Old Rifle - The Firearms Forum

Illinoisdon · 03-19-2007, 03:10 PM

I just came into possession of an old, what I believe is a, german rifle. It is marked Danzig 1906 on the top of the reciever. It is bolt action with a straight out the side bolt handle.

Thanks for any guidance as to its caliber and history.

IllinoisDon

Mark · 03-19-2007, 03:41 PM

There should be a bunch of numbers stamped on most of the parts. These numbers should match, at least what numbers are stamped.
If these numbers do match, you have an original WWI mauser rifle.

This would be 8X57 mauser caliber, available in lots of different sporting goods stores.
It was made in 1906, at the Danzig arsenal. Yes, that would make it 101 years old.

It's not in all that good of condition, but if all original, these are not around every corner.
I really like old mausers like this, I could look at this one for at least an hour.
Mark

Pistolenschutze · 03-19-2007, 03:46 PM

Based on what I can see from the pictures, Illinois, and if it has a straight bolt and a 1906 date, I'm fairly certain your rifle is a German Mauser Gewehr 1898; i.e., the earliest version of the famous Mauser 98 adopted by Germany as its primary battle rifle from 1898 through the Second World War. Most later versions of the weapon had turned bolts and most models (called Karabiner, or Carbine) were a few inches shorter. The sight on your rifle is pretty much a dead giveaway because the Germans later changed that design when they came our with the 98a and 98b models for ease of manufacture.

By the way, welcome to TFF!

Xracer · 03-20-2007, 07:42 AM

Hi Don........welcome to TFF.

Indeed, your rifle is a German Mauser Gewehr 98, was manufactured at the Danzig Arsenal in 1906, and is in caliber 7.92x57mm (8x57).

This was the primary rifle the Germans used during WWI, and about 3,500,000 of these rifles were built between 1898 and 1918.

Value (from the Standard Catalog of Military Firearms):

Exc. - $500
V.G. - $400
Good - $300
Fair - $150

Here are a few websites that will give you some info on the history, care, and feeding of your gew98:

http://world.guns.ru/rifle/rfl02-e.htm

http://www.surplusrifle.com/mauser98gew/index.asp

http://mauser98k.internetdsl.pl/modG98en.html

http://www.findarticles.com/p/articl...50/ai_n6275754

Pistolenschutze · 03-20-2007, 02:29 PM

One other point, Don: If you are contemplating shooting the rifle, I would strongly advise you have it checked out by a competent gunsmith first, just to be on the safe side. Ammo for the rifle (usually referred to as "8mm Mauser," formal designation 7.92x57 as Xracer stated) is readily available and relatively cheap; indeed, I shoot several old military Mausers myself and reload for the round as well. The biggest danger with these old guns is the possibility that headspacing (the distance measured from the part of the chamber that stops forward motion of the cartridge, called the datum line, to the face of the bolt) is bad due to excessive use. This can create an overpressure problem that could be dangerous. Generally speaking though, Mauser built one heck of a good rifle and you might have a decent shooter there.

DWARREN123 · 03-20-2007, 11:01 PM

Does this rifle fire 7.92X57S or 7.92X57JS ammo? I believe there is quite a differencebetween them is there not.

Popgunner · 03-21-2007, 08:02 PM

This model shoots the now standard 8x57 JS .323" cartridge.

The rifle that shoots the 8x57 S .318" cartridge is the 1888 rifle.

BIGBOOMER · 03-23-2007, 12:10 AM

Since your rifle was built in 1906, it fires the .323 "S" bullet. The 1888 Comission rifles used the .318 bullet, as did the early 1898 Mausers. In 1905, Germany converted to higher pressure load with a 152gr spitzer bullet at a much higher velocity. At this time the bullet diameter and groove diameter of the barrels were changed to .323. Most of the '98s and quite a few of the '88s were subsequently altered to use the .323 bullet and were marked with an "S". However, I would not recommend firing a model '88 even with an "S" barrel with high pressure ammo.
Best regards, BIGBOOMER

Illinoisdon · 04-08-2007, 02:47 PM

Thanks for the replys, I can tell you that the 98 is in, at best, fair shape. I believe the action is pretty good but it need a through cleaning and the stock is really rough. My cousin is a gunsmith so he will be checking it out and I plan on refinishing the stock to keep it as original as possible. It appears that the front sight may have been struck by something or the piece was dropped because it has been knocked far right in the mount.

It belonged to a relative who just passed away and no one in the family knew that he had it until one of his closets was being cleaned out. I will probably offer around 200-250 just because his neice could use the money.

Thanks again, I look forward to using and contributing to the site in the future.

