Gewehr 98 Waffenwerke Oberspree Kornbusch 1915 6731

[PrayingMantis]

My big score from the Show of Shows, a matching, unmessed with, 1915 Kornbusch. I’m very grateful to Mike for selling this one to me. A truly exceptional Gew, not only for the rare maker and year, but also original state and condition. Best part was finally getting to meet Mike in person, though.

Here’s the original thread talking about this one: https://www.k98kforum.com/threads/1915-waffenwerk-oberspree-kornbusch-co.9170/

WAFFENWERKE OBERSPREE KORNBUSCH & CO 1915

Receiver 6731 c/B c/B c/F
Barrel 6731 c/B
Front Sight unnumbered
Rear Sight Base 31 c/B c/B
Rear Sight Leaf Leaf 31 c/C
Sight Slider 31
Sight Slider Tabs 31, 31
Ejector Box 31 c/B
Trigger Sear 31 c/B
Front Barrel Band 31 c/B
Rear Barrel Band 31 c/B
Sling Loop c/B
Trigger Guard 6731 c/B c/B
Trigger Guard Screws 31, 31 c/B, c/B
Floor Plate 31 c/B
Follower 31 c/B
Stock 6731
Handguard 6731
Buttplate 6731 c/B
Bayonet Lug 31 c/B
Cleaning Rod 31
Bolt Body 6731 c/B
Extractor 31 c/B
Safety 31 c/B
Cocking Piece 31 c/B
Bolt Sleeve 31 c/B
Firing Pin 31 c/P)

 

[PrayingMantis]

Barrel and sights. Front sight is unnumbered as are the rear slider tabs.

 

[PrayingMantis]

Triggerguard. Note the assembly markings on the floorplate and triggerguard, and note the marking on the underside of the follower. Company trademark logo?

 

[PrayingMantis]

Barrel bands and bayonet lug. Note the rounded 3 on the rear band, but flat top 3 on the front.

 

[PrayingMantis]

Stock

 

[PrayingMantis]

Handguard.

 

[PrayingMantis]

And, finally, the bolt.

 

[mauser1908]

That’s an absolute screamer Cyrus, congrats!

 

[chrisftk]

That thing is absolutely A+ in every regard. Scary thing is it looked even better in person when I was looking it over Thursday! I'm glad you're the new caretaker Cyrus.

So, granted a small sample size, but it sure looks to me like WOK did not have the most durable finish on bands and the trigger guard assembly-- almost every one that I've seen is very worn. Makes you wonder if they didn't quite get the process down.

 

[Warrior1354]

You can't help but love the sloppiness, and crudeness of the kornbusch rifles. By the way a very nice, and extremely rare rifle Cyprus. Glad to see you're the new caretaker.

 

[feldmütze]

I originally thought the front sight not being #d was a manufacturing startup error, but another possibility relates to the repair depot #4 on the buttplate. It's possible that front sight was damaged/replaced & besides having to re-sight it in was overlooked to renumber it. The rear slider tabs are most likely unnumbered due to a early manufacturing error....that's my guess.

 

[Loewe]

Probably the finest WOK/15 known, certainly a contender... I think the production is later and more erratic at WOK than any other, it is certain DWM or Spandau inspectors were involved (they probably moved from the three firms regularly, C/F & C/B are known at all three and regularly appear and disappear in ranges, DWM & Spandau had a more diverse mix and WOK pretty much lived C/F & C/B until 1917 when you see some C/D & C/H which probably relates to DWM involvement). Also trends suggest that WOK & Oberspree production was much smaller than first imagined (by early trenders who assumed a rollover year to year, - this was not always the case and I think it never did occur at WOK, only 1915 & 1916 overlap to any degree and this is probably rifles that failed to move with all the problems involved starting up WOK. 1915 show up as late as the early 9000's, but although 1916's start in the mid-1000 most are clearly sterngewehr type rifles or signs of similar origins... the first real 1916 is a 8400 rifle and after this WOK-Oberspree clearly did not rollover.

Oberspree is easily the rarest of makers, Simson is not even close, neither the Suhl makers that shared ranges... there to is the crudeness others mention and that are obvious in almost every example... I think WOK never got its shite together and only the takeover by DWM made them competitive at all.

