Let's see your WW1 rifles!

[Claven2]

Picture thread for WW1 era rifles that server in WW1 or plausibly could have - show and tell, let's see what people have in their vaults

Only 2 rules to play: No "desporterized" guns and must have been in service in the 1914-1918 era - so no post-war made examples!!!

My current crop of (authentic and not de-sporterized facsimile) WW1 rifles is pictured here.

From left to right:

-Eddystone P14, non-Weedon Repair Standard, still in ww1 trim with volley sights present, RAF marked stock disk and RAF sling.
-A bit of a stretch here, but a 1909 DWM Argentinian cavalry carbine. Supposedly some of these might have been seized at the factory in 1914 (along with Chilean M1912's, Brazilian M1908's, etc.) and issued in small numbers to rear echelon German troops, but likely not this one. Still, it's great war era so I took some license and included it
-1915 RSAF Enfield SMLE MkIII (FTR in 1945 at Ishapore and converted to a MkIII*... but still, it did serve in the Great war)
-1910 BSA SMLE MkIII with volley sights and Australian 2MD issue markings.
-1918 Springfield M1903 MkI (later re-issued to the USMC in WW2)
-1891 Ludwig Loewe Gew 88/05 (matching except for Turkish replacement bolt)
-1896 Erfurt Gew 88/05 (Turk refurb)
-1916 Terni M91 Carcano
-OEWG Steyr M1888 Mannlicher (in the original 8x52R)
-1917 Steyr M95 (converted post-war to 8x56R)

I have the bayonets for all of these except for the 1909 carbine (just missed one at auction), the Mannlicher 1888, and the Springfield (had one and stupidly sold it at some point).

I'm sure some of you are hiding some real gems There are some guns I could have posted but didn't (like Martin-Henry and Snider Enfield rifles that maybe served in a home guard or something), but the above guns (except that 1909 carbine) were very likely in a trench, fortification, a tank or a dirigible at some point.

 

[flying pig]

My one and only, HG MkIII.

 

[jtaylor]

SPANDAU 1916 German Model 1898 Mauser. This is my 'All Dressed' version with original sliding dust cover, drill cartridges in a charger, original bayonet, original 20 rd trench magazine, and for the coup de gras original set of night sights.
I did pick up an orginal sling for it but received after pic was taken. Anyone have a sniper rifle version they will sell me? JOHN

 

[Claven2]

Great looking gewehr!

 

[flyingdutchman86]

My one and only, HG MkIII.

View attachment 938416View attachment 938417

gorgeous M10

 

[lance]

Originally a 1901 Enfield MLE Mark I*, it was converted to a CLLE Mark I IP (Indian Pattern) in 1910. Later, it was either sent or brought to Britain, where it was issued to The King’s Liverpool Regiment. At an unknown date, it had "CLLE" over "I" added and "CCL" cancelled to bring its nomenclature up to British standard.

 

[Claven2]

Nice CLLE!

 

[MiG25]

Remington 14 1/2 with Dominion of Canada Proof Mark and Rack Number.

1917 Steyr M95 converted to 8x56R

No Date Budapest 8x56R, Bulgarian rework at some point.

Had others, a Steyr 1903 Bulgarian Contract, various Lee Enfields, P14, Kar88, Martini 303, 1915 Mosin, etc. but photo bucket bit the dust.

 

[Claven2]

I feel you, I’ve had a ton more eligible guns over the years, I’ve bought and sold collections many times over - nature of the hobby, I guess.

 

[jtaylor]

The first official pattern British sniper rifle - Pattern 1914 Mk I* W (F)(T) renamed Rifle No.3 Mk I*(T) in 1926. Near 2000 P-14 rifles Mk I* were converted by BSA Co. with the Periscopic Prism Co. scope Pattern 1918. Pattern approved 11th April, 1918 only a very few ever made it to the front. Only Winchester rifles were converted that already had the Fine (F) sight conversion. BSA Co did a further 79 for the Irish government at the advent of WW2. Prior to this rifle front line troops were issued with a variety of make-do sniper rifles with Galilean type sights at first then a variety of telescopes on the SMLEs. The Brits set up sniper schools at the front to fine tune skills. As by original order all P-14s were set up with leather slings. Even a photo of one of these in WW1 use would be valuable. One of these rifles sold in the U.K. last year for 22,000 GBP. John

 

[Claven2]

Nice sniper! I’m not sure anyone would offer 22k pounds for one in Canada, but I’d love to own one myself.

