+ Reply to Thread
Page 1 of 3 1 2 3 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 27

Thread: 1888 Commision Rifle

Click here to increase the font size Click here to reduce the font size
  1. #1
    FREE MEMBER
    NO Posting or PM's Allowed
    ldpfeifer's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2013
    Last On
    09-07-2013 @ 01:21 AM
    Location
    Ellensburg, WA. USA
    Posts
    9
    Local Date
    03-29-2024
    Local Time
    12:09 AM

    1888 Commision Rifle

    I have a Steyr 1890 rifle sent home in WW2. The barrel was packed with grease until February of this year. I tapped lead down the barrel end and it measured around .312 to .314. The chamber end is .434. I easily un-screwed the barrel shroud and it is marked 7.7mm. This gun has the "S" stamped on it, but also has late model K98icon ramp sites according to a person on another forum. I cannot chamber a 8mm Remington Mauser round, it hits on the shoulder. I managed to get a AK47 spent round about an inch into the chamber and applied a little pressure with the bolt and it left a partial ring around the case at the inch mark. The Mauser round measures .467 at the rim and .427 before the shoulder. I am thinking broken case, but do not see any brass. I will try and upload pictures but am at a loss as to if it is a 8mm or a re-barreled something else. Any help would be appreciated.
    Lyle
    Information
    Warning: This is a relatively older thread
    This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

  2. # ADS
    Friends and Sponsors
    Join Date
    October 2006
    Location
    Milsurps.Com
    Posts
    All Threads
    A Collector's View - The SMLE Short Magazine Lee Enfield 1903-1989. It is 300 8.5x11 inch pages with 1,000+ photo’s, most in color, and each book is serial-numbered.  Covering the SMLE from 1903 to the end of production in India in 1989 it looks at how each model differs and manufacturer differences from a collecting point of view along with the major accessories that could be attached to the rifle. For the record this is not a moneymaker, I hope just to break even, eventually, at $80/book plus shipping.  In the USA shipping is $5.00 for media mail.  I will accept PayPal, Zelle, MO and good old checks (and cash if you want to stop by for a tour!).  CLICK BANNER to send me a PM for International pricing and shipping. Manufacturer of various vintage rifle scopes for the 1903 such as our M73G4 (reproduction of the Weaver 330C) and Malcolm 8X Gen II (Unertl reproduction). Several of our scopes are used in the CMP Vintage Sniper competition on top of 1903 rifles. Brian Dick ... BDL Ltd. - Specializing in British and Commonwealth weapons Specializing in premium ammunition and reloading components. Your source for the finest in High Power Competition Gear. Here at T-bones Shipwrighting we specialise in vintage service rifle: re-barrelling, bedding, repairs, modifications and accurizing. We also provide importation services for firearms, parts and weapons, for both private or commercial businesses.
     

  3. #2
    Legacy Member Calif-Steve's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Last On
    10-01-2023 @ 12:52 AM
    Posts
    2,508
    Local Date
    03-29-2024
    Local Time
    02:09 AM
    Post a picture or two. You have Kar98 rear sights or Gew98 rear sights?

  4. Avoid Ads - Become a Contributing Member - Click HERE
  5. #3
    Advisory Panel Patrick Chadwick's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Last On
    06-25-2023 @ 06:36 AM
    Location
    Germany
    Posts
    5,032
    Local Date
    03-29-2024
    Local Time
    09:09 AM
    Old chambers are worn, by any amount from zero (i.e. mint) to so much as to be noticeably sloppy. But I have never yet seen one that had become tighter.
    Calif-Steve rightly points out that pictures are required.
    At present, I can see 4 possibilities:
    1) Substantial corrosion or baked-on crud.
    2) A broken-off case.
    3) It is indeed a rechambered heaven-knows-what.
    4) Someone inserted a chamber sleeve in order to be able to use some other 8mm cartridge, like the 8x33 short cartridge for the WW2 "Sturmgewehr". And this cartridge does indeed have a shoulder that starts 23.5mm in from the base. Which would explain the ring mark you observed at about 1" in from the base.

    No point in further speculation from this distance - make a good photo from the chamber end!

    Just for fun, I am guessing it is 4).
    Last edited by Patrick Chadwick; 06-04-2013 at 05:29 AM.

  6. Thank You to Patrick Chadwick For This Useful Post:


  7. #4
    Legacy Member gew8805's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Last On
    07-19-2022 @ 08:59 AM
    Location
    Virginia
    Posts
    578
    Local Date
    03-29-2024
    Local Time
    03:09 AM
    Actually, have a chamber cast done, it is the only way you will get any accurate idea of what you have. Photographs posted on the internet will tell you (or us) nothing - it's a hands on job.

