1917 Spandau G98

gew98 · Post by **gew98** » Sun Jan 07, 2007 5:29 pm

Joe ; Here is some data to keep you on top :

Your rifle was made by spandau in 1917 - at least the receiver was. The "star" marking on the receiver and the numeral under the serial show it was a 'sterne gewehr'. That is this rifle failed in some major assembly to meet specs and had to be hand fitted/assembled to make it serviceable. The particular type of star mark is usually associated with a non governmental arsenal doing the assembly , or possibly a depot being sent these parts to make something useable.

As the war progressed sterne marked rifles were more common , although to date nobody has seen a sterne marked Kar98a.

The stock disc was dropped in mid 1916 not before. But the arsenals and suhl Manufacturers were allowed to use up old pattern parts and to some degree continue manufacture of old patterns while they tooled up for the changes. Hence you can find rifles and carbines made from late 1916 through mid 1917 with and without dismount disc's in the buttstock. As well alot of the unit disc type stocks were in the supply system for depots use in repair. So it is not hard to find a salvaged gew98 of 1917 and even 1918 manufacture with a unit disc type stock.

The unit marking on your disc belongs to the 56th Inf Regt Recruit depot weapon number # 277. The recruit depot was basically a "boot camp" training establishment for the parent unit - 56th Inf Regt.

The stock on your rifle has been cleaned up a good bit , but that is not uncommon sadly.

joseyclosey · Post by **joseyclosey** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 2:13 pm

Hi Gew98, welcome to the forum and a big thanks for the extra info on my G98.

Joe

ian27 · Post by **ian27** » Thu Feb 01, 2007 10:42 am

Hi, I,m new to this forum and have just come across this post. Great looking rifle. A friend has a G98 and a K98 and I got to fire them a couple of weeks ago and they are really fun to shoot. I am trying to persuade him to part with his 1937 all matching vet bring back K98. I was just wondering if you have loaded any of your own ammo for the rifle, and if so what were the results with shooting it. I have a Remington 1903A3 and once I started to load for it I was able, on a good day, to get 1/2 inch groups at 100m. We are hoping we can improve our groups with the Mausers by doing likewise.

joseyclosey · Post by **joseyclosey** » Thu Feb 01, 2007 1:59 pm

Hi Ian, first off welcome to the boards, where abouts in the UK are you?

I am near Durham.

I have`nt reloaded for the G98 yet, I never seem able to find the time. I have been using Privi Partisan with reasonably good results the only target photo i have was shot at 100yds. Shooting at that range was a pain as the rifle shoots way high. Check this link for the Milsurp shooting comp last year.

http://milsurpafterhours.com/bb/viewtop ... sc&start=0

My target and score are in there somewhere.

To be honest most of my shooting lately is with my historic .22 rifles but when the weather improves i will get out the full bores.

Let us know if you get the K98.

Joe

ian27 · Post by **ian27** » Thu Feb 01, 2007 6:19 pm

Hi Joe, thanks for the welcome. I live in N.Ireland.

We have used the Prvi Partisan ammo in the G98 and the K98 with good results. We have also used surplus ammo which was just ok, nothing spectacular!!! I already load for my Remington 1903A3, so I must hastle my mate to get some dies so we can load for the Mausers. I also have a Martini Enfield 303 that I must start reloading for.

Good Mausers seem to be getting harder to come by, and if you do happen along an all matching one they go for crazy money. I was offered an all matching K98 high turret sniper rifle last year through a friend but the guy was looking £4000 for it. It was in mint condition and he eventually sold it for £6000. Crazy money, I just couldnt afford to spend that much on a rifle.

Regards Ian

Post by **DuncaninFrance** » Fri Feb 02, 2007 6:08 am

Hi Ian, welcome!

My wife says I couldn't afford top spend that much on a rifle either

I am off to the gun shops in Bordeaux after lunch to see what I can see. One has just moved to new premises and re-opens today so there may be some special offers to be had

ian27 · Post by **ian27** » Fri Feb 02, 2007 11:43 am

Hi Duncan. You'll have to let us know if you came acroos anything interesting at the gun shops. Where I live, most of the gun shops only stock shotguns or 22 rimfires, nobody really stocks the 'old stuff '. My mates and I usually have to buy stuff from the UK mainland, but that means buying something you have never seen. A dealer I know had a couple of Russian Capture K98's, but he was looking £400 each for them, and they were in very poor condition.

Regards

Ian

joseyclosey · Post by **joseyclosey** » Fri Feb 02, 2007 12:07 pm

Yes some of the prices for the desirable pieces are pretty scarey, the K98 snipers are way beyond my budget.

I got myself a nice Russian capture K98 some time ago and if i remember right i paid about £275 for it. Find some pics of it here....

http://milsurpafterhours.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=522

Its a pity you were`nt this side of the water as there is a firearms fair at the Scotch Corner Hotel, North Yorkshire on Sunday 18th February. It is going to be a Section 1 fair, not the usual " arms fair" most people are used to in the UK. There will be quite a lot of Historic arms for sale, both FAC and obsolete.

Joe

ian27 · Post by **ian27** » Sat Feb 03, 2007 6:49 am

Joe, I checked out the pics of your K98, it is in fine looking shape. I reckon you got it for peanuts. The ones I have seen for sale over here don't look half as good as yours and are £400. I would love to go to a decent Arms Fair, we just don't have them over here. I am hoping to get to Bisley this year, last time I was there was in 1985 shooting target rifle. I hope to do a bit of shooting while I,m there.

Post by **DuncaninFrance** » Sat Feb 03, 2007 4:28 pm

Well, we found a Mosin for 250€ - thats about £165 but it was a compilation - non of the numbers matched - AND it was re-chambered for 308 Norma Magnum which my pal Alain said was lethal and most irresponsible of the gunshop. More chance of killing the owner not the target.

1917 Spandau G98

gewehr's