/C unit- 34.R.5.7 (match unknown - wrist acceptance C/M make probable)
1909 Spandau 3470 rc (Empire Arms report)
1909 Spandau 6721 (original - no unit)
1909 Spandau 9674 C/B C/C C/C unit- 49.R.6.92 (BC- BI . 369)

1909 Spandau 2146 a C/O C/C C/C (re-barrel BSW e/4 barrel)
1909 Spandau 2460 a C/G C/C C/Y C/B (Polish barrel-suffix dubious)
1909 Spandau 5619 a (sporter mess)
1909 Spandau 6152 a C/D C/C C/C unit- 12.R.8.225 (wrist acceptance C/M) (re-barrel)
1909 Spandau 8740 a C/O C/D C/D
1909 Spandau 8768 a (top-receiver B.S.)

 

[chrisftk]

1909 Spandau 586 C/G C/C C/C unit- 34.R.5.7 (match unknown - wrist acceptance C/M make probable)
1909 Spandau 3470 rc (Empire Arms report)
1909 Spandau 6721 (original - no unit)
1909 Spandau 9674 C/B C/C C/C unit- 49.R.6.92 (BC- BI . 369)

1909 Spandau 2146 a C/O C/C C/C (re-barrel BSW e/4 barrel)
1909 Spandau 2460 a C/G C/C C/Y C/B (Polish barrel-suffix dubious)
1909 Spandau 5619 a (sporter mess)
1909 Spandau 6152 a C/D C/C C/C unit- 12.R.8.225 (wrist acceptance C/M) (re-barrel)
1909 Spandau 8740 a C/O C/D C/D
1909 Spandau 8768 a (top-receiver B.S.)

Thanks Paul! Looks like this one makes it 11. Glad it was a new data point.

 

[Loewe]

Thought I would flesh out unit trends and RR, reserve regiments are the two first two, the latter line, my tool bar features arn't working for some reason. Your rifle is superior to most of the reports but a reasonable number have been recorded considering the very low production... of course the low production was probably driven by the current 98a they were working on (1909 was the middle of Spandau's 98a run too)

None of the arsenals were good at dual production it seems, DWM was the only one capable of two or more good runs simultaneously.

 

[chrisftk]

Thought I would flesh out unit trends and RR, reserve regiments are the two first two, the latter line, my tool bar features arn't working for some reason. Your rifle is superior to most of the reports but a reasonable number have been recorded considering the very low production... of course the low production was probably driven by the current 98a they were working on (1909 was the middle of Spandau's 98a run too)

None of the arsenals were good at dual production it seems, DWM was the only one capable of two or more good runs simultaneously.

Thanks Paul, always appreciated.

Out of curiosity, how many Spandau examples for 1910 do you have recorded? I feel like I've seen fewer of them than 09 or 11; but might be cognitive dissonance.

 

[Loewe]

11 Spandau/10 recorded, to the high 9788/b block, might have rolled over this late. Pics of 9788 are good, so I will post them here...

** on a side note, only one Spandau/10 is unit marked 3860 (21.R.11.11)

*** line IR, the thee dot advice seems to not work, - either it is my pc, something I fingerfarted by accident (something I pushed) or some mysterious internet update I neglected. It is a small issue...

 

[Loewe]

3860 (21.R.11.11)

 

[feldmütze]

That's a good honest one Chris. Great pickup!

 

[chrisftk]

11 Spandau/10 recorded, to the high 9788/b block, might have rolled over this late. Pics of 9788 are good, so I will post them here...

** on a side note, only one Spandau/10 is unit marked 3860 (21.R.11.11)

*** line IR, the thee dot advice seems to not work, - either it is my pc, something I fingerfarted by accident (something I pushed) or some mysterious internet update I neglected. It is a small issue...

Thanks Paul! I'm sorry the toolbar still isn't working. Here's a more comprehensive post on the issue. Maybe it'll help.

XF 2.2 - A couple users on my forum have had recent TOOLBAR problems...

A couple users on my forum have had recent TOOLBAR problems... does this sound familiar? "the tool bar just blanks-out when I make new post--I can't bold the text, among other problems" - user-2 "pale grey non-functioning text toolbar" - user-1 other users including myself have NOT had this...

xenforo.com

That's a good honest one Chris. Great pickup!

Thanks Mike, combined with my 1910, it really makes a nice lineup with the 11, 12 and 13 I got from you!

 

[Warrior1354]

Neat rifle. Here's a picture for your thread as well. I picked up recently at a collector show.

 

[chrisftk]

Neat rifle. Here's a picture for your thread as well. I picked up recently at a collector show.
View attachment 447515

Thanks! Neat picture. I'm assuming four Saxon brothers. Seems to check- the 133rd was a Saxon regiment and the state kokarde on the 2nd guy's cap is definitely the light green and white of Saxony. One of the young ones looks like he wanted to join the artillery.

 

[Loewe]

Thanks Paul! I'm sorry the toolbar still isn't working. Here's a more comprehensive post on the issue. Maybe it'll help.

XF 2.2 - A couple users on my forum have had recent TOOLBAR problems...

A couple users on my forum have had recent TOOLBAR problems... does this sound familiar? "the tool bar just blanks-out when I make new post--I can't bold the text, among other problems" - user-2 "pale grey non-functioning text toolbar" - user-1 other users including myself have NOT had this...

xenforo.com

Thanks Mike, combined with my 1910, it really makes a nice lineup with the 11, 12 and 13 I got from you!

I had the high-tech dept (AKA wife) check your link and she fixed in about 45 seconds, seems it was a fat-finger fredy on my part (pushing buttons recklessly and/or fumbling the keyboard)

Thanks for the assist!