Gew.98 in 8.15x46R

[bubi]

I got a wonderful engraved Gewehr 98. Engraving above the chamber says:
"Waffenfabrik Mauser A.-G. Oberndorf a/N 1911." Receiver is all engraved. The gun has a double set trigger: You set the rear trigger, which makes the front trigger very sensitive. There is a little screw between the two triggers to modify the sensitivity of the front trigger. The barrel is marked '8.15.46 norm:" and "674," which is probably the serial number for the barrel. The parts have the same serial number with the safety being the sole exception. There are only two positions for the safety: Straight up, which blocks the line of sight and allows just the set trigger to be relaxed, without releasing the firing pin. If you move the safety to the left, you have to set the trigger again before being able to release the firing pin with the front trigger. Does anybody have an idea what it is worth and who made it? At first sight, it looks like Mauser made it before WWI. The serial number for the receiver, bolt, magazine, etc. is 89027.

 

[Jim Watson]

What of the sights?
What of the magazine?
Pictures?

I have seen two types of bolt action 8.15x46R.
The Serviceman's Rifle is set up just like the military Gew 98 military rifle except for caliber and either a solid bottomed receiver or plugged magazine well. I think there was a target shooting category for it alongside the elaborate falling block 8.15 Scheutzens. The Germans used all manner of such dodges to encourage military skills between the world wars.
The Forester's Rifle was a sporter style, usually pretty plain. Used by gamekeepers to cull poor trophy deer and eliminate predators like foxes and cats.

Sounds like you have something in between, what with the engraving and DST.

If it is built on a surplus Gew 98 action with no maker's marks, there isn't much chance of pinning down its origins.

 

[goon]

It certainly sounds like something that we need to see pictures of!

 

[JT-AR-MG42]

Please do round up a camera.

I would really like to see the plugged magazine (never seen one) since you mention it has a magazine that is numbered.

I do not recall ever hearing of an engraved and DST version in Mausers military configuration, but photos can help determine the style/origins of the work.

There is definite collector interest in a gun like you describe if things are correct about it and it has not been sporterized from military configuration.

Several variations were made, so lets see photos.
The site has info to help you manage the pixel size of them to put on here if you are not familiar with doing so.

JT

 

[Float Pilot]

The old 8.15 x 46mm rimmed was a small-medium game cartridge and a super target cartridge. Something about like the 32-40 Ballard & Marlin as far as ballistics, but in a shorter case. Until the mid 1930s, the 8.15 x 46R dominated German Schutzen target rifle competitions. You can make brass from 30-30 brass . Quality Brass Cartridge will also supply properly head-stamped brass. Midway still sells dies for it.


Is your barrel about 26.5 inches long from the bolt face to the muzzle? If so it might mean that the 674 was how many millimeters long the barrel was.

 

[bubi]

Gewehr 98

Guys, I tried to insert the images--but could not do it. So, I need advice on that. The 674 being the barrel length seems to be correct. From the muzzle to the rear of the long curved sight, it says 67 cm. There is something else I forgot to mention: Beside the serial number on the forward receiver (left side), there is a crown (?) with a B under it, then under that, there is a crown with a U under it. The receiver is shiny silver and--again-- says above the chamber:

WAFFENFABRIK
MAUSER A.-G.
OBERNDORF A/N
1911

The whole is surrounded by scroll work.

Then on the left side farther down, it says within the scroll work in Gothic letters: Gew. 98.

There is more scroll work on the receiver bridge. The receiver is shiny. The scrollwork is dark.

My guess is this: This rifle was produced by Mauser in 1911. Later on, someone added the double trigger with its matched safety. The original safety was put aside because the gunsmith did not want to modify it. And then the original safety was lost. Safety and double trigger work together. The gun can only be fired if the hair trigger is set before.

The gun is in excellent condition. I hope you can help me post the pictures.

Let me translate the inscription:

WEAPONS FACTORY
MAUSER (A.-G. means AKTIEN GESELLSCHAFT or public stock company)
OBERNDORF is the name of a town.
A/N means AM NECKAR meaning ON THE NECKAR RIVER
1911: year of production

 

[NCsmitty]

Welcome to THR, bubi.

I certainly would like to see that particular rifle.

Use the Go Advanced button, NOT the post quick reply. It will take you to another window where you can add more text, and if you know your picture location, click manage attachments, you can browse and it will upload your picture file to the message box when you post it.


NCsmitty

 

[bubi]

Gewehr 98

I tried all that--it does not work. There is also this insert image button above the screen, which does not work either for me. No new window opens up from which I can upload the images.

So, I sent the images to the webmaster. If you guys want to have them, just give me your email addresses--and then I am going to send you the pictures. If you want more details, let me know.

 

[bubi]

Gewehr 98

Here is my email: [email protected].

 

[Float Pilot]

It might be because of your low post count....

