Five days late on a two day priority package; it’s Christmas time. 1916 Mauser Obendorf Gewehr 98M. “H” block, so within the first 80,000 built that year. This rifle served Imperial German in WWI, and after the war the “Einwohnerwehr Bayerich;” (Bavaria) a separate paramilitary police force nearly 10 times larger than the Versailles Treaty allowed the whole German army. It was disbanded in 1920 after protest by the Allied Powers. “E.W.B” branded on the butt stock. This was one of the “black” rifles that was not marked with the “1920” property and never turned over to the Weimar government. Sometime after 1936 (SuWw Spandau) this rifle came out of the closet and was rearsenaled to the 98M (modern) with a flat tangent spitzer rear sight that was being put on the new K98 karabiner, a stronger, wider rear band, and metal was blued.
Despite all this, the rifle has its original barrel and is a correct bolt mismatch down to the screws. Many were a mix of parts. I got it fairly cheap as I let the owner keep the original bent bolt as it is not correct with the original stock lacking a relief for the bolt. I had a spare correct blued Imperial bolt that came with another Mauser.
Rifle was very dirty, had ossified grease on the bolt screws and under the wood line, and had white paint spots that I removed with “Goof Off” after a rub with Simple Green. A rub with Howard’s Feed and Wax brightened it up after cleaning. Only significant problem is the bore is dark and pitted, but there is good rifling there.
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Despite all this, the rifle has its original barrel and is a correct bolt mismatch down to the screws. Many were a mix of parts. I got it fairly cheap as I let the owner keep the original bent bolt as it is not correct with the original stock lacking a relief for the bolt. I had a spare correct blued Imperial bolt that came with another Mauser.
Rifle was very dirty, had ossified grease on the bolt screws and under the wood line, and had white paint spots that I removed with “Goof Off” after a rub with Simple Green. A rub with Howard’s Feed and Wax brightened it up after cleaning. Only significant problem is the bore is dark and pitted, but there is good rifling there.
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