Nothing really special, just curious about where it might have come from..












Thanks


Tom

I'm sure Ford or Axel will be along to set us on the straight & narrow. I believe Axel has discussed the acronym Rw. E and that it is a variant along with GwF.E, which may have been Reichswerke of Erfurt or Erfurt's Deutsche Werke from say 1919-1922?? I think Amberg ceased production in 1911 and Spandau had followed suite a year earlier in 1910 leaving the mechanics at Danzig & Erfurt, with the stamps more resembling the Erfurt inspectors. I would assume that if you Google RWE Mauser rifle you'll have more than enough to sift thru.

Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse

Tom check the old thread on my 98A Sporter - it has the same BSI stamped on the barrel, that Mr. Petrov gave us some background on.
http://www.doublegunshop.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=289215&page=1

I would defer to Axel.
Mike

Personally I would like to see more pics. of the rifle - stock, bottom metal, sights etc. (if possible that is). The engraving is familiar and the eagle with up raised wings is for Spandau.

Likely a SR with LR barrel threads but that is just supposition at the moment. --- John

Check above for the additional pix.

Yeah Postoak, that is really quite similar to mine.
Your stock is a bit more refined as mine is quite simple with a schnable (sp?) whic is split on both sides across the top and a 60's recoil pad. It is probably worth rejuvinating as the action is in good shape, those holes can be filled and the barrel is in decent condition. I don't have set triggers either but the 98A guard has a nice shape to it. I would like to think that the gun weighs around 6.5 as it is.

Tom

Well Tom I have a "clone" of your rifle (except for the engraving) right down to that release button on the floor plate.

Mine has the name Geco on the right side of the receiver. Nice action, good barrel, not DTd, the stock is so-so although it is in one piece but needs to be refinished. Have a spare 22H Brno stock that should fit nicely (maybe --- someday).

Great little rifles. --- John

John,
"Geco" is for Gustav Genschow & Co,Aktiengesellschaft