*** this might be the best-rarest rifle Mike owned, the combination of rarity (1915 is the rarest year, other than 1919 which really is another topic) and condition is impossible to beat. Only condition rarities of the Republic come close, or the few Imperial scarcities (original Radfahrergewehrs, Colonials or indisputable original sniper rigs and these are variations more than standard production modells, and even so a rifle like this would challenge these specialized variation due to its condition - possibly the only real competitor would be some 1899-1904 entirely original, unaltered and carries a Garde regiment heritage)

**** I also think meeting someone like Mike in person and spending time at the SOS as valuable as the acquisition, back in 2007 I went to Kentucky a couple times taking a class, met up with MauserBill and later Bruce at his home, - the show was something I remember well (picked up a 147/36 from Jim that got it from Bruce), but what I treasure most was the time I spent with Bruce and MauserBill and his family (although I went through Nashville four times Mike and I couldn't get together, bad timing and all...), such things matter more than the rifles, building relationships trump rifles generally, in the long run, - just goes to show take the extra effort to meet! Semper Fi Mike!

 

[chrisftk]

**** I also think meeting someone like Mike in person and spending time at the SOS as valuable as the acquisition, back in 2007 I went to Kentucky a couple times taking a class, met up with MauserBill and later Bruce at his home, - the show was something I remember well (picked up a 147/36 from Jim that got it from Bruce), but what I treasure most was the time I spent with Bruce and MauserBill and his family (although I went through Nashville four times Mike and I couldn't get together, bad timing and all...), such things matter more than the rifles, building relationships trump rifles generally, in the long run, - just goes to show take the extra effort to meet! Semper Fi Mike!

I agree, the social aspect is the best. We had a great showing from our crew here. Sam didn't make it due to family obligations, but hopefully we can cajole him next year, right Sam???

I think I speak for the group when we say we'd love to see you at the SoS Paul. You'd be like a rock star if you came- lots of folks wanting to shake your hand (and probably buy you a steak or two lol) All the help you've given us and your contributions to the hobby can't be understated.

As for meeting Mike, I knew I was going to like him the moment I saw the Prussian bumper sticker on his vehicle.

 

[biggymu]

Wow that is a great rifle. I had seen this searching earlier threads. Congratulations Sir!
It’s got to be hard to let these go. But they are still here for everyone to enjoy.
I had noticed on my 1916 WOK, the end of the barrel and front sight almost seemed in the white as the finish just disappeared.

 

[feldmütze]

Your '16 WOK had a lid (muzzle cover) on it for a long period of time...

Wow that is a great rifle. I had seen this searching earlier threads. Congratulations Sir!
It’s got to be hard to let these go. But they are still here for everyone to enjoy.
I had noticed on my 1916 WOK, the end of the barrel and front sight almost seemed in the white as the finish just disappeared.

 

[feldmütze]

Thanks for all the kind words. Meeting collectors that enjoy these gewehrs was the highlight of the show, seeing smiles as they pulled them out of the gun socks & handled them, & accepting their new caretaker roles.
For some that might not know, Paul is an old jarhead too. Oorah!

 

[cj556]

Congrats Cyrus really glad to see you got this one

 

[Telperion]

Simply great!

 

[Tom H]

Nice gun, thanks for the pics!

 

[Loewe]

I agree, the social aspect is the best. We had a great showing from our crew here. Sam didn't make it due to family obligations, but hopefully we can cajole him next year, right Sam???

I think I speak for the group when we say we'd love to see you at the SoS Paul. You'd be like a rock star if you came- lots of folks wanting to shake your hand (and probably buy you a steak or two lol) All the help you've given us and your contributions to the hobby can't be understated.

As for meeting Mike, I knew I was going to like him the moment I saw the Prussian bumper sticker on his vehicle.

Chris, I would love to meet all you guys, especially if Mike could be there, I feel I know all of you already! I really regret missing Craig Brown, we shared hundreds of emails and exchanges through mail (not so much letters, but he would send old collector journals and even Storz 71 & 71/84 books for the study we were working on together..). I had met up with Peter Kuck and John Wall several times in Ct and I still remember those times with fond memories.

Though I bet they do not allow covid deniers on planes! They can shove those shots up Biden's a$$... I will run my chances on the Chinese virus...