J.P. Sauer & Sohn 1916 108e - Hannover Rebuild

[PrayingMantis]

This is the Sauer I won off Gun Broker a couple weeks ago. Very interesting rifle. It is a matching Hannover rebuild. I say rebuild because I think the only original Sauer parts are the receiver, handguard, screws, and front sight. Even the original fireproof was overstruck. The stock is also the first example of period sanding I have seen. This rifle is very similar to the 1908 Danzig Hannover rebuild I have, and the 1917 H Spandau (1188c) I sold to Mauser1908.

 

[PrayingMantis]

What I found interesting was the added numbers. 21 on the triggerguard under the wood, 4 on the stock, 1 on the rear sight base. Might these have something to do with the rebuild process?

Full photos here: https://plus.google.com/photos/1027...s/5953609090983034625?authkey=CMqIpoHMkqz7wwE

 

[Loewe]

I agree it is a very interesting rifle, the extensive replacement of parts is unusual I think, - typically they reused a lot of the original rifle it seems, this one shows an unusual amount of replaced parts. You didn't show the RS of the stock, is it also salvaged from another rifle? By sanding, you mean the cypher and acceptance are removed?

Odds are this rifle was extensively damaged and they re-used what was left, which isn't much it seems...

Not sure the purpose of the random numbers, I am sure they are as you suggest, related to the rebuild process, something with fitting probably. As we all have experienced, swapping parts aren't always perfect and the wartime makers, the Suhl makers in particular, seem to have more problems when swapping parts.

 

[feldmütze]

An interesting Gew98 & good pickup. Not sure I understand how it was determined to have period sanding?

 

[Loewe]

Yes, I just looked at the pictures again and didn't notice any obvious sanding either?

An interesting Gew98 & good pickup. Not sure I understand how it was determined to have period sanding?

 

[PrayingMantis]

Here are some pictures to show you what I mean about the stock. It is a salvage, and has a few repairs, most noticeably about the triggerguard. If you look at the image of the wrist acceptance, you can the two original acceptance stamps that are really just outlines. Beside them are the Hannover wrist acceptance stamps, which match those on the H Spandau I used to have. Ken L was the first person to mention period sanding to me, though I hadn't seen a confirmed example and doubted I ever would until I got this rifle.

 

[PrayingMantis]

Here are some images of 1917 H Spandau 1188c (the rifle belongs to Sam now; I'm sure he won't mind me posting these). Note the similarities in the wrist acceptance and fireproofs.

 

[mauser1908]

Here are some images of 1917 H Spandau 1188c (the rifle belongs to Sam now; I'm sure he won't mind me posting these). Note the similarities in the wrist acceptance and fireproofs.

I was thinking the same thing when I first saw the photos. Especially in the firing proof on the barrel, and A crown RC mark. Even the serial number font looks similar. I actually had a 1914 Oberndorf that was a Hannover rework, same barrel firing proof in the same location. The fraktur is the same as well. That's a really cool rifle you have.

Here is the 14' Oberndorf