Gewehr 98 1917 Spandau 6088b

[PrayingMantis]

With the recent H Spandaus and some conversation about c/B acceptance, I decided to get out the Spandau-made Spandau 1917 for new photos.

It’s a rough one, but it’s matching and honest. Unfortunately a few acceptance stamps are obscured by the metal’s roughness, but some are quite clear. Lots of c/B that shows up elsewhere in 1917, wonder if these were subcontracted parts?

Original discussion: https://www.k98kforum.com/threads/gewehr-98-spandau-1917-6088b.22065/


SPANDAU 1917
Receiver 6088b
Barrel 6088b BO 99
Front Sight
Rear Sight Leaf 88
Sight Slider 88
Sight Slider Tabs 88, 88
Ejector Box 88
Trigger Sear 88
Front Barrel Band 88
Rear Barrel Band 88
Trigger Guard 88
Trigger Guard Screws 88, 88
Floor Plate 88
Follower 88
Stock 6088
Handguard
Buttplate 6088b
Bayonet Lug 88
Cleaning Rod unnumbered
Bolt Body 6088b
Extractor 88
Safety 88
Cocking Piece 88
Bolt Sleeve 88
Extractor 88
Firing Pin 88

 

[PrayingMantis]

Barrel and rear sight. Note the B* on both the rear sight leaf and slider.

 

[PrayingMantis]

Triggerguard and bands. Note the assembly number on the triggerguard and floorplate.

 

[PrayingMantis]

The stock, which is the nicest thing about this one really.

 

[PrayingMantis]

And the bolt.

 

[Loewe]

This is one of your best rifles, very difficult to find a "Spandau" Spandau/17, this original doubly so... they made rifles to the k-block, but after the h-block they get sketchy, S&H receivers and rifles this late are hard to decipher because so few are known in upper grades.

I think, and Storz stated I believe, that arsenals did mass produce certain key components to supply others so they could specialize or concentrate more on assembly and assorted parts not done by others. I am sure this was greatly expanded by 1917, you see it in MG production on a large scale. Jon Speed provided a late war or postwar survey of rifle & MG production summary where sub-contractors were noted, though acceptance was not covered. If i can remember I will see if I can find it.

Spandau doesn't seem to have relied upon Pieper and S&H receivers in actual production, only a few are known, all very late. Possibly the effort was projected but never implemented on any scale, especially for Pieper which are very late when seen. Perhaps manufacture in occupied Belgium presented special problems (undoubtedly) that were difficult to resolve. While the great crimes attributed during the war to German soldier in Belgium were investigated after the war and almost all were found to have no basis, still it is a certainty that while Belgium stayed in the war, any sort of "collaboration" would be difficult for the occupiers. I am surprised Pieper was able to manufacture any war material! I bet there was some complicated explaining after the war...