EWB marked G98 Spandau 1916 with unusual markings

[Siegfried]

In my efforts to learn more, I have been reading past posts on this forum and I read one from Loewe which said that Spandau stopped producing G98 before Wars end, so some Spandau marked G98 with 1916-17 dates may of been made up of parts post war. This G98 pictured has unusual markings, so I wonder if this is one made up of parts for EWB. Perhaps the gentlemen here can make sense of it and tell me what the markings mean, unfortunately I do not yet own it and these are the only pictures small enough to upload but it is all standard G98, full length rifle, Lange Vizier, straight bolt, butt disk marked with B.R.P III 1.86. Stock marked EWB. If someone can reduce my other pictures which show these details and upload them for me, please let me know and I send the pictures to you, sadly I don’t know how to reduce the file size. What is the Crown DK and HV mean, not seen that before? I do have good clear pictures but I am going to need help from someone to upload them and change file size as I can’t seem to get any clear, sorry.

 

[Siegfried]

Sorry about the poor quality pictures, I was just offered help, so hopefully we can get you better images uploaded. Check back later and the problem may be fixed.

 

[flynaked]

Pictures

 

[RyanE]

Barrel markings are Danish, Home Guard (militia) I think. Post WW2.

Unit marking on the disc is maybe a Bavarian Reserve Pioneer battalion?

 

[Siegfried]

Thank you, here is another one with EWB marking.

 

[Loewe]

Well, the rifle serial is defaced and the suffix is only partial, I would have to make comparisons to be fairly sure, but might be x-block,,, the real problem is the RR (right receiver) acceptance appears to be scrubbed or ground and that will pretty much shoot any fact based opinion. The barrel being a replacement means the barrel code won't help in placing but Spandau usually can be roughly narrowed down by barrel codes also, but not in this case.

The stock is mismatched obviously, but probably the better part of the rifle as far as value in the US. MIght be able to date the stock (off an pre-war Amberg obviously) by the unit, often these group roughly in range, but a pioneer outfit might be more elusive in trends.

*** Spandau ended G98 production in early 1917, could be mid-1917 assuming the tempo dropped slowly as it neared the end. But around the k-block they end and no 1918 dated is made by Spandau, most aren't made during the war even, probably of course as we have mere glimpse of what was made. If you have another option I would pass on this example, it is a pretty "heterogeneous" rifle, really a loose grouping and the stock is the only valuable part.

 

[Siegfried]

Thank you, very interesting. I have pictures of another EWB with intact imperial markings but need help to upload, can anyone do that for me if I send them the pictures? I think these EWB mis-match are interesting, I wonder where they are coming from. Danish home guard marking on the barrel is a clue.

 

[flynaked]

More pictures

 

[flynaked]

Can you even pull the trigger on this rifle? That’s a 98a TG and the trigger geometry does not work with a G98 unless the TG is modified.

 

[Siegfried]

I think the TG where the parade sling hole was, has been ground down to make a more round shaped trigger guard. I saw another with same features, there seems to be several surfacing at the moment. What can you tell me about this one, again not all matching, but more to work on I guess, as more intact markings., I am just curious if these are post war parts made for EWB or Ww1 vintage G98 with parts replaced for EWB or later, or just mis match with made up and EWB stamp added? I need expert opinions as this is beyond me. I noticed some have this modified TG and the Brazil/Turkish type lower stock bands fitted, not the standard G98 bands I am used to seeing. All rather strange. The other one pictured has what I am told Danish home guard stamps, so not a Turkish contract. These seem to follow a definite type of modifications done officially, not by individual owners, as the following seems to be to a pattern. They appear as follows, barrel unmarked, wartime dated receivers of various makers, Brazil/ Turkish type lower barrel bands. Matching early, nice condition stocks with imperial markings, which match on the stock parts but not to the rest of the G98. Some EWB marked on butt. Front H band, correct shape with hook but unmarked. Other parts have mostly imperial stamping, bolt sometime matches action but not always. As these are in Europe they have come from a military stores as a batch and not made up recently from spare parts. Age of parts and fittings is consistent even if parts serial do not match, so when these were assembled, as they are now, it was not done recently but long ago. That is all I can tell you. Interesting as there is a number of these coming from somewhere and it would be good to try and guess or work out where from markings etc. Something for an expert to decide what they are. Interesting anyway. Thanks to Clay for sorting my picture uploading problem, I appreciate it.

 

[Loewe]

This rifle has a lot more going for it, the receiver is fairly original, only some modern proof markings, and although intrusive they are pretty minimal to modern German graffiti... it borders on the ridiculous the German proof laws. The barrel is probably replaced doesn't have the right appearance, but these pictures are insufficient to make a judgement. The stock is Bavarian, off a later war Amberg, but again the better part of the deal.

This is a far better deal than the first one, at least the receiver is fairly original and unmolested and overall it looks more correct- though the TG is a question mark, but a easy fix regardless.

The EWB was a militia, they didn't have parts made for them, they relied primarily upon the FK elements (Epp etc..) which essentially was the effective German Army at the time. Ernst Röhm reportedly supplied the small arms to the EWB initially, the EW(B) (the EW existed throughout Germany) was of little note outside of Bavaria and even there is was of little account, its political activities were more important, its rifles only notable because they were in large measure hidden and escaped discovery long enough to retain much of their original character, to this day they turn up in walls and attics etc.. (this assembly of parts has little connection to the EWB, only the stock is related...)

 

[Siegfried]

Excellent information, the barrel indeed has no markings, so replaced as you say. The TG has Ww1 German imperial stamps but has been ground into a more rounded shape by removal of the sling attachment area etc. So basically a parts G98. I was curious about these, as there is a number of them around with the same features, all have replaced barrel, ground TG and Turkish/Brazil type lower bands. Definitely a distinct pattern in modifications done to these by what I suspect is a foreign military who got them. The One with Danish barrel stamps may be a clue that they ended up in Danish military stores at some point, Home Guard. Just guess work. I will keep looking at more of these to see if I find others with Danish stamps or some other clues. Some have EWB stock markings and some not but the modified TG, replaced unmarked barrel and non standard lower barrel band seems the norm. Interesting anyway, something for me to study. Thank you again for all the information and also to Clay for helping me post pictures. Much appreciated.

 

[flynaked]

Not a problem sir, thanks for sharing them. With so many postwar uses for the mass of
German rifles floating around its tough to say who and when they were pieced together. The one has more clues at least as Ryan has pointed out. That’s a nice crispy stock on the second one, I like it.

 

[Siegfried]

A lot of this batch have really minty Amberg stocks. If I ever find where they are coming from I will post here. If anyone else finds out please share, I am just curious as these are new to the market and appearing in numbers with these identical features.