Gew 88 Sporter barrel question

[Salt Flat]

I have a Gew 88 action that I am going to use for a European style sporting rifle conversion. My question is how to treat the theads for the barrel shroud. My guess is the that the old German gunsmiths made a spacer to cover the threads or just cut the old threaded part of the barrel shoud off and used that. Was the spacer threaded or just a simple collar? All I have is the action so I'll need to machine my own spacer. Thanks! Salt Flat

Information

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[jmoore]

Most of the '88 sporting rifles I've seen have had rather sculpted barrels. Probably not the military barrel at all.

[Patrick Chadwick]

I apologize in advance for the endless repeat of the same message

... but these days, turning a viable old service rifle into a sporter does not make sense ballistically or financially.

Making a sporter has been aptly described as "taking a 200 dollar rifle and spending another 200 to turn it into a 100 dollar rifle". There are plenty of sporters around, available for peanuts.

My guess is the that the old German gunsmiths made a spacer to cover the threads or just cut the old threaded part of the barrel shoud off and used that.

But this is 2012 not 1912, and the barrel shrouds are usually the most decrepit component of a Gew.88. If the barrel shroud is in good condition, then it is worth more than you might think to someone else who is refurbishing a Gew.88. Chopping a good barrel shroud would be wilful destruction of 50-80 dollars* to save making a 5 dollar sleeve.

Of course, it is your rifle, and you can use it in any legal fashion you choose. If it is a good shooter, I would suggest that you keep it as it is, or sell it as it is. If it is not a good shooter (which would raise the question: why turn it into a "sporter"?) then it will be worth more parted out than as a sporter.

Please consider these points before carving up something which could be VALUABLE to someone else.

*Over here, that would be euros, of course**.
** Based on experience, not hearsay.

[jmoore]

All I have is the action so I'll need to machine my own spacer.

I believe there's nothing to save. Might as well have some fun with it! Since there's no barrel, "why would a spacer be needed?" is the next question.

[Patrick Chadwick]

Thanks jmoore, I really must learn to read the question before providing an answer!
- Now I am also puzzled about the barrel.
Salt Flat, please let us know exactly which parts you have!

[Salt Flat]

The Gew 88 has an external thread on the face of the action. The barrel shroud screws onto this external thread. It's a liittle hard to describe. I'll post a picture later today.

[Salt Flat]

Here's a picture of the external threads. (This is not my exact receiver but rather a representative picture) What I have is the compete action which includes the complete bolt, trigger gaurd assembly, trigger assy, bolt stop etc. No barrel or shroud or stock.

[barbarossa]

Salt Flat, old time gunsmiths doing sporter conversions on these rifles back in the day usually cut off the threads on the barrel shroud and slipped this down over the barrel shank to cover the threads on the front of the receiver ring. It's really the easiest way to achieve a clean sporter appearance. Oh yes, I think I know where there's a spare beat up barrel shroud off a wrecked Commission 88 rifle you might be able to purchase quite nominally if you are interested.

Good luck!

[Centurion]

You might want to get some ideas by going to Holt's Auctioneers, in Wolverton and looking at the archived sales results. They often have very high quality pictures and I've seen quite a number of '88s that are "old time" converts to sporters.

[jmoore]

Salt Flat, old time gunsmiths doing sporter conversions on these rifles back in the day usually cut off the threads on the barrel shroud and slipped this down over the barrel shank to cover the threads on the front of the receiver ring.

One of those things that's so obvious it's easy to miss. That's my excuse. Plus it's probably been ten years since I last pulled the shroud from either of the '88s on hand.