WW I Mauser Gew 98 by Mauser Oberndorf for 1916…….. (F 1221)
Created on June 4th 2025
A fine highly original WW I built Mauser Gew 98 for 1916
This Gewehr 98 was made to standard German military specification, with the new Mauser 3-lug bolt locking system and solid receiver. The receiver and bolt would be finished in the white, the balance blued. It has a 5-shot internal magazine and straight arm bolt with the three position flag safety to the rear. Overall the rifle measures 49″. The round barrel is a nominal 29″ long and the trigger Pull is 13″ to centre. Fully stocked in its original walnut semi-pistol grip stock with half-length hand guard over the barrel. Stock numbered to the rifle below the trigger guard. Field replacement steel butt-plate with non-matching serial number. Chambered in the 8mm (7.92 x 57mm) cartridge. Barrel step marked with calibre, shows “7.91” Barrel crest behind rear sights carries the “S” for Spitzer. Outer action wall marked in Gothic script; “Gew 98”. Receiver is bright but mottled with some surface corrosion however, all markings are easily discernible. This is the World War One rifle German Infantry carried and, what they faced up to the British SMLE across No Mans Land equipped with. The rifle of the Dreaded Hun! It was known for its inherent accuracy as derived from a very strong action and accurate hunting rifle.
Straight arm bolt, also without finish but all parts are matching. The rifle’s serial number marked upon the LHS of the receiver ring is “2676 / o” The receiver ring is clearly marked “WAFFENFABRIK / MAUSER A.-G. / OBERNDORF A/N / 1916” Three Imperial inspectors marks on RHS of receiver. The serial number is repeated on the barrel shank LHS, between the rear sights and the receiver. “Lange-Visier” rear sight graduated from 400 to 2000 meters. No windage adjustment. Standard front sight on a block with cross-hatched ramp to reduce glare. (even the dove-tail of the inverted “V” is numbered 76 !) Front or nose band to the stock has the clever marching hook for the sling, used by the infantry, to do, as is suggested by the name. 99% of this rifle is matching apart from the but-plate and the mid-band; the rest is fully matching and has remained together since the day it left the factory 109 years ago !
For the collector, these matching rifles are becoming the stuff of fairy tales so this presents a rare opportunity, in collecting terms. All other parts, fixtures and fittings carry matching numbers, even the action fixing screws are correct. Bolt arm stub upper surface is marked with the matching number. The underside of the same has Imperial inspection marks and the stock also carries the matching number. The stock shows all the normal Imperial German markings in all the usual places. Clear cartouches below the stock ID disc which at first glance looks unmarked, however, if you sit and look at it long enough, it is just possible to see where it was marked. Time has either removed it or it has been removed for more interesting reasons! Was there a reason that this rifle had its markings purposfully removed, perhaps to hide the identity of its unit? Or, was there an element of shame involved; a cover-up of crimes committed? Who knows? And that’s the point; unfortunately these things can’t talk !
In all, a fine example of the infamous rifle of the Jack-booted Hunn. The stock is a mellow walnut with the regular quantity of dings and dents assocciated with a military rifle from the period. There is an interesting impact on the upper surface of the wrist – the knid that could only be caused by a violent impact. The timber abutting the but-plate just shows a hint of minor deterioration which may have transferred from the corroded but-plate. This suggests many years on a damp floor in a celler or such, during a period of relatively low value, or a period of time where it just stood, undiscovered. The receiver and bolt are adopting the mottled look of the ageing process – all of which has been seen before. The bore is fair to good and the rifle has been CIP approved – so is ready to go. The rifle has the correct length cleaning rod stored through the nose cap, under the bayonet fitting block. A chance to pick up as good as an example of the marq you can get. A chance to put one through its paces to see if you measure up to expectation. A fine collectible and usable piece.
Stock No’ F 1221 – FAC required
£ 1550.
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