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WWI GEW Sniper Rifle with Kahles Scope

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:1,300.00 USD Estimated At:2,500.00 - 3,500.00 USD
WWI GEW Sniper Rifle with Kahles Scope
This is a very good example of an WWI German Gewehr rifle, that was converted into a GEW 98b configuration and then into a sniper rifle, probably in the late Weimar Era. These WWI rifles all started out as standard service rifles that were modified/converted into a sniper configuration, with this rifle having been converted into a double claw model. The scope is an early "Karl Kahles" commercial version that is approximately 3X which has a set of double claw scope mount, with the top of the scope tube marked "JOH SPRINGER ERBEN IN WIEN". The only visible mark on the top of the receiver is the date of manufacture, 1918 as the manufacturers name is covered by the front scope base. The right side of the receiver has the standard three Crown over script letter proofs on the right side of the receiver and top of the barrel. The left side of the receiver has the rifle serial number along with a Czechoslovakian proofmark and the receiver sidewall is marked "GEW 98". The rear of the barrel is marked with only the serial number and the rear sight has been replaced with the early 1930s version rear sight, calibrated for the new spitzer bullet and the left side of the sight base is correctly marked "S/42G" indicating conversion in 1935. It is fitted with the standard WWI milled components to include the WWI, thin milled lower barrel band with standard front milled barrel band with the small hook on the underside. The stock and handguard are the correct post WWI replacement version that lacks the finger grooves on the sides and does not have the cut-out for the low scope bolt handle, which is correct for this rifle.
BBL: 29 inch round
Stock: walnut
Gauge: 8 mm Mauser
Finish: blue
Grips:
Serial Number: 1603h


Very good overall with 30% of the arsenal reblued finished overall with even honest wear on the exposed parts. The scope retains 60% of it's original with even thinning overall with small areas of fine pitting on the side and underside of the scope tube. The optics are clear and sharp. The stock and hand guard are both in very good condition with a nice matching color showing handling marks overall with a large arsenal repair on the left side of the stock, with three screw holes where a set of sling swivels were mounted. The rifle has matching numbers on the metal parts, except the scope and bolt has been renumbered to match. The bolt handle has also been ground to clear the rear scope eye piece. A nice representative example of a post-WWI sniper rifle