M1918 Tankgewehr Arrived!

[mholmes1]

Came in yesterday… matching with what looks to be a very early (60s?) refinished stock. Early 215 serial number. Included was an original 13.2mm round and the registration of a DD back in 1968. She’s beautiful!

No, this not from Simpson’s or Gunbroker, it came from Armslist of all places!

Here are some pictures:

https://imgur.com/a/yrW04UC

 

[chrisftk]

As I've said before, it's a great example Michael! Congrats man. Not many folks can/will get one of these, so if you can get it apart would love detailed pics of markings (barrel markings, acceptance, etc..)! Slash also would appreciate them, I'm sure..

 

[joryfreeburg]

Nice…… Congrats

 

[cj556]

Glad you got one Mike

 

[MichaelWC]

Well done Mike.

 

[biggymu]

The picture of the bolt against your forearm gives this a sense of scale I never anticipated. Huge! Congratulations!

 

[hale1940]

Thats pretty damn sweet…

 

[OnlyMil]

Congratulations on a great find and purchase! Very cool to have a round of the ammo too.

Love how the Germans in WWI went with "Occam's Razor" approach to problems.

Need a LMG? No time or resources to design one like the allies, just lighten up the current MG08 and slap on a buttstock!
Uh-oh, those pesky Allies are rolling armor onto the battlefield and we can't penetrate them with our small arms! Just make a huge a$$ bolt gun so it will go through now... sometimes!

 

[iron bender]

That is awesome! Nice pick up that looks reasonable in condition and complete. There was a t-gewehr hanging up on the wall of the East Grand Army Navy for the first 25 years I can remember. The guy that owned the place refused to take it down "too damn heavy, I'd never get it back up there". He had a couple of the 1915 iron mounted pickelhaube helmets sitting on either end of it.

 

[Base2]

That looks nice, congratulations

 

[ottodog8]

Great score, always nice to see these! A very impressive piece of ordnance.

 

[Slash]

Man but that is nice! Congrats! Had this serial number recorded from an old GunBoards thread but no further details. Interesting that it is yet another very early gun of the "standard" model and not a Kurz. As continued research has shown past assertions that the first 300 guns were Kurz models is clearly erroneous. If possible would really like information or photos of the right side acceptance stamps (receiver & chamber), barrel code* and caliber stamping (top of chamber). Also serial numbering of the front band/bipod mount usually present on the left side. I can see an acceptance stamp there but this is usually on the right side. The front band however will fit either way and is sometimes mounted with the serial number to the right side. AND, some of these markings are not present on the early guns. Many thanks in advance .....

* Barrel Code - Stamped to the underside of the barrel approximately 15 - 20 mm in front of the stock's end; front of the barrel band/bipod mount - (Stamped in small letters, it should be something like BS, KK, Si, SM … Or something similar)

 

[mholmes1]

Here’s more pics. Full takedown shows that it is all matching including screws, firing pin, stock, and bolt release. Barrel code shows “KR”. Barrel band was on backwards and has now been corrected and shows a matching serial of 215.

 

[chrisftk]

Thanks for taking the time

 

[Fal Grunt]

Very cool, thanks for sharing

 

[Slash]

Here’s more pics. Full takedown shows that it is all matching including screws, firing pin, stock, and bolt release. Barrel code shows “KR”. Barrel band was on backwards and has now been corrected and shows a matching serial of 215.

Thanks for the additional pics. And good work on correcting the front band issue. Any chance we could see pics of the right side barrel/chamber proofs as well as the caliber marking? Rear sight would be helpful as well. Is the stock serial numbered on the keel? Sorry for all of the questions ....

 

[mholmes1]

Thanks for the additional pics. And good work on correcting the front band issue. Any chance we could see pics of the right side barrel/chamber proofs as well as the caliber marking? Rear sight would be helpful as well. Is the stock serial numbered on the keel? Sorry for all of the questions ....

Here’s some more photos. No number on the stock keel, just inside the barrel channel. Also, don’t see a caliber marking in the typical location you see on a Gew98.

 

[Slash]

Great rifle mholmes1! The detailed photos are very much appreciated. You have a real keeper here. Thanks for sharing ....

 

[mholmes1]

Great rifle mholmes1! The detailed photos are very much appreciated. You have a real keeper here. Thanks for sharing ....

Thanks for the kind words! Couldn’t turn her down for $9,500 and luckily sold off 2 guns recently to make up the cost.

 

[biggymu]

Man but that is nice! Congrats! Had this serial number recorded from an old GunBoards thread but no further details. Interesting that it is yet another very early gun of the "standard" model and not a Kurz. As continued research has shown past assertions that the first 300 guns were Kurz models is clearly erroneous. If possible would really like information or photos of the right side acceptance stamps (receiver & chamber), barrel code* and caliber stamping (top of chamber). Also serial numbering of the front band/bipod mount usually present on the left side. I can see an acceptance stamp there but this is usually on the right side. The front band however will fit either way and is sometimes mounted with the serial number to the right side. AND, some of these markings are not present on the early guns. Many thanks in advance .....

* Barrel Code - Stamped to the underside of the barrel approximately 15 - 20 mm in front of the stock's end; front of the barrel band/bipod mount - (Stamped in small letters, it should be something like BS, KK, Si, SM … Or something similar)

For those of us unfamiliar, what is the difference between a standard model and Kurz relative to this example? Thanks!