1917 WMO "a" Block

[chrisftk]

Hi Guys,

I picked this one up a month or so ago as a lucky BIN on broker. It was a nice untouched factory matching rifle with some heavy oxidation on the receiver and bolt. I gave it a good conservative cleaning with brass and oil and it cleaned up really nice. It's got a nice salty but honest look.

Not much to say other than it has a really nice character to the wood. Likely juvenile walnut.

Receiver 6178a
Barrel 6178a (BS 758)
Front Sight 78
Rear Sight Leaf 78
Sight Slider 78
Ejector Box 78
Trigger Sear 78
Front Barrel Band 78
Rear Barrel Band 78
Trigger Guard 6178
Trigger Guard Screws 78,78
Floor Plate 78
Follower 78
Stock 6178
Handguard 6178
Buttplate 6178
Bayonet Lug 78
Cleaning Rod n/a
Bolt Body 6178 a
Extractor 6178
Safety 78
Cocking Piece 78
Bolt Sleeve 78
Firing Pin 78

 

[chrisftk]

Interior- see how clean it is under the wood?


A few "before" pics to show how dirty/oxidized it was:

 

[biggymu]

Chris! A nice solid example. Especially if the price is right. Good snag!

 

[hale1940]

Another great one Chris. I'm still waiting for my 1917. This one cleaned up real nice though, and its interesting to see how preserved it is under the wood line...like new!

I'm curious, what gives it away as juvenile walnut?

 

[Loewe]

Very nice, not a lot of upper grade survivors WMO/17, - walnut stocks are more common up to the h-block of 17, then it is hit or miss through most of 1917. Maple stocks show up early and sporadically in 1917, pretty much only at WMO.

Anyway, "German" WMO/17's in upper grades are tough, at least proportionately speaking, there are a good number of WMO/17-18 that have Republic era service markings.

 

[chrisftk]

Chris! A nice solid example. Especially if the price is right. Good snag!

Thanks Rick! Tricky date for this maker on non-turked examples.

Another great one Chris. I'm still waiting for my 1917. This one cleaned up real nice though, and its interesting to see how preserved it is under the wood line...like new!

I'm curious, what gives it away as juvenile walnut?

Very nice, not a lot of upper grade survivors WMO/17, - walnut stocks are more common up to the h-block of 17, then it is hit or miss through most of 1917. Maple stocks show up early and sporadically in 1917, pretty much only at WMO.

Anyway, "German" WMO/17's in upper grades are tough, at least proportionately speaking, there are a good number of WMO/17-18 that have Republic era service markings.

Thanks guys-- the listing pics were bad and had no SN, so I jumped thinking it might be Maple given the weird grain of the wood. It doesn't look like normal walnut. No "A" though so clearly not maple despite looks. I'm guessing juvenile walnut.

Here's a few more pics so you guys see what I mean.

 

[mauser1908]

I really like this one, it cleaned up so well.

 

[chrisftk]

I really like this one, it cleaned up so well.

Thanks Sam! I'm both surprised and pleased we have a good number of 17 WMOs documented in our forum here.

 

[PrayingMantis]

Maple or not I like that stock, very interesting grain pattern. Added to the reference.

 

[mauser1908]

Maple or not I like that stock, very interesting grain pattern. Added to the reference.

Me too, I like the tool chatter and the visible sanding marks from the factory. Mine has the same characteristics, I think WMO’s quality dropped significantly in 1917.

 

[chrisftk]

Maple or not I like that stock, very interesting grain pattern. Added to the reference.

Me too, I like the tool chatter and the visible sanding marks from the factory. Mine has the same characteristics, I think WMO’s quality dropped significantly in 1917.

Thanks guys-- the Gew Force has been strong with us of late lol.

 

[hale1940]

Me too, I like the tool chatter and the visible sanding marks from the factory. Mine has the same characteristics, I think WMO’s quality dropped significantly in 1917.

Its interesting to see the quality short cuts on Gew98's. Makes me excited to get my WMO 1917.

 

[chrisftk]

Its interesting to see the quality short cuts on Gew98's. Makes me excited to get my WMO 1917.

Hope you get it soon-- is importation as painful as it is here?

 

[Warrior1354]

Yeah I'm pretty happy with my 1917 WMO rifle can't believe I bought that almost 5 years ago. Even better it's in the n letter block too. As others have stated Chris, a very nice rifle and pretty scarce too.

 

[hale1940]

Hope you get it soon-- is importation as painful as it is here?

Its safe an sound with the importer...along with a couple other Imperial rifles Ill be sharing with you all sooner or later

Unfortunately the whole 'convoy protest' thing seriously delayed the shipping time though.

 

[feldmütze]

Thanks Sam! I'm both surprised and pleased we have a good number of 17 WMOs documented in our forum here.

Good pickup & cleanup on it Chris. I've got it's twin, as I recall in the "v" block, but don't remember if walnut or beech. I'll post it sometime soon...

 

[Warrior1354]

Good pickup & cleanup on it Chris. I've got it's twin, as I recall in the "v" block, but don't remember if walnut or beech. I'll post it sometime soon...

I don't think I ever heard you had a 1917 Mauser Gewehr 98 rifle Mike. Was that in the back of the safe long-forgotten!

 

[feldmütze]

I don't think I ever heard you had a 1917 Mauser Gewehr 98 rifle Mike. Was that in the back of the safe long-forgotten!

Along with a few others, lol

 

[Warrior1354]

Along with a few others, lol

You know I still have you to thank for that 1901 Erfurt you sold me. Still I cherish our friendship more than anything thank you for all the years of guidance my friend.