Why are GEW 98 Rifles So Scarce?
- Thread starter skirsons
- Start date
I remember walking into the'Soldier Shop' in Calgary about 10 years ago and they had a rack of them for $100.00 each.I was going to buy one but thought the price was high(they were pretty rough).A gun shop in the area had a Mauser WW1 anti-tank rifle for 2500.00 as well.Wish I bought something that day.
Post WW1 these were prime candidates for "bubba's" attention. Germany was relieved of many, many thousands post war by the Allies and many more were likewise turned over when the Allies cracked down on the various"citizen's guards" (such as the EWB in Bavaria) being fronted by the Reichswehr after 1921 or so.
Just before CAI in Montreal packed it in they were selling mostly complete Gew 98s of various conditions. Might have come from Turkey?
Just before CAI in Montreal packed it in they were selling mostly complete Gew 98s of various conditions. Might have come from Turkey?
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Many Gew 98 receivers were "re-cycled" as Kar98Ks.
It seems they are indicators of my bank account levels - if you see one on the EE or common market you will know that I will be completely broke at the same time. 
They must be like the rosses - there are a lot of them, but they're all locked up in some eastern arsenal somewhere waiting for a politician to decide they're no longer required for emergency civil guard weaponry.
They must be like the rosses - there are a lot of them, but they're all locked up in some eastern arsenal somewhere waiting for a politician to decide they're no longer required for emergency civil guard weaponry.
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You'll see the Gew 98 marking on the left receiver wall. They would have been fitted out with the standard bent handle bolt as per Kar98K practice when rebuilt to that standard. A common enough practice in the pre WWII economy of Germany. Not really commonly seen now but I think not all that rare overall.
I've got a bringback Gew in great shape that was used for training purposes by the Canadian Army. I love it but it took me awhile to find a decent one like the guys mentioned. I have seen quite a few Gews that went through Turkey but a lot of them are pretty beat up. I know where there is a Turk reworked Gew98 at the moment if anyone is looking for one. Stock is dirty but the bore is great.
I have 3 GEW 98 and I have no plans on letting them go anytime soon. I guess the biggest factor is just time. It has been 90 year since they stop building them so bit by bit they vanish. Same deal with Lebels, millions made, but it took me a long time to find one.
They are getting harder to find, then once you find one, you spend a lot of time finding accessories to go with them ...
Here's a very rare accessory add-on that was issued for Gewehr 98 rifles between 1914-18. The obvious purpose of the "Action Mud Cover" was to prevent mud from entering the action and breech area, yet be quickly swung out of the way so the soldier could fire his rifle with it still mounted. Most of these were lost during the war or during the last 90 years, therefore they are exceptionally rare, hard to find and of course expensive.
(Click PIC to Enlarge)
BTW... watch for fakes!!! If you see one on eBay etc, check the markings against the 27 pic photo montage in the Knowledge Library before you bid.
Regards,
Badger
Here's a very rare accessory add-on that was issued for Gewehr 98 rifles between 1914-18. The obvious purpose of the "Action Mud Cover" was to prevent mud from entering the action and breech area, yet be quickly swung out of the way so the soldier could fire his rifle with it still mounted. Most of these were lost during the war or during the last 90 years, therefore they are exceptionally rare, hard to find and of course expensive.
(Click PIC to Enlarge)
BTW... watch for fakes!!! If you see one on eBay etc, check the markings against the 27 pic photo montage in the Knowledge Library before you bid.
Regards,
Badger
If you have the pics and/or info, pm it to me, ok?
Gew 98's Are Rare Pictures Added
I have three different Gew 98's and can't bring myself to sell one of them.
One of them came with a note under the top wood and it's not German. I need someone to transelate it or identify the language it is written in. It's been in my collection for 15 years. One is a Turk rebuild If I do let one go it will be traded for something I really want.
I am looking for the transitional model Gew 98 with the K98 flat style rear sight. The other thing I am looking for is a Portuguese M1941 Mauser.
I have three different Gew 98's and can't bring myself to sell one of them.
One of them came with a note under the top wood and it's not German. I need someone to transelate it or identify the language it is written in. It's been in my collection for 15 years. One is a Turk rebuild If I do let one go it will be traded for something I really want.
I am looking for the transitional model Gew 98 with the K98 flat style rear sight. The other thing I am looking for is a Portuguese M1941 Mauser.
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MauserMike
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- SW Ontario
Under the Treaty of Versailles, Germany was required to dispose of huge numbers of small arms, many of them Gew98. I understand that most that were retained for the 100,000 man army were converted to the Kar98B, stocks of which dwindled as the rifles were worn out by the Reichswehr and state police.
Have people really seen a lot of Gew98 converted to K98k rifles? By 1935, production of the first of the K98k rifles was coming online and the newest Gew98 would have been made almost 20 years earlier.
(edit - sorry Kar98B not Kar98AZ)
Have people really seen a lot of Gew98 converted to K98k rifles? By 1935, production of the first of the K98k rifles was coming online and the newest Gew98 would have been made almost 20 years earlier.
(edit - sorry Kar98B not Kar98AZ)
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