My first Gew98 1913 and 1917 Amberg

C

capt14k

#doomandgloom
Just got my first Gew98 rifles. These were both imported from Germany by myself and do have a discrete import mark under the barrel. Both appear to be matching. 1913 Amberg looks to be original and 1917 Amberg I believe was used by Freikorps during Weimar republic. I assume they reworked the stock when they branded it with the EWB? Stamps look strong. Only going to keep one. I think the 1913 is the keeper.

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capt14k said:
Only going to keep one. I think the 1913 is the keeper.
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I'd agree there Kurt. Both look nice though.

The disc on that 1913 probably has something on the other side.

As far as the 17 goes; a lot of 17 and 18 dated Amberg were used by the EWB.. Einwohnerwehr Bayern (citizens defense Bavaria) kind of an interesting organization in its own right. There were other similar organizations, but very short-lived in other parts of the country. They persisted a little longer in Bavaria. They were an anti-communist paramilitary group (though that's not the most elegant description and it's a little more complicated than that) most of them are straight factory imperial trim rifles that just had the brand burned into the stock. A decent number were stashed and never received the 98M upgrades. Many different weapons were used by them and received the brand. I've got a couple revolvers, a P08, a 98a and a couple Gews.
 
Both of those are really great examples. I would think the 1913 is a less common date, but that 1917 is just really really nice and that stock is exquisite. Then you’ve got the EWB stamp which gives it a whole other layer of history.

My vote would be for the 1917… but thats just me.
 
Both are awesome Gews. Bolt on the 1913 is from a Spandau. Likely depot work. I can’t view the photos in large, though. If you post them individually we can determine more.
 
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hale1940 said:
Both of those are really great examples. I would think the 1913 is a less common date, but that 1917 is just really really nice and that stock is exquisite. Then you’ve got the EWB stamp which gives it a whole other layer of history.

My vote would be for the 1917… but thats just me.
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1913 is probably an a-block, far more desirable than a nice 17 EWB which are fairly common nice. 1913 anything is desirable; Chris is right on point regarding the EWB, imo not at great factor in value, 17&18 are pretty common and most are nice, possibly because the EWB was a conservative organization and their leader was hardly pro-republic and and anti-nazi, - he labeled them as well as anyone ever had - "Nationalistic Bolsheviks"; which is incredibly apt and accurate, as the nazis are a ideology of the left, they were "nationalistic" only in the same sense that bolshevism carried forward the nationalistic tendencies of the Russian dynasty, - in India, China, Near East etc...

*** what i mean to say is that the founder of the EWB was not inclined to stay in the republic, he sought independent Bavaria or union with Austria, therefore hardly inclined to turn over the means to those ends. The US occupied Bavaria so they probably reside in number here because GeorgE never was incline to regurgitate his means to the desired ends, - even in modern times stashes pop up... there was a picture of a discovery in a Bavarian court house or some government structure where EWB rifle or rifles were found during a renovation, under a stairway I believe, in German text but I will see if I can find it... FREE BAVARIA!
 
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Those are both awesome Gewehrs! The 1913 is definitely more uncommon but I certainly wouldn't turn up my nose at adding either one to my collection. That 1917 Amberg is in especially stunning condition!
 
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AN-94 said:
Those are both awesome Gewehrs! The 1913 is definitely more uncommon but I certainly wouldn't turn up my nose at adding either one to my collection. That 1917 Amberg is in especially stunning condition!
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Same here.
 
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What goes on here? Looks to have been scrubbed and re stamped, grain of metal is different. Is this a common trait to these late Ambergs?
Not meaning to detract from your very nice rifles, congratulations!
 
biggymu said:
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What goes on here? Looks to have been scrubbed and re stamped, grain of metal is different. Is this a common trait to these late Ambergs?
Not meaning to detract from your very nice rifles, congratulations!
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That would be an odd thing to scrub and restamp. I wonder if it is the lighting. That was the original pic from the seller. I will take a look at it and take another pic. The other side doesn’t look like that in pictures. Also if one were to restamp anything I would thing the bolt handle root would be at the top of the list. Since that was most worn. Give me an hour.
 
biggymu said:
Interesting. That looks completely different.
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Esspcially on in the white receivers it seems camera, lighting, angle can make a big difference. I have pics of rifles that you would swear are blued but they are unissued in the white.
 
The receiver hardening acceptance is a little blurred, but looks fine to me. The metal has been cleaned though, you can see the abrasions, which may account for the grain of the metal looking off.

@capt14k can you post the photos of the 1913 individually?
 
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PrayingMantis said:
The receiver hardening acceptance is a little blurred, but looks fine to me. The metal has been cleaned though, you can see the abrasions, which may account for the grain of the metal looking off.

@capt14k can you post the photos of the 1913 individually?
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Yes I can take new pics tomorrow and post them. The collages were the sellers pics so I don’t have them individually.
 
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