GEW 98 need year made by serial number please.

[Rapidrob]

I have a GEW 98 Serial number 2086( no letters) that I need the year it was made. Thank you.

[72 usmc]

The year should be on the top of the receiver with the name of the manufacturer. There were 10 different makers. Carbine or long rifle? Unfortunately Storz in "Rifle & Carbine 98" 2006 provides production numbers by company per year, but no serial numbers. I have never seen lists by serial numbers. Maybe http://www.gewehr98.com

[Rapidrob]

It's a sniper rifle. I'm not willing to remove the scope mount. It's a DWM made rifle so it has to be before 1918.

[slowbob2]

Since they repeated serial numbers each year , it would be a first months production of about any year between 1900 and 1918 . If it is an original sniper , most were made from 1915 to 1918 .

[Rapidrob]

Thank you for the info.

[slowbob2]

I saw the photos of your rifle . It is not an original WWI sniper rifle . The rifle was rebuilt in Germany in the 1930's and went to Spain for the civil war . The Barrel is not a 1940's replacement , that is a date code for the sight replacement . The mounts and scope were added much later . The bolt has been bent , it does not look to be an original sniper bolt .

[slowbob2]

Also the original serial number looks to be bb 2086 , so it is not even a low serial number , it is a 122086 serial number . The b's were polished off of the receiver when it was blued by the Germans in the 30's rebuild , or the later Spanish 2nd reblue . With that high a serial number it is almost sure to be a 1916 or 1917 made rifle . Also S is not a bore size .

[Rapidrob]

Thank you for the info. I wish you had responded sooner, I would have included that info in the description. The rifle sold today to a collector and he knows the rifles history.
The rifle has been a safe queen for ten years and it is time to sell off the collection of my rifles.
what is the purpose of the "S" Then? My Mauser rifles from that era with the "S" means it has been converted to take the .323 bullet ( throat opened up) and that .318 ammo is no longer needed.
What does the number "9" at the barrel breach mean?

[capt14k]

I saw the photos of your rifle . It is not an original WWI sniper rifle . The rifle was rebuilt in Germany in the 1930's and went to Spain for the civil war . The Barrel is not a 1940's replacement , that is a date code for the sight replacement . The mounts and scope were added much later . The bolt has been bent , it does not look to be an original sniper bolt .

I thought it was exactly what it said it wasn't. So it is a put together "sniper"? With repro French mounts and commercial scope?


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[slowbob2]

Yes the mounts seem to be the repro's once sold by Sarco . The scope is German , but probably a commercial . The S is not a bore size as it will be found on Gew-88 rifles with the original .321 bore as well as any rifle made after 1896 with a .323 bore . All it means is the early rifles were cleared to fire the S ammo and were stamped to show that . After 1896 the chamber , land and groove size never changed all the way to the last 98 K of 1945 . The later rifles just were made with the S stamp to show the average guy S ammo was ok and they never changed that. Now a Z IS a bore size and will be found on the first .323 bore Gew-88 rifles and rifle that had the barrels replaced after 1896 as the Z was the new standard .

[capt14k]

Well I hope seller is correct and buyer really knows what he bought.

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[Rapidrob]

I contacted the buyer last night and he is very pleased with the rifle and it's history. Thank you for the info.