Send me a couple photo [email protected]
And I will post them here for you....

 

[Float Pilot]

OK folks I just received these photos from BUBI the original poster and I am posting them for him.

 

[Float Pilot]

Here is a third photo he sent... I am amazed that it is in a military style stock.

 

[bubi]

Gewehr 98

Thank you for posting the pictures.

I have been thinking about this: I believe that this gun was made by Mauser with the military stock and the 8.15 barrel. Then there are two possibilities: Either Mauser or someone else fitted it with a changed safety and a related trigger group. The original safety and trigger group were lost. It is not something you can keep in the butt stock like the original rim fire pin of a Swiss Vetterli.

Thanks for your interest. I was very intrigued, too, when I saw the gun. I had to buy it. I knew it was something special. For a German at the time of the Kaiser the Gewehr 98 was something like the Holy Grail. I understand the desire of someone rich to have it changed by Mauser into a target rifle for personal use. They knew that the War was coming.

 

[Float Pilot]

Send me more photos of the magazine area, ( inside ) and the floorplate.
And the barrel markings plus the rear sight.

I used to have one that was basically a sporterized G-98 in 8.1 x46mm. It had the magazine filled in with a metal block which made it a single shot stalking rifle.

Somebody went through a lot of trouble to make yours.

 

[mr.trooper]

Very nice rifle. Probably one of a kind.

 

[Jim Watson]

Me and Float Pilot are headed in the same direction.
More close clear pictures of any proof marks, the workings of the magazine (or a filler), and the sight graduations will be a big help.

I think it to be a privately owned multipurpose rifle, midrange target and medium game.
I doubt the set triggers would have fit the specs for the Serviceman's Rifle of the interwar competition/training.

 

[Float Pilot]

Are there any serial numbers on the butt plate ? Is the butt plate standard or was it also fancied-up.?
How about any numbers stamped in the wood of the stock, either inside or outside?

It was a military action, since it has a stripper clip guide and a thumb cut-out, But then somebody went to all the trouble to barrel it is 8.15mm ( which is really 8mm) and engrave the action. Also they made it into a turned down bolt handle.
So why leave it in a military stock, with military sights ??? And why is the safety so odd..??????

And are the double set triggers from the same era or were they added later ???

 

[theotherwaldo]

It sounds like it's an Oberndorf Einheitsgewehr. Is it drilled on the left rail for an aperature sight? That's normal for this type, Most of them also have the option of a removable open rear sight that is graduated to 100, 175, and 300 meters. This sight is also adjustable for windage and elevation.
-And yes, most of these were single-shot rifles with double-set triggers right from the factory.

 

[bubi]

Gewehr 98

I just sent Float Pilot some pictures--and he sent me more questions. The floorplate is standard. There are no markings on the outside of the wood.

Guys, I do not understand your theories. You seem to know a lot more than I do.

However, in my opinion, what happened seems to be very simple to me: During the Kaiser era, Germans could see many military parades, in which the Gewehr 98 featured prominently. Someone wanted THIS rifle from the best company in Germany, namely Mauser, but wanted it as a target rifle, with all the engraving. It looks like that person loved the Gew.98--s/he had it even engraved on the receiver. There were quite a few rich people at the time, who would not care to spend some money. Just look at the houses they built during this time.

That someone else would engrave the Mauser logo, is highly unlikely. Mauser would have crushed them.

My question is this: Was this one of a kind or did Mauser produce a series of these guns?

I wrote Mauser. I wrote RWS about the cases, which they used to produce. This was two weeks ago, but no answer so far. Germans are not any more what they used to be.

 

[theotherwaldo]

The Einheitsgewehr was produced by the factory to be able to compete in civilian and military-style competitions. They were built - with a variety of options - as a civilian rifle for about half a century, usually in a basic military-style finish. Because of the wars and several waves of firearm confiscations, these fine rifles are rather rare today. Your example shows a high level of finish and appears to retain most of its accessories.

A very nice acquisition!

 

[Float Pilot]

Here are more photos from BUBI

 

[Float Pilot]

And a couple more

 

[Float Pilot]

And even a couple more. I know there was a certain time period when they standardized the target load for the 8.15x46mmR and after that point they were marked NORM or NORMAL

 

[Float Pilot]

http://www.qual-cart.com/323 cal.htm

BRASS

8.15x46R 20rnds $39.97 per 20 Next run will be made in 2014

 

[bubi]

Hirtenberger Ladekonus

I just found something out: The Germans could shoot this gun in their homes or a barn using a HIRTENBERGER LADEKONUS. This implement had the form of a case, but seems to have been massive with a straight bore through. It had a two-tier neck. On the bottom, you pushed a primer in. On the top, you set a hollow bullet on the first tier. Now this looked like a real bullet. You loaded it and fired without needing to buy a different gun called a ZIMMER-STUTZEN, or ROOM-GUN.