Gew 98 - Depot Rifle - With 200 Meter Zero Rear Sight Base

[PatickD]

Hi guys,

This one just ended on Gunbroker. Looks like a standard depot rebuild rifle. Sanded stock unfortunately.

The thing that caught my eye:

•Rifle has a 200 meter zero rear sight base

Now, the actual rear sight roller coaster is not a 200 meter one.

I have yet to see this rear base on any Gew 98. Expect for the Schutzruppe rifles (German Southwest Africa).

Everything I’ve read about Schutzruppe rifles, relays that all Gew 98 rifles used by them, were modified in GSWA. Bent bolt, rear sight modified to 200 meter zero. Done all in Namibia.

What do we think? Some of the parts were actually made in Germany, then sent to GSWA? GSWA made parts ended back up in the German supply line in continental Europe?

Or, simply the 200 meter zero, was a small practice that never went into mass production?

GB listing:

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/954128740

-Danny

​

 

[chrisftk]

The 200m sight was standard on all Gew98s until the adoption of the S.Patrone in 1903. The rear sight leaf and slider were replaced with 400m models on older rifles as part of the reworking, but the bases were left intact unless the rifle was rebarreled. The 200m setting is not achievable with the new sight leaf/slider and was ignored, but in some cases actually milled off.

See below:

Top, original 200m sight configuration (1903 WMO)
Middle, 400m leaf/slider with 200m base (1902 Erfurt)
Bottom 400m leaf/slider with 200m marking milled off base.(1902 WMO)

This particular rifle more than likely had an old salvaged barrel installed. That's the only logical explanation I can come up with.

 

[PatickD]

The 200m sight was standard on all Gew98s until the adoption of the S.Patrone in 1903. The rear sight leaf and slider were replaced with 400m models on older rifles as part of the reworking, but the bases were left intact unless the rifle was rebarreled. The 200m setting not achievable with the new sight leaf/slider and was ignored, but in some cases actually milled off.

See below:
View attachment 323619
Top, original 200m sight configuration (1903 WMO)
Middle, 400m leaf/slider with 200m base (1902 Erfurt)
Bottom 400m leaf/slider with 200m marking milled off base.(1902 WMO)

This particular rifle more than likely had an old salvaged barrel installed. That's the only logical explanation I can come up with.

Thanks Chris! Now that you mentioned the updated spitzer round, I vaguely remember-ish that now. The OG Gew 98 were 200 meters. Thanks for the clarification.

 

[mauser1908]

Chris gave you a great explanation. His bottom rifle is quite interesting. Generally, they didn’t machine off the lowest settings, these cases represent an extreme minority and most people don’t have a representative example. If you look at photo two of this 1913 Spandau, you can see the bottom left setting across from ‘4’ is bare. These old pattern sights could index down to 300 meters on top represented by ‘3’, this range setting was machined off and is the typical configuration. I would argue Chris’ rifle is the “atypical” arrangement.

 

[MichaelWC]

I'm just going to piggy back some information off of Chris. SchutztruppeGewehr 98's had Lange-Visier calibrated for the 88 cartridge. Schutztruppe actually fought the whole Herero Rebellion with the 88 cartridge. The new rear sight leaf was calibrated for the the S-patrone cartridge and were changed in 1910.
Top, original 200m sight configuration (1903 WMO)
Bottom, Schutztruppe 200m sight configuration (1900 Spandau)

 

[PatickD]

I'm just going to piggy back some information off of Chris. SchutztruppeGewehr 98's had Lange-Visier calibrated for the 88 cartridge. Schutztruppe actually fought the whole Herero Rebellion with the 88 cartridge. The new rear sight leaf was calibrated for the the S-patrone cartridge and were changed in 1910.
Top, original 200m sight configuration (1903 WMO)
Bottom, Schutztruppe 200m sight configuration (1900 Spandau)

Great info, thanks for the clarification.

 

[Tom H]

Hi here is another Spandau with a 200m RS https://www.k98kforum.com/threads/rebarreled-1911-spandau.51787/

Regards, Thomas

 

[AN-94]

It's nice to actually see a side by side comparison of the changes to the rear sight. A few weeks ago, someone on another forum I browse posted a Schutztruppe Gewehr 98 that popped up at their local gun store and was asking about the rear sight and I had a hell of a time trying to explain it. I hope that guy bought it though, finding intact Gewehr 98s locally is already tough enough as it is.