 

[WallaWalla]

1916 DWM Gew 98 with the later bayonet

 

[jtaylor]

Not too many people are aware that Charles Ross acquired a contract in 1915 to supply the British with the Mark III Ross for 100K rifles with bayonets and scabbards. The Brits cancelled the contract after about 67,000 were accepted. Rifle allotment was from regular production and started late 1915 so that the earliest ones had a stamped front band. The triangular rear sight and front sight base with pierced protecting ears was the obvious pattern departure. There were 2 variations of rear sight slide. Bayonets were standard unsharpened pattern usually with Enfield viewers inspection mark on the crosspiece or on the ricasso. Stitching for the frog was shallow to allow for the wide Pat 1908 web belt and the wide Pat 1914 leather belt. Most of the early frogs had an equipment stud placed in a slot to allow fitting of a leather helve carrier. Enfield viewers were sent to Quebec for inspection as Enfield viewers marks appear on the chamber.
The above example is truly exceptional. In the 'C' serial range this rifle is absolutely mint. Blueing perfect, all case colour hardening on the bolt, and even the orignal oil finish on the stock. So how could this rifle possibly escape being used ?
Only conjecture can answer. No way it went overseas and back. John

 

[R005t3r]

Ogay, vee whale start wees zees wan. Hall metching LEBEL.

 

[Nabs]

I thought I would share one of my humble rifles that I am quite fond of. It is a Gew 88, pre war updated to the 1905 configuration and later updated to accept the spitzer ammunition. She was made at Danzig in 1890 and, aside from the bolt and rear sight ladder, is completely matching, including her unit markings.

Her first unit was the 5th (4th East Prussian) Grenadiers "Count Kleist von Nollendorf" reserve infantry regiment, stationed in Danzig itself, and attached to the XVII Army Corps. This is likely where she stayed for the 1890s and into the first couple years of the 1900s. Sometime later, probably in line with the 1905 modification, she was taken back into inventory and issued out to the 18th (1st Posen) reserve infantry regiment "von Grolman", stationed in Osterode, and attached to the XX Army Corps. This is more than likely where she spent her pre war years up to 1914.

In 1914, when war was declared, the majority of the army was deployed to the Western front against France and small army group was left to hold the ground in East Prussia until the French could be defeated. Unfortunately, the Russians felt different, and invaded East Prussia culminating in famous battles like Gumbinnen, Tannenberg, Masurian Lakes, and, later on, the battles over the Vistula River. The XX Army Corps along with the 18th reserve infantry regiment, and very likely this rifle, played a role in all of these battles. It is possible this Gew 88 fired at some advancing Russians, we will never know, but the possibility is there. The rifle also carries a repair depot marking on the butt plate that indicates she saw use and was repaired at some point.

Sometime later in 1915-1916, she was given to the Ottomans as war aid and served with them and, later, the Turkish Republic, against the Greeks in the 1920s. Through all of this, she was not parted out, which to me is incredible, considering her length of service as a reserve arm with the Turkish army until the 1970s.

I am looking forward to taking her to the range as the matching trigger is beautifully crisp.

 

[RifleDude]

Top three rifles are WWI, i.e. 1917 Enfield, 1903 Springfield and No1MKIII*

 

[jtaylor]

Ross Mk II 3* converted from a Ross Mk II with Mk III rear sight made 1909 with serial 484 series BC. First issued to 2nd Can. Garrison Artillery rifle # 102 in March, 1912. Second issue was to the 42nd Battalion CEF (5th Regt. Royal Highlanders of Canada) at Valcartier in March 1915. Then transferred in May 1915 to the 60th CEF (3rd Regt. Victoria Rifles of Canada). As Ross could not make Mk III rifles fast enough most Canadians were issued initially with older patterns of Ross Rifle - even Mk I and RNWMP Carbines at Valcartier. Some of these Mk II 3* rifles went overseas with the 1st Division CEF but NEVER went to France for active service. The Sutherland Mk II sight on these rifles was graduated in minutes of angle and yards up to 2000
and had both aperture and open sights. So this rifle is a Valcartier trainer. I got it from a fireman in Detroit near 40 years ago. John

 

[roscoe90]

So hard to found ammo fro some of them

 

[Pete04]

Part of the fun of collecting, for me anyway, is getting them to work. That means, in many cases, Cartridge Conversion.to produce working cartridges for the firearm in question.
John J Donnelly has The Handloaders Manual of Cartridge Conversion. A good place to start on a fascinating subject.

 

[canuck]

Fantastic Ross rifle John