Turkish 1891 Loewe Berlin Gew 88/05.

[Anzac15]

Been on a buying spree! Found this 1891 Loewe Gew 88/05 yesterday. Really good shape, fantastic bore, only fault is that some wuss cut about an inch off the but and installed a recoil pad. So a little work to be done there. Oh, the inside is full of cosmo, so there's a day right there! Rear sight is in Farsi. Should be a good shooter.

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[jmoore]

That version was my introduction to 7,92x57 turnbolts way back in high school. Was a good looking rifle, should have never have sold it. Have since found another (not as pretty), but it's just not the same...

[Claven2]

There's a fantastic turkish-issue, but non-refurb Leowe 88/05 in a local gun store here with a great white receiver and perfect bore. Tempting at $450. I'm basically satisfied with this match fellow though, an 1890 Steyr with a Turkish property stamp.

[Anzac15]

Being that this and a few other 88/05s I've seen has the rear sight in Turkish, is it a pretty fair assumption that this rifle saw action with the Turks during the First World War? Magazine also has the metal cover over the opening, it's dated 1915.
Also, and I know this has been covered a billion times, but am or am I not correct in saying that COMMERCIAL 8mm Mauser is safe in these rifles? I have read more confusing info regarding the 88 than anything else. Really would like to put a few rounds through this one.

[jmoore]

I've shot a fair amount of Remington 170gr SP commercial out of 'em. It's OK but not great. Have one K98k that loves that ammo, though.

[Claven2]

commercial US ammo like Winchester or Remington is down-loaded to ensure safety in 88's. The European stuff like PRVI is not.

These guns were made for the WW1 era (and earlier) 154gn load, not the beefy ww2 era 198gn load.

[Adolf Galland]

Nice looking rifle

[Anzac15]

Thanks! Just finished modifying a Gew 88 buttplate to fit the shortened stock. Looks pretty darn good. Almost can't tell it had been cut. Time to put some rounds through it!