Bayonet for Turk Comission rifle?
- Thread starter collector67
- Start date
If the Gewehr 88 is still in her original trim, the S.71, 71.84, and German/Turkish Ersatz blades should fit (some may not fit perfectly as I have found out).
If she is one that was completely refurbished to the 1903 standard by the Turks then, as J.P. has mentioned, the Turkish 1903 and Ersatz blades will be the best fit.
I would love to see pics of your 88
.
If she is one that was completely refurbished to the 1903 standard by the Turks then, as J.P. has mentioned, the Turkish 1903 and Ersatz blades will be the best fit.
I would love to see pics of your 88
.
Thats an extremely clean and very nice 88.05.38 you have, collector.
The Turkish M1935 pattern bayonets (along with German ones that were cut down and modified along the same pattern) go for very reasonable prices. I have seen them range from $25 up to $80 depending on condition and type of bayonet (i.e. German cut down versus Turkish made).
The Turkish M1935 pattern bayonets (along with German ones that were cut down and modified along the same pattern) go for very reasonable prices. I have seen them range from $25 up to $80 depending on condition and type of bayonet (i.e. German cut down versus Turkish made).
Thanks Nabs, I am wondering if the stock has been refinished in the past, it is so clean, with only a few safe kisses on her as well.
Would you be interested in selling it, if it fits? What price would you be looking at?
It is possible. The stock looks like a possible re-used Mauser 1903 stock. One of my 88.05.38s has the same thing where as another has a newly made black circassian walnut stock (a rather gorgeous one at that).
You can usually pick off the 1903 stocks on 88.05.38s by looking around the receiver and seeing a gap between the stock line and the receiver. You also see the differences when you disassemble the rifle as the armourer's hand fitted the stocks to their respective rifles.
The most impressive workmanship, in my opinion, is re-using the Gewehr 88 receiver and barrel jacket threads by screwing on an attachment piece that allows the use 88 front magazine screw post and the 1903 style hand guard.
One of the neat things that you sometimes run into is Loewe/DWM marked 1890/1893/1903 parts that have been re-used. For example, one of my 88.05.38s has a Loewe marked front sight post whereas another has Loewe contract marked upper and lower bands. The same can go for butt plates and screws. Likewise, the same goes for Gewehr 88/98 components.
The Turks apparently did not waste anything that they could salvage and re-use. For that, I think of them as the "Finns of the Mauser world".
Off topic, one conversion I am keeping my eyes open for is a Turkish captured SMLE that has been converted to closely resemble the 1903 Mauser while retaining the Lee Enfield action and bolt but chambered in 8mm Mauser. Boy that will be fun to shoot
.It is possible. The stock looks like a possible re-used Mauser 1903 stock. One of my 88.05.38s has the same thing where as another has a newly made black circassian walnut stock (a rather gorgeous one at that).
You can usually pick off the 1903 stocks on 88.05.38s by looking around the receiver and seeing a gap between the stock line and the receiver. You also see the differences when you disassemble the rifle as the armourer's hand fitted the stocks to their respective rifles.
The most impressive workmanship, in my opinion, is re-using the Gewehr 88 receiver and barrel jacket threads by screwing on an attachment piece that allows the use 88 front magazine screw post and the 1903 style hand guard.
One of the neat things that you sometimes run into is Loewe/DWM marked 1890/1893/1903 parts that have been re-used. For example, one of my 88.05.38s has a Loewe marked front sight post whereas another has Loewe contract marked upper and lower bands. The same can go for butt plates and screws. Likewise, the same goes for Gewehr 88/98 components.
The Turks apparently did not waste anything that they could salvage and re-use. For that, I think of them as the "Finns of the Mauser world".
Off topic, one conversion I am keeping my eyes open for is a Turkish captured SMLE that has been converted to closely resemble the 1903 Mauser while retaining the Lee Enfield action and bolt but chambered in 8mm Mauser. Boy that will be fun to shoot
I'll have to strip it down again to look more closely at the markings, but I do remember that underneath the reciever is a "UV" stamped into the metal. And now that you mention it, the innner wood of the stock looked like it was carved out somewhat, it didn't look like a smooth, factory finish. I guess the bolt takedown disk on the buttstock is also an indication that it is a 1903 stock, as the bolt on my Gew 88 doesn't require that tool to disassemble it. Could you tell me of a site that lists what the Loewe/DWM markings look like?
I'd like to research this rifle further.
Thanks for all your info, Nabs!
I wish such a website or reference existed. Sadly the majority of the records were lost in the 1940s during WW2 as Loewe (later DWM after 1896) was nationalized by the NSDAP in the 1930s.
For Loewe and 88s in general, alot of the markings appear to be worker or process related but these are guesses as we don't have a clear answer. The only way to see any consistency is to strip down each rifle encountered and take detailed notes/pictures of all markings and compare to similar rifles from the same and other years for the respective maker.
My newly made stock on my 88.05.38 also has the take down disc. I do not know if this stock was made just for the 88.05.38 at the time or was on a 1903 Mauser refurbishment during the 1930s and was later swapped onto my 88.05.38 during sevice in the 1940s-70s. It does have the Ankara factory proof mark (intertwined "ATF" marking) on the wood just in front of the left take down disc.
I can see if I have some file photos of my 1891 Loewe for marking comparison if you wish.
For Loewe and 88s in general, alot of the markings appear to be worker or process related but these are guesses as we don't have a clear answer. The only way to see any consistency is to strip down each rifle encountered and take detailed notes/pictures of all markings and compare to similar rifles from the same and other years for the respective maker.
My newly made stock on my 88.05.38 also has the take down disc. I do not know if this stock was made just for the 88.05.38 at the time or was on a 1903 Mauser refurbishment during the 1930s and was later swapped onto my 88.05.38 during sevice in the 1940s-70s. It does have the Ankara factory proof mark (intertwined "ATF" marking) on the wood just in front of the left take down disc.
I can see if I have some file photos of my 1891 Loewe for marking comparison if you wish.
Yeah, I guess the Nazi's regarded the Gew88 as the "Judenflinte" ("Jew's musket"), and could care less about documentation. If you have those photos availiable, I wouldn't mind seeing them, if it's no trouble to you. If you are interested, I could disassemble my rifle this weekend and email you pics of the markings on mine in exchange.
Yeah it doesn't help that Loewe/DWM (that had ownership in Fabrique Nationale and Waffenfabrik Mauser) was a Jewish owned company. Rumour has it the owners fled Germany in the 1930s and the company had a pro-NSDAP board installed after being nationalized.
As for a picture exchange, I'll send you a PM.
As for a picture exchange, I'll send you a PM.
