GEW 98 at Cabalea’s

[AFMarksman]

I recently found a GEW 98 at Cabela’s and it followed me home.

The question I have is the receiver shows it was made in 1916, but it looks like someone added “/17” after 1916. Is this a hack job, or were these really marked that way?

[matthanne1]

I believe that this is a so-called 'Sterngewehr', assembled from parts available as an emergency measure during WW1. The star indicates emergency make and the appended date indicates date of acceptance using a previously made receiver. More images would be needed, such as proofs, stock markings, matching bolt or no, etc to be able to get closer to which factory made it, but the ammunition plant in Dresden was apparently one of several pressed into service to get these made. As always, experts are asked to help out here, but in my opinion this is a sought-after rifle as they are not as common as others.

[browningautorifle]

A full set of pics will help determine what it actually is...and of course we'd love to see all of it.

[AFMarksman]

Wow, I figured it was just a mix master. It has a nice bore (indoor picture doesn’t do it justice). Here are some more pictures. If there is a specific mark you are looking for, let me know and I’ll take more pictures.

[browningautorifle]

Looks good, bolt doesn't match which is almost expected... You have to use a macro setting for the bore and let it do it's job to get the pic. Still, it looks pretty good too.

[jon_norstog]

That's interesting. The floorplate doesn't match either. there may be other numbers. I wonder what the crown stamp means? It looks like the Danish crown, but they were using their own Krags, making some of them too.


jn

[browningautorifle]

The floorplate seems to match the receiver number...

[jon_norstog]

The floorplate seems to match the receiver number...

Oh yeah! I lost track of the number!

[Ovidio]

That's interesting. The floorplate doesn't match either. there may be other numbers. I wonder what the crown stamp means? It looks like the Danish crown, but they were using their own Krags, making some of them too.




jn

Spandau shows a crown over the writing.
Exactly like this.
It is a legit marking.
Nice rifle!
I love the Gew. 98.

[Eaglelord17]

That's interesting. The floorplate doesn't match either. there may be other numbers. I wonder what the crown stamp means? It looks like the Danish crown, but they were using their own Krags, making some of them too.


jn

The Germans were a monarchy at that point in time, up until 1918 so the crown was for the Kaiser.

I also believe that the * not only indicated that it was made with previously made parts but previously made parts that had been rejected for being slightly out of tolerances. I would have to double check it though.