KAR 88 Carbine

[Newby]

I picked up this German KAR 88 Carbine, 1890 VC SCHILLING SUHL, in a collection. Seems to be numbers matching, only mod seems to be the stock plate, rather unique ;o)

Curious what the unit markings mean and the approx value? Both areas where the unit markings located are sn matching, suspect the rifle served in two units.

Thanks

Jay

 

[polkey]

Interesting piece, although looks like someone may have had a pipe wrench on the receiver at some point.
Is it all matching? I would guess you could likely get $1-1500.
On another note it looks like the stock plate is likely from an 1920's tractor.

 

[Newby]

Interesting piece, although looks like someone may have had a pipe wrench on the receiver at some point.
Is it all matching? I would guess you could likely get $1-1500.
On another note it looks like the stock plate is likely from an 1920's tractor.

I did not take it apart but all the visible numbers are the full sn or the last two digits, I did not find one on the wood.

Thats funny, you found the plate. Thanks J

 

[bearhunter]

I picked up this German KAR 88 Carbine, 1890 VC SCHILLING SUHL, in a collection. Seems to be numbers matching, only mod seems to be the stock plate, rather unique ;o)

Curious what the unit markings mean and the approx value? Both areas where the unit markings located are sn matching, suspect the rifle served in two units.

Thanks

Jay

View attachment 693657
View attachment 693658
View attachment 693659
View attachment 693660
View attachment 693661
View attachment 693662
View attachment 693663

Nice rifles they tend to be very smooth.

Has it been rebarreled for the .323 bore diameter or does it still wear the original .318 bore barrel??

 

[Newby]

Nice rifles they tend to be very smooth.

Has it been rebarreled for the .323 bore diameter or does it still wear the original .318 bore barrel??

The S stamp indicates a rebore to .323.

ps. A lot of folks online are calling the commission rifle the KAR 88 but it is actually the Gewehr 88.

 

[Eaglelord17]

‘S’ stamp simply means they made sure it would fit patrone ‘S’ ammunition not that the bore was .323. Usually it was just a reamer they put in the chamber, thats it. Only way to truly know the bore diameter is to slug it. I would bet 20$ the bore has a .3215 bore.

Personally for the Gewehr 88 and its variants I make a load using .32 special bullets, they are usually around 150-170 grns of .321 diameter ammo.

Also this as you mentioned it isn’t the commission rifle, its the commission carbine.

Either way cool rifle, nice to see it has avoided the most common modification people used to do to them of grinding off the front sight protector wings.

 

[tiriaq]

Put the plaque back on. Better that than holes where it was.

 

[R005t3r]

Interesting piece, although looks like someone may have had a pipe wrench on the receiver at some point.
Is it all matching? I would guess you could likely get $1-1500.
On another note it looks like the stock plate is likely from an 1920's tractor.

You must be psychic. Can you give me your stock picks for this week?

View attachment 693663

 

[KotKotofeich]

Just to add, based on past sales and auctions, if you list it for 1k I would not hesitate to buy it

 

[Dosing]

Still possibly the prettiest military rifles ever. If under the tag isnt damaged badly, 1500$ easy.

 

[Quiet]

I picked up this German KAR 88 Carbine, 1890 VC SCHILLING SUHL, in a collection. Seems to be numbers matching, only mod seems to be the stock plate, rather unique ;o)

Curious what the unit markings mean and the approx value? Both areas where the unit markings located are sn matching, suspect the rifle served in two units.

My internet-educated guess at the regimental markings is that the carbine started with the 2nd Bavarian light cavalry regiment as carbine #34 of the 3rd company. After that was crossed out, It then became carbine #59 in the 4th company of the Bavarian 5th light cavalry.