Ecuador 88 Commission Rifle Carbine Conversion

[Aragorn243]

Mike knows I like unusual stuff and he alerted me to this one about a month ago and I was finally able to meet up with him yesterday to pick it up. His daughter is actually the one that said this one is right up my alley. Thanks Mike and daughter.

He sent me some pics and I spent about a month researching this monstrosity. Not a whole lot out there on it but three days ago I finally found a confirmation photo on the net.

Details are a bit sketchy but this is what I was able to find out. Ecuador purchased thousands of 88 Commission rifles off of Germany in the early 1900's. Out of these, a fair number were either converted prior to sale or sent back and converted after the initial sale around 1904. These were arsenal converted although not exactly sure which arsenal. There were two German firms which are suspected but Belgium and the Czechs are also rumored. The barrels were replaced, the sleeves were cut at the point where the cut is under the rear band, a new nose cap with no bayonet lug was fitted. The cleaning rod channel was filled and side mount sling swivels were fitted with the original rear sling swivel hole filled. I cannot confirm the cutting of the sleeve as I cannot get anything apart at this point. A cavalry sight is installed so it would seem to me they may simply have fitted cavalry sleeves. The receiver was scrubbed on many of these including this one. Some markings are there, the serial number remains but is faint. Many of the German proofs are present. There is nothing on the stock that I can see from a manufacturer.

Ecuador did not take very good care of these. They stored them in a huge pile in a large room. They were purchased by a single company and imported them in the early 2000's. Nearly all are in rough shape. This one looks horrible. All the screws are rusted tight. Stock seems solid for the most part but is missing some chunks at the butt and the for end. Many of these did not have their bolt heads and the bores were junk. This one is complete although a bit stiff which I suspect is just from the old grease. It also surprisingly has a decent bore. It was not however upgraded to the "S" standard so I'm going to have trouble firing it due to a lack of ammo.

My book on the 88 Commission rifle mentions the Ecuador purchase but not the conversion. I was able to find one website which lists it as a legitimate 4th version of 88 Commission Carbine. Some argument if it is a musketoon, short rifle or carbine but this specific site says it meets all criteria for carbine, mainly due to the side mount sling swivels

I'm not sure what I am going to do with it. I have a very strong desire to neutralize the rust and remove it but I do not want t destroy the rifle in the process. I suspect it is going to have a length of time with penetrating oil on the screws. Until I can get it apart, not a whole lot I can do other than wipe down the stock a bit. There is significant pitting along the wood line, especially along the barrel sleeve. Magazine has a decent amount of surface rust I can probably get off without taking the rifle apart but I'd like to put the whole thing in an electrolysis bath.

It does have a lot of character as is however. Introducing the beast:

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