03-19-2007, 03:10 PM	#1
Illinoisdon Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 3	Old Rifle I just came into possession of an old, what I believe is a, german rifle. It is marked Danzig 1906 on the top of the reciever. It is bolt action with a straight out the side bolt handle. Thanks for any guidance as to its caliber and history. IllinoisDon Attached Images --> Last edited by Illinoisdon; 03-19-2007 at 03:23 PM.. Reason: Add photos

03-19-2007, 03:41 PM	#2
Mark V.I.P. Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 314	Re: Old Rifle There should be a bunch of numbers stamped on most of the parts. These numbers should match, at least what numbers are stamped. If these numbers do match, you have an original WWI mauser rifle. This would be 8X57 mauser caliber, available in lots of different sporting goods stores. It was made in 1906, at the Danzig arsenal. Yes, that would make it 101 years old. It's not in all that good of condition, but if all original, these are not around every corner. I really like old mausers like this, I could look at this one for at least an hour. Mark

03-19-2007, 03:46 PM	#3
Pistolenschutze Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Colorado Posts: 13,094	Re: Old Rifle Based on what I can see from the pictures, Illinois, and if it has a straight bolt and a 1906 date, I'm fairly certain your rifle is a German Mauser Gewehr 1898; i.e., the earliest version of the famous Mauser 98 adopted by Germany as its primary battle rifle from 1898 through the Second World War. Most later versions of the weapon had turned bolts and most models (called Karabiner, or Carbine) were a few inches shorter. The sight on your rifle is pretty much a dead giveaway because the Germans later changed that design when they came our with the 98a and 98b models for ease of manufacture. By the way, welcome to TFF! __________________ --Pistolenschutze (Pistol Shooter)

03-20-2007, 07:42 AM	#4
Xracer TFF Admin Staff Mediator Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Minn-eeee-sota, ya, sure, you bet! Posts: 9,144	Re: Old Rifle Hi Don........welcome to TFF. Indeed, your rifle is a German Mauser Gewehr 98, was manufactured at the Danzig Arsenal in 1906, and is in caliber 7.92x57mm (8x57). This was the primary rifle the Germans used during WWI, and about 3,500,000 of these rifles were built between 1898 and 1918. Value (from the Standard Catalog of Military Firearms): Exc. - $500 V.G. - $400 Good - $300 Fair - $150 Here are a few websites that will give you some info on the history, care, and feeding of your gew98: http://world.guns.ru/rifle/rfl02-e.htm http://www.surplusrifle.com/mauser98gew/index.asp http://mauser98k.internetdsl.pl/modG98en.html http://www.findarticles.com/p/articl...50/ai_n6275754

03-20-2007, 02:29 PM	#5
Pistolenschutze Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Colorado Posts: 13,094	Re: Old Rifle One other point, Don: If you are contemplating shooting the rifle, I would strongly advise you have it checked out by a competent gunsmith first, just to be on the safe side. Ammo for the rifle (usually referred to as "8mm Mauser," formal designation 7.92x57 as Xracer stated) is readily available and relatively cheap; indeed, I shoot several old military Mausers myself and reload for the round as well. The biggest danger with these old guns is the possibility that headspacing (the distance measured from the part of the chamber that stops forward motion of the cartridge, called the datum line, to the face of the bolt) is bad due to excessive use. This can create an overpressure problem that could be dangerous. Generally speaking though, Mauser built one heck of a good rifle and you might have a decent shooter there. __________________ --Pistolenschutze (Pistol Shooter) Last edited by Pistolenschutze; 03-23-2007 at 12:57 AM..

03-20-2007, 11:01 PM	#6
DWARREN123 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: BETWEEN TN & KY Posts: 764	Re: Old Rifle Does this rifle fire 7.92X57S or 7.92X57JS ammo? I believe there is quite a differencebetween them is there not. __________________ Have a nice day!

03-21-2007, 08:02 PM	#7
Popgunner Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Contributor Posts: 1,764	Re: Old Rifle This model shoots the now standard 8x57 JS .323" cartridge. The rifle that shoots the 8x57 S .318" cartridge is the 1888 rifle.

03-23-2007, 12:10 AM	#8
BIGBOOMER V.I.P. Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: The Great Northwest Posts: 265	Re: Old Rifle Since your rifle was built in 1906, it fires the .323 "S" bullet. The 1888 Comission rifles used the .318 bullet, as did the early 1898 Mausers. In 1905, Germany converted to higher pressure load with a 152gr spitzer bullet at a much higher velocity. At this time the bullet diameter and groove diameter of the barrels were changed to .323. Most of the '98s and quite a few of the '88s were subsequently altered to use the .323 bullet and were marked with an "S". However, I would not recommend firing a model '88 even with an "S" barrel with high pressure ammo. Best regards, BIGBOOMER __________________ Use Enough Gun. Do all your hunting BEFORE you shoot!

04-08-2007, 02:47 PM	#9
Illinoisdon Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 3	Re: Old Rifle Thanks for the replys, I can tell you that the 98 is in, at best, fair shape. I believe the action is pretty good but it need a through cleaning and the stock is really rough. My cousin is a gunsmith so he will be checking it out and I plan on refinishing the stock to keep it as original as possible. It appears that the front sight may have been struck by something or the piece was dropped because it has been knocked far right in the mount. It belonged to a relative who just passed away and no one in the family knew that he had it until one of his closets was being cleaned out. I will probably offer around 200-250 just because his neice could use the money. Thanks again, I look forward to using and contributing to the site in the future.