Heads up - exceptional Gew88 for sale.

Claven2

Claven2

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Just a fair warning, stopped into Gunco in Ottawa today. There are two pretty nice 88/05's in the rack. One is a type 2 88, ex-turkish, mix-match of parts but with a german made bolt for about $250.

Second is a "type 1" non-refurb with a nice Ludwig Leowe receiver, still in the white with virtually no patination (i.e. rust). It is Turk ownership marked and has the Czech post-war replacement bolt (originals having been destroyed under Versailles Treaty terms), but is otherwise totally matching, un-sanded stock, nicely unit marked, perfect bore, 90% finish and GREAT white receiver. I think it's $650 or $700? Either way, more than fair for the condition and it being an early Leowe non-refurb.

Someone please buy these before I do!!! (I have no connection to the items for sale) That second rifle would look great next to my Type 1 1890 Steyr.
 
I'd like to help you save your money, but he doesn't seem to have a website???? Anyway, whats a little money...
 
You people who know all these things about Mausers, how does this 1888 of mine fit into the scheme?
It looks like a couple of Turkish marks on it and I know it has been converted to the larger diameter bullet.
Beyond that, I don't know much about it.




 
H4831, what you have is what I classify as a "2.5 variant", the "3 variant being one of the 88.05.35s you see that were completely re-worked to resemble a 1903 Mauser. She was likely converted during the early to mid 1930s in Turkey and rebuilt with whatever 88 parts were available, the full thumb cut out being added by the Turks during this time. The new Turkish serial number from the rebuild is "1066" and I am betting she has a Turkish replacement barrel that will have the same serial number, "1066", stamped on it along with Turkish proof markings. The bolt body is a 1930s Turkish re-marked example, check the underside of the bolt body to see if it has possible German proofs or Czech proofs if they were scrubbed off.

Does the rear sight have Fashi or Western style numbers on it ?

Without examining her in person, that is what I can tell from the pictures.
 
Nabs said:
H4831, what you have is what I classify as a "2.5 variant", the "3 variant being one of the 88.05.35s you see that were completely re-worked to resemble a 1903 Mauser. She was likely converted during the early to mid 1930s in Turkey and rebuilt with whatever 88 parts were available, the full thumb cut out being added by the Turks during this time. The new Turkish serial number from the rebuild is "1066" and I am betting she has a Turkish replacement barrel that will have the same serial number, "1066", stamped on it along with Turkish proof markings. The bolt body is a 1930s Turkish re-marked example, check the underside of the bolt body to see if it has possible German proofs or Czech proofs if they were scrubbed off.

Does the rear sight have Fashi or Western style numbers on it ?

Without examining her in person, that is what I can tell from the pictures.
Click to expand...

Wow, it amazes me what some of you people can pick up by just looking at pictures. Thanks a lot, I'll check out those things you mention.
Let me know sometime, how the flying situation is coming.
Bruce
 
Training is coming along but expensive as heck to get your ratings. It will pay off in the future though ;).

As for your serial number, I adjusted my screen and it looks like "4066", not the previous 1066. I have three of these conversions at the moment, one of them is a Spandau 1890 so a sister of your rifle. The other is Danzig 1890, and the third is a Loewe 1891 that will be coming soon.

There is no written information on these variants. What I have been able to learn comes from collecting these examples, taking them apart, and seeing what consistencies come up. If only my safe was bigger :).
 
I saw your 2 88s, Ganderite. The first is a "Second variant", a Gewehr 88 in original trim but refurbished by the Turks and re-blued. Examples I have seen are mix masters or nearly matching to the German serial number. The refurbishment is not to the same extent as a "2.5 variant" as there is no full thumb cut out added nor is there a new Turkish serial number present. My only guess for this is the arms budget for Turkey during each year for the 1930s. They typically have the rear sight fashi text ground off and Western style numbers added (thank Kemal for that one).

Your second 88 is a "Third variant" and is a complete rebuild of a Gewehr 88 into a 1903 style rifle. The wood stock is either a previous 1903 stock that is reused or new Turkish walnut (what yours looks like to me). I think the barrels are newly made by the Turks as well for the conversion. The conversion process is very interesting when you take one apart and see what Turks did. The thought process must have been to creatively re-use whatever you could from the original build.
 
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