G98 barrel band variations

[Siegfried]

Probably a foolish beginner question but I am seeing a batch of imperial marked and dated G98 with the type of rear lower stock barrel band which has the sling loop just placed through the hole in it without the flat pivot and then sling loop, if that is how to describe it. See pictures for what I mean. I have seen a few G98 over the years and they all had the band as shown in the picture fitted to the stock, however recently I saw a batch of G98 with the type of lower band as shown in the blue background picture. It this a factory variation and correct or just a band off some other Mauser, I noticed Turkish Mauser have this type of band too?

 

[mauser1908]

The bands on the left are for a Brazilian model 1908. They are often incorrectly advertised and sold as Gew98 bands.

 

[Fal Grunt]

The vast majority of parts on ebay are incorrectly advertised. Half the K98k parts are not.

 

[Siegfried]

Interesting, I am seeing a large number of Imperial marked and Ww1 dated G98 with this unusual barrel band, was it never fitted to WW 1 German military G98?

 

[Fal Grunt]

Can you link or reference the G98 you are seeing so we can compare?

 

[Siegfried]

I am seeing them at shows, so not taken a picture, I have an example in my EWB G98 posting today, which has thiis Type of unusual Brazil/ Turkish type band, the ones I am seeing with this band, they are standard G98 military Imperial marker marked but often not all matching numbers but many have the rear band as shown in the blue background, if that is not a correct Ww1 variation part, them I guess they are being made up of parts and they had a batch of these non standard Brazil/Turkish type lower bands?

 

[Siegfried]

Here is one, WMO 1917 G98 with wartime imperial acceptance stamps as per the norm but this lower barrel band! I have seen several recently with this feature, none were 100% matching but all were Ww1 wartime parts and makers. I just spotted it as being unusual compared to the others I have seen in the past which all had the round flats to the sling loop.

 

[Fal Grunt]

Personally when examining a rifle, I only use all matching examples to determine originality. Then I look at the acceptance marks to see if the acceptance marks match.

People, importers, armorers, etc have been piecing together guns from the beginning. Take a look through the reference threads for Gewehr 98’s and I think you will find most, if not all, have the correct bands.

Germany made lots of arms for countries around the world, and many especially smaller countries elected to have their arms inspected to German standards. As such, German acceptance marks were applied. Sometimes the differences in parts are obvious, sometimes there are small nuances. Sometimes they are identical.

 

[Siegfried]

Good information, thank you. I had only seen Imperial German G98 with the standard band and recently have seen several with the other Brazil/ Turkish band type. Not being an expert, I wanted to check if this was a variation or late war simplification I had missed before, as they look easier to make. Can someone confirm 100% these were not a Ww1 wartime era band type? I saw quite a few EWB and standard G98 with this band recently on dealer websites etc.