Gewehrfabrik Danzig Mauser sporter rifle

[iroc22]

I just picked one up and it's kind of a mystery to me. It has double set triggers, stepped barrel, walnut stock with schnabel front and cheekpiece on the rear. It also has a folding rear sight and seems to be built on a K98 action. It has no stamps but I believe it to be 7.92x57 IS (.323) chambering.

From what I can find about these rifles is that they were made in 1918-1919 in the free state of Danzig and it was an attempt to use the German arsenal in Danzig for civilian sporting rifles. However the arsenal was dissolved and all the machines sent to Radom, Poland. Anyone else ever find anything out about these rifles?

 

[iroc22]

It looks identical to this one (minus the ugly recoil pad, it has a metal plate instead)

 

[smellie]

Is yours a large-ring or small-ring action?

Stepped barrel sounds very much as if they were making them much like the Kar98az which they had been making for the army up until then. My 98az is a Danzig 1914 but it's nothing like as pretty as yours.

Check the barrel markings on yours before you fire it. Those were most unrestful years in Germany, as you will know, and I don't know what the policy was right at that time, but normal German policy was to prohibit the manufacture of rifles using the MILITARY cartridge (at that time the JS loading) for civilian use. Rifles were made, but usually bored for the J bullet (.318") and marked on the barrels, generally in tiny little letters "NUR FUR J", the German word 'nur' indicating ONLY.

But this IS a lovely old rifle.

Congratulations on a fine acquisition!

 

[iroc22]

It has a small ring receiver from what I measure (1.3"). So I would assume it's made from the Kar98 action. It has a turned down bolt handle.

The barrel has zero markings whatsoever on it. No caliber, no proof marks, no military marks....nothing. I'd wager to say since Danzig was free at the time and not part of Germany, they probably removed all German military markings so Germany couldn't claim the actions and barrels were theirs. Danzig was kind of in limbo in 1918-1919 and thats why it seems these rifles were made only in those 2 years. The only markings on the entire gun are the serial number and "Gewehrfabrik Danzig" on the receiver. I was told it is the "JS" bore (made a mistake in my above post, not "IS" as I incorrectly stated). But since Danzig was in limbo I don't know if they had the non-military restrictions. I think I may have a gunsmith check it out before firing.

I borrowed that above picture from the Westley-Richards website since I just got my rifle and haven't taken any pics of it. Mine luckily didn't receive an ugly recoil pad like the one above. Mine also doesn't have factory scope mounts like the rifle above. Otherwise it's identical to the picture. I can take some pictures for those who may be interested.