I saved a G98 (with pics)

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4b1t

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Here is my latest project. Good news, A 1916 DWM G98, ALL original and ALL matching numbers on everything.

The REALLY BAD NEWS, Before I got to it, Bubba decided to restore it. He lost the band springs and , buggered all the screws. Next he sanded the stock "nice and smooth" (ie no cartouches or markings left) used a propane torch to antique it and covered it with a nice thick shiny coat of polyurethane!!!!!! Having completed the project he dumped it in a basement for a few years to rust.

I also got hold of a Turk mismatch G98, not great shape, missing parts etc., but the stock looked like it might be a nice original walnut with markings under an orange peel coat of varnish and crud.

So, I completely stripped, cleaned and refurbed the DWM G98 and added any missing small parts from the Turk. After stripping and cleaning the Turk stock I found it to be a nice piece of walnut with all Imperial German markings intact, so I dropped the DWM into it.

I now have a pretty good example of a G98.

Warning some of these pics are quite graphic and not suitable for viewing by milsurp collectors!!!

Here is the bolt as I found it with a nice coating of rust.

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Here is the overall metal condition, hard to believe the original finish of a G98 action was "in the white". Turk on top, DWM below.

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Matching DWM top, mismatched Turk below.

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Here you can see the nice propane torch antiquing on the DWM stock (top) and the varnish/crud/oil soaked Turk stock (below).

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Finished!!!

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wittman said:
Are you going to reblue the rifle?
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Nope. Just wanted to bring it back to original condition. The G98 action, bolt, and various other parts were unfinshed originally. Plus, you can save a lot of original bluing that is left under rust and corrosion if you do it right.
 
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Dosing said:
Looks nice. Its a shame about the bolts appearance, but otherwise well done.
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The bolt in the gun is the original one with matching serial numbers to the remainder of the rifle, after cleaning up. There is some etching spots on the extractor and body, but otherwise cleaned up nicely, compared to when I got it (see first pic). You can always go too far and remove all blemishes but then it would not look right for a 90 year old rifle.
 
You might improve some of the staining on the bolt by soaking it in CLR for an huour or so. Check on it often though - no need to overdo it.
 
kind of ironic that bubba ruined what was no doubt a nicely patina'ed stock to make it look "antiqued"...Fine work bringing her back! The milsurp world owes you a beer!

bubba is such a douchebag...
 
Hope ya didn;t have to remove too much wood to make her right :) Sad thing is, bubba torched a nice walnut stock as opposed to a late-war beech set. For shame!
 
Claven2 said:
Hope ya didn;t have to remove too much wood to make her right :) Sad thing is, bubba torched a nice walnut stock as opposed to a late-war beech set. For shame!
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No I didn't sand the stock at all (goes against my religion). I just removed the varnish and cleaned. Followed by oil finish.
 
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