GEW98M 1917 Amberg

[c&rfan]

Thanks for the info Gunner. I'll check out that web page.

[Calif-Steve]

One additional comment. I think these new/mint rifles came out of Spain in the mid-1963/4 timeframe. German supplied during the Spanish Civil War. Most likely arrived too late for combat. I saw many mint 71/84 rifles that were in the same shipment. All were new and nice.

[c&rfan]

One additional comment. I think these new/mint rifles came out of Spain in the mid-1963/4 timeframe. German supplied during the Spanish Civil War. Most likely arrived too late for combat. I saw many mint 71/84 rifles that were in the same shipment. All were new and nice.

You're probably correct. From what I've read elsewhere the timing was right for when I bought mine.

[Calif-Steve]

Those were the days. I recall all of that shipment sold at $29.95 price range. The 71/84's went off at around $34.95.

[c&rfan]

Those were the days. I recall all of that shipment sold at $29.95 price range. The 71/84's went off at around $34.95.

Yep, $29.95 is what I paid for mine. Enfields and Mosin Nagants were going for between $15 and $20 and I believe K98s were in the range of $50 along with O3s and 03A3s. The last three were popular for making sporters with little modification.

[jisii]

My current sporter Mauser project may also been part of those 1964 shipments. It is a DWM Mauser dated 1917. I bought at a local auction in July ($130.00) where it was advertised as a 7mm. It is marked "GEW 98" on the left side of the receiver, numbers match on everything but the bolt and it is far too badly butchered to be restored, having been drilled for a receiver sight and being cut down to approx. 23-3/4" barrel length with a sporter ramp front sight installed. After I got it home and found out it was an 8mm, My first reaction was that the action would get a new 7mm barrel in the near future. However, a trip to he range changed my mind: with my handloads (150 Gr. Sierra SP with 47 Gr. IMR 3031)this thing shoots groups (at 75 yards) with the holes touching! I realized this was too good a barrel to be wasted so I'm shopping for a decent sporter stock for it. I don't think I'll put a scope on it; it does just fine with the Redfield receiver sight. FWIW.

[Calif-Steve]

I am looking at a Spandau 1917 GEW98. Serial number is 36! Barrel does match. Barrel length is 24" and rear sight is marked S/42G. The rear handguard ring has been milled off. This was a common Hunter's Lodge sporter rifle. Most likely out of Spain 1962/63? Common years back, not around anymore.

[Patrick Chadwick]

... just to see how the roots are growing!

Jisii, if that rifle shoots as well as you say, why not leave it alone?

The barrel length is the same as the K98 family, so it would be conceivable to restore it to a K98k-lookalike. But why spend money on a different sporter stock if it shoots so well as it is? The system is apperently well bedded to the existing stock, so why change it?

Patrick

[Calif-Steve]

The Germans must have shipped all sorts of Gew98's to Spain. Long barrel versions and short barrel 98k versions. Also piles of mint 71/84's. All sold into the USA 1964-65 time frame.

[enbloc8]

I got a Gew 98M back around 2001-02 at an area gun store. This was a more recent import (maybe out of Turkey?) as it had import marks along the barrel, and it was definitely not as nice as the 1960s Spanish imports pictured. Looks like it's all there, though.