W.W.1 German 13mm Anti-Tank Rifle

[juno-44]

Hi, someone is offering me an original German W.W.1 13mm anti-tank rifle. The complete bolt is missing from the rifle and I was wondering if someone would have a spare one or would know where I could find one.

Regards, juno-44

Information

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[Patrick Chadwick]

Your chances of finding a bolt are zilch / 5/8 of F.A. / less than a snowball's chance in hell / etc. However you phrase it - the message is clear. The Germans deliberately threw away the bolts when these rifles were captured, to prevent them being used by the enemy. There are no spares.

[RCEMERalf]

I have the bolt you are looking for. It is $ 10,000. The serial number matching rifle to go with it is free with bolt purchase.

[Patrick Chadwick]

I have the bolt you are looking for. It is $ 10,000. The serial number matching rifle to go with it is free with bolt purchase.

If only I lived on the same continent and had the money.... I have one of the shortest and one of the oldest types of Mauser.... Obviously I need one of the largest as well.

[Calif-Steve]

You will likley have to get one made for you. Bolts were forged and I'm not sure who would be willing to do the job.

[boltaction]

Advertise on things like GunBoards, and keep an eye on the German sites and such. Hermann Historica had the pieces of a bolt a couple of auctions ago as memory serves me. My T-Gewehr has the original bolt with it.

Depending on how much the fellow is asking for his T-Gewehr, it would still be worthwhile picking it up, as they are very rare nowadays. They were large and heavy and therefore not popular to bring back as war booty (hmmm, trench mortar, T-Gewehr, or Luger, which should I put in my kit bag?)

If you wish to have one roughly made up to put in the rifle, I can take exact measurements of mine for fabrication. It would be hellishly expensive to make a functioning one, though, but since no one in his or her right mind would actually want to fire one of these things, even if you could get the ammunition, it's probably somewhat moot. I've seen footage of these in action--they were crewed by two, one ammo carrier and one shooter. They would switch off after a couple/few shots, as the recoil could break collar bones, and the concussion left bleeding noses and eardrums. Bigger is not necessarily better!

Cheers

Ed

[Calif-Steve]

Is the ammo ever sold? I would guess the collectors have the stuff, but I can't recall it ever being sold.

[browningautorifle]

I have one only cartridge that was GIVEN to me some years ago, by an old soldier from the same regiment I was in. That's as close as I've come.

[Patrick Chadwick]

It would be hellishly expensive to make a functioning one, though, but since no one in his or her right mind would actually want to fire one of these things, even if you could get the ammunition

I once saw a T-Gewehr for sale in a magazine, and actually spoke to the seller. He was a old collector and said that he had never fired it himself, but had found a younger shooter who was willing to try. This lad told him it was a "once in a lifetime experience" - once being enough experience to last a lifetime!

[villiers]

Why would the Mauser be so awe inspiring .... compared with other (Russian, Brit etc.) anti-tank rifles?