Gewehr 98 Help Identifying

[Amberg]

This is marked to a Pioneer (Engineer) unit of the 19th Armee Korps.

There is nothing more complicated than the history of the Imperial German Pioneer Units.
The stamp is for the 1st Reserve Pioneer Company of the XIX Army Corps. But this unit existed only on paper. While its weapons, equipment, etc. were stored somewhere, the unit itself was never raised during WWI.
With the outbreak of World War I, each engineer battalion (of 4 companies) was divided into two battalions of 3 companies each. The second battalion received the 4th company and two new reserve companies.
It can be assumed that the planned 1st Reserve Pioneer Company of the XIX Army Corps actually became the 1st Reserve Company of Pioneer Battalion 22.

 

[WW II Gun collector]

I just found this post as I was trying to do my first Mauser restoration. I recently purchased (at a gun auction) what I thought was a 1918 Gewehr 98 rifle. The gun came with what looked like an original stock that had been sporterized. Grrrrrr! I found the period furniture online and was so excited to assemble this. As I am now trying to put the furniture on the gun I'm having some fitting issues. My Mauser also has a turned down bolt which is confusing me greatly. I have been trying to find pictures online that will show in detail what this gun should look like to no avail. I have included pictures... sorry about the quality from my iPhone. Any help will be greatly appreciated! Do I and do I not have a 1918 Gewehr 98 rifle?

 

[Cyrano4747]

You would need better pics to say exactly what you've got, including any markings on the rear sight, but from what you've shown it looks like a wartime Gew98 that was updated after the war to a more modern spec. For one thing the rear sight was replaced with a ladder style sight rather than the Lange / "roller coaster" that a wartime Gew98 would have. Receiver has also been blued, during the war it would have been in the white.

Also note the B.S. mark on the gun. There is a bit of controversy around what, exactly, that means but at the very least it's pretty well accepted that it's a post-war mark.

 

[7up]

Oh Look, its another B.S marked gun !!

 

[7up]

The headstamp picture, it has B.S that's what I meant, there is an ongoing mystery to what this means !

 

[WW II Gun collector]

You would need better pics to say exactly what you've got, including any markings on the rear sight, but from what you've shown it looks like a wartime Gew98 that was updated after the war to a more modern spec. For one thing the rear sight was replaced with a ladder style sight rather than the Lange / "roller coaster" that a wartime Gew98 would have. Receiver has also been blued, during the war it would have been in the white.

Also note the B.S. mark on the gun. There is a bit of controversy around what, exactly, that means but at the very least it's pretty well accepted that it's a post-war mark.

I got this picture of the left side of the barrel by the sight, if that helps any. Near as I can measure, the barrel length is roughly 22" and the guns overall length is 42". This project is getting more 'interesting' as I find things out. I've done a little more research and have seen that after the Gewehr 98 rifle, karabiners were made ( Kar98a, Kar98az, and Kar98b) and I'm sure I don't have a complete list either. So, would my weapon have the sling mounts underneath the rifle, or on the side? Thanks again for your help!

 

[Brooksy]

An over all picture would be nice.

 

[Loewe]

The maker-date (DWM/18) is rare (low production and lower survival rate- they seemed to hit the end with a focus on P08 & MG production) but that is where the good ends. To even guess at a history you would need good direct shots of the serial (especially suffix), the right receiver acceptance and the barrel code which a partial might be the last photo, it should be in front of the rear sight if factory); B.S. is almost assured to be a interwar ordnance marking, rather common and not too important to its origin, but on original rifles can give good context to historical past.

If you really want answers do good quality direct shots of all barrel & receiver markings, not weird angles, - good answers are only possible if details can be compared to trends (known patterns)

**it is quite possible this is an original barrel, a c-block has a similar code and is quite original, it is overall in terrible condition, but also BS marked...