Danzig 1915 G98

r.fallon

r.fallon

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I had this piggybacked onto a prior thread about G98. I didn't get any feed back on it, so I'll post it in a new thread.
This is my Gew 98 1915 Danzig. I think this was given to the Polish post ww1 as a war rep. rifle (I think?) going by the "W" stamp (under the s/n) and the Polish Eagle. May have seen some time in the hands of the Republican Spainish? Can anyone shed some more light on this rifle please. A in a O stamp on butt? She is all matching.
Thanks RF
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You got that from Accuracy Plus in Peterborough, right? I looked at the same rifle, discussed it with the guys on gunboards.com. Figured it was probably a Gewehr 98 converted to a Polish wz.98, sold to the Spanish during their Civil War and again converted to an M43. This is just a theory based on some pictures, and shouldn't be taken as the gospel truth.
 
It definitely started life as a Gew98 receiver and served in the Kaiser's armies. I can;t say for certain it ever went to Poland - the eagle being discussed was Danzig's proof mark, not necessarily any post-war Polish connection.

At some point the spanish got hold of the receiver and built an M43 on it. Neat rifle, but probably not worth any more than an M43.
 
Who cares dollar value?

What a chunk of history, all in one place!

I have a couple which also came from Poland (I think), a 1915 Mauser and a "no-name brand" Kar98b. They are absolute messes, absolutely reek of past adventures.

Much more fun than my Aussie FAL cleaning kit, which reeks of jungle rot!
 
What makes you think it was ever in Polish service? I don't see any Polish marks or features on that one.

Still a nice rifle that wasn't converted any further by the Spaniards.
 
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I only thought that it was a Polish rifle because I bought the rifle sight unseen as a Polish Consession rifle. The W stamp and the Eagle stamp is what made me assume that it was Polish. I'm no expert thats why I asked.
 
Interesting rifle. It started life out as a Gewehr 98 long rifle at the Prussian arsenal of Danzig in early 1915 (judging by serial number without suffix). The Prussian eagle is beside the serial number on the left receiver wall as well. Hard to say if the barrel or any parts are original to the rifle as she went through one major rebuild outside of Germany at one point. It looks like the trigger guard is and perhaps the bayonet lug. Is there a stock disc on the right hand side of the stock ?

I cannot explain the rear sling attachment in the butt stock but the rear band with swivels looks Spanish to me. I do not know what the "A in a circle" marking means. I would need to see pictures of the parts themselves and any markings (especially under the barrel to see if it is the original one to the rifle but just cut down) to help explain her story further.

Hope this helps for now.
 
I can tell you (as a Polish arms collector) that the rifle doesn't have any Polish markings on it. The eagle is Prussian. That doesn't mean that the rifle did not serve in the Polish army, only that it does not have any Polish markings. Poland did sell all obsolescant Mod 98 mausers to the Spanish, in an order to fund new Wz.29 production. It is possible this is one of those.

Usually Gew 98's (or Kar 98's) that saw Polish Service would only receive Polish markings if they were overhauled or worked on my the armory. These would typically have the armory marking on the receiver, such as FB in a Triangle (F.B. Radom), or the factory number such as Zbr.4 (Krakow).

Most of these would have been sold off to other counties, mainly Spain and China, in an effort to standardize on Wz.29 rifles.

Here is some history on Spanish arms:
http://www.carbinesforcollectors.com/spanishsilentwar1.html

The rifle you have would have been a Gew 98, later converted to a Spanish M43. The interesting thing is that it does not have the receiver scrubbed and re-crested by La Coruna (as most M43's), and that it was not re-built again into a FR8.
 
I have uncovered some more info on this rifle. The rifle is a Spanish rebuild of a G98. I had a look in my Military Mausers of the World #4 Book today and it seems that this may in fact be a Mod 44 Spanish airforce rifle due to the fact that there in no aux bayo lug. The author states that the A stamp on the stock is still a mystery, but is unique to rifles that served in the Spanish civil war. The Loop on the butt of the stock is standard Spanish type. I will try to post some pics of the Spanish 43/44 rifles that are in the book. BTW Stoogie is that a wz 29 that is on the EE being sold as a sporter? Thanks for everyones input RF
 
Your rifle isn't a Spanish M44, as the front sight is wrong. The Spanish M44's front sight has the wings like a Kar98az, but no hook for the muzzle guard.

I don't think that one on EE is a Polish sporter because the barrel is stepped. Polish barrels are tappered. Also, the sights don't look right. The front sight should have a hook on it for the muzzle guard identical to the Kar98az. I'm pretty sure its a Spanish M44. You can also tell by the stock as its missing the bolt takedown, bottom swivel, and its walnut - Polish ones have a bolt takedown like the German K98's, a sling swivel on the bottom and are beech. Other clues are the bolt stop doesn't have a button, and the receiver looks to be missing a lip on the front to hold down a handguard.

Here are pics of the features I've described:
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Excellent info thanks stoogie. After rereading the article I also noticed on the 44 that it has side sling attachments only and not side AND bottom like m43s. Is safe to say that my rifle is a M43 but without double bayonette fitting?
 
Without a doubt, I would call that one a Spanish M43. The double bayonet fitting was put there when the rifle was paired with the Spanish M93 style bayonet. This one must have been paired with a M98 style bayonet and thats why it didn't need the adapter.

To check if your rifle ever had the adapter, check to see id there is a hold drilled in the bayonet lug. The adapter was pinned to the original lug. I don't see one in your pics.
 
To check if your rifle ever had the adapter, check to see id there is a hold drilled in the bayonet lug.

Yes there is a hole in the lug. Someone may have removed it in the past or maybe it was never fitted. Anyway it is a nice rifle and I don't have a M43 so it fits into my mauser collection nicely. Thanks again.
 
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