    Do all of this after having a qualified, experienced gunsmith look at it.

  8. The Following 2 Members Say Thank You to gew8805 For This Useful Post:


  9. #5
    Senior Moderator
    (Founding Partner)


    Site Founder
    Claven2's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Last On
    08-09-2023 @ 10:17 PM
    Location
    Scandaltown, Ontario
    Posts
    3,242
    Real Name
    Ronald
    Local Date
    03-29-2024
    Local Time
    02:09 AM
    Is the rifle in military trim, or is it a sporter. When I see 7.7 on a gun, I think .303 or 7.7 Japaneseicon. Assuming the riflecame home from Europe, I woud guess at a post-war Britishicon sporting conversion to .303 British. If pacific theatre, it could be a gun that went to China and was rebarelled by the Japanese.

    Pictures may help.
    Союз нерушимый республик свободных Сплотила навеки Великая Русь. Да здравствует созданный волей народов Единый, могучий Советский Союз!

  10. #6
    FREE MEMBER
    NO Posting or PM's Allowed
    ldpfeifer's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2013
    Last On
    09-07-2013 @ 01:21 AM
    Location
    Ellensburg, WA. USA
    Posts
    9
    Local Date
    03-29-2024
    Local Time
    12:09 AM
    Thread Starter
    Hope these uploaded.....Lyle

  11. #7
    FREE MEMBER
    NO Posting or PM's Allowed
    ldpfeifer's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2013
    Last On
    09-07-2013 @ 01:21 AM
    Location
    Ellensburg, WA. USA
    Posts
    9
    Local Date
    03-29-2024
    Local Time
    12:09 AM
    Thread Starter
    GEWicon 88 on one side of the gun, clearly stamped. The 1st pic is from a bore scope inside the chamber as far as I could get the tool. The second is the ramp up site. The "S" with the CE below it?? The block that someone carved out. The barrel under the heat shroud. The chamber end you can still see some of the 60+ year old grease that was in there. And the stock where it has been cut. I can get more if needed.
    Lyle

  12. #8
    FREE MEMBER
    NO Posting or PM's Allowed
    ldpfeifer's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2013
    Last On
    09-07-2013 @ 01:21 AM
    Location
    Ellensburg, WA. USA
    Posts
    9
    Local Date
    03-29-2024
    Local Time
    12:09 AM
    Thread Starter
    I added 3 more photos, close up of the sites and a couple more done with the bore scope from the chamber end. You can see the rifling in the barrel.
    Lyle

  13. #9
    Legacy Member Calif-Steve's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Last On
    10-01-2023 @ 12:52 AM
    Posts
    2,508
    Local Date
    03-29-2024
    Local Time
    02:09 AM
    Single-shot Gew88 with Gew98 rear sights. This was a early 1900 target rifle? Very likely, but is that a new barrel or merely re-chambered?.

  14. #10
    Legacy Member gew8805's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Last On
    07-19-2022 @ 08:59 AM
    Location
    Virginia
    Posts
    578
    Local Date
    03-29-2024
    Local Time
    03:09 AM
    As far as caliber, have a gunsmith do a chamber cast to see exactly what you have, anything else is just speculation. It may be a wildcat so you will never know, I doubt it is Britishicon so probably not a standard .303.

    Very interesting. As Calif-Steve says, the rifle has had a Gew 98 Lange Vizier rear sight added to replace the original Gew88 rear sight. And it has had the magazine blocked to disallow the use of the magazine meaning it is single shot only.

    I vote for a post military, one off, target rifle. And definitely done in Europe.

+ Reply to Thread
Page 1 of 3 1 2 3 LastLast

Similar Threads

  1. Gewehr 1888 receiver question
    By kanterj in forum Mauser Rifles
    Replies: 7
    Last Post: 01-22-2013, 09:19 PM
  2. Picked up another Gewehr 1888 Commission Rifle.
    By Claven2 in forum Mauser Rifles
    Replies: 6
    Last Post: 05-01-2012, 02:31 PM
  3. Pattern 1888 markings questions
    By RangeRover in forum Edged Weapons Forum
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 07-29-2010, 06:44 AM
  4. Patt 1888, at the Birmingham Iternational..
    By bigduke6 in forum Edged Weapons Forum
    Replies: 10
    Last Post: 06-16-2010, 02:44 PM
  5. Steyr 1888/90/95 Infantry Rifle (CGN Private Ad)
    By Badger in forum Appraisals, Fakery, Dispute Resolution & Mediation Forum
    Replies: 7
    Last Post: 11-06-2007, 12:30 PM

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
Raven Rocks