2 71/84 Spandau's

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burnt45

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Hey guys, I'm posting these pics to get some feedback on these 2 rifles.
The top one is pretty much a "no-brainer"... 1887 Spandau w/everything seemingly matching.
But what is the bottom one?... Bubba or Carbine? The barrel is about 24.5" and it's double stamped 1886(small & large font).

And of course, what kinda value can I put on these?

Thanks for your help.

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Mausers002.jpg
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IIRC the bottom one was reworked by Eatons, could have been sears, I am to old and tired to remember correctly anymore. They modded and sold them, so not truly a bubba job, but a mass-civilianisation of old rifles.
 
There was a thread a while back regarding these rifles and their use in the Papal Guard in Quebec. Very interesting insight regarding th Church-sanctioned carrying of firearms.

Before the Great War, they had the CLB (Church Lads' Brigade) in Newfoundland for the Anglican Church, the Papal Zouaves for the Roman Catholic Church and there were a couple of others as well. Must have looked just SUPER in parades.

It all died out after the Great War, of course, same as our (former) national sport of long-range target shooting: people had just had too much in the War years.
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Take a close up of the front sight on the cut down one, it looks to be the German style. The Germans did cut down 71/84s to a slightly shorter length. It may or may not be a Jaeger rifle.
 
I had a look at my two 71/84s and the front sight bases do not match yours. It looks like the barrel was cut down and re-crowned and a new front sight base soldered in place. It is a shame I do not own a Jaeger rifle for comparison.

In any event, it isn't a bad sporting job, I have seen others that made me want to cry.
 
Since the rifle appears to have been a bubba job, she has value in her parts that can be used to restore other 71/84s to complete functionality. There are a few other 71/84 sporters on the EE to compare price and quality with. If you wanted my best guess of ~$125 seems about right from what I have seen comparatively on the EE.
 
If only we had time machines and could go back and rescue these rifles before they got "sportyized"
I once owned a 71 carbine many years ago and that chopped one is NOT.
Carbines had full wood.
 
I agree, I too wish I could go back in time and save them from bubba.

One sporter that made me cry was a Gewehr 71/84 1887 Danzig with intact unit markings to an Infantry replacement unit. The poor thing was cut down, magazine tube too, and the newly cut down magazine tube soldered (crudely I might add) to the bottom of the barrel with no wood around it. The original wood stock was cut down and painted a puke green (just like this -> :puke:) and the receiver was drilled and tapped for a red dot sight. Bolt handle was crudely turned down and missing some bits as well.

If that doesn't make you want to shed a tear, I don't know what does.
 
On that line, I once saw a nice 71/84 at a gun shop with a bent bolt handle. bent BACK courtesy of UPS. Given the length of these bolt handles I cannot imagine what it took to do that!:rolleyes:
 
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