Gew 98 Scope?

[Rockandroll]

Thanks for the input guys. I’m not a long range shooter anyway.

[Surpmil]

Yes, it is a WWI scope and was originally fitted with double claw bases. Under the solder below the rifle number is the letter suffix to the serial number.

These scopes like most scopes of that era are relatively easy to service due to their simplicity and the fact that little if any waterproofing mastic etc. was used.

Some of the later war German scopes started to make use of zinc alloys for certain parts like lens cells and those can corrode and/or become brittle with time.

Here is another of a similar vintage. The rear "foot" has been silver or nickel plated at some point to try to eliminate the play that would develop in the windage adjustments over time.

The second example shown has clearly also been "sporterized" post-WWI.

Here's one I owned with the case and showing four post reticule as noted by Hesketh Prichard in his book (for aiming against lighter sky instead of dark foreground.)

[Daan Kemp]

I’m not a long range shooter anyway.

Telescopes are not exclusively for long range. It helps old eyes too

[browningautorifle]

It helps old eyes too

That's where I am now too.

[thrawnformbi]

Thanks all for your replies. Surpmil, it looks like your mounts are offset? Was this common for these first world war vintage? Im assuming this was to not inhibit the use of stripper clips or a straight bolt? Or am I seeing this wrong and thats just a windage adjustment?

It'd be nice to find a good set of rings for this scope. I have an old Gew 98 with original bases but never found an appropriate scope. Think these might work?

Attachment 117403

[Surpmil]

My pleasure. The rear "leg" is offset as you see, but not the front. I believe the rear offset was quite common yes, and I believe the reason was that type of dovetail & screw windage adjustment if mounted centrally would have blocked the view through to the iron sights.

The German Armies seem to have got over the charger-loading hangup fairly early in the war, whereas the WD clung to it longer.

If you have a Gew98 with original WWI bases post some photos if you wish and maybe we can identify the type of scope it had originally from the layout of the bases.

Those rings you have shown: what inside diameter are they? That type has never been found on WWI Gew98 fittings to my knowledge, and the closest resemblance is the 'dow' (Optikotechna) WWII scopes. (a late war desperation measure as that very heavy 'dow' scope must have shot the rings loose very quickly).

[thrawnformbi]

I've attached some photos of the Gew 98 I own that has bases installed. I'm not sure if these were commercial or military. The cross hatching ornamentation makes me think commercial? I bought it because I spent years looking for a gunsmith willing to dovetail the receiver and eventually gave up. Unfortunately the rifle was missing a bolt so I've been using a K98 bolt that I headspaced properly. Had no intention of modifying an original Gew 98 bolt for that purpose.

I have a pair of claw mounts that work very well with the bases and installed them on the Emile Busch scope in question last night. It required me to disassemble the scope but it went smoothly on my watchmakers bench. The elevation adjustment turret screws were rusted rock solid but under a microscope and using watchmakers oilers I was able to apply microscopic amounts of Kroil until they broke loose.

They required a thin brass shim to really tighten up but the end result was very nice albeit far too cloudy to be usable. I think I'm going to make the required spanner to remove the inner doublet for cleaning. I believe its referred to as the "picture reversal assembly?" Just looking to track down some canadian balsalm now as I'd rather not use any of the modern glues that are so unforgiving.

Attachment 117444Attachment 117443Attachment 117445Attachment 117446Attachment 117447

[Surpmil]

Given the mismatching numbers and the quality of the handwork, that looks like a low-mid grade sporterization to me, but Mausers aren't my field really.

WWII Waffenampt on the extractor collar.

[Rockandroll]

Not trying to seal this post but...what can I do to get a correct scope plus upper mounts for my WW2 Mauser sniper with the low turret mount? Please point me a direction. Thanks

[Surpmil]

If you want an original you will pay a lot and wait a lot. If you want repro's, they are out there - at least of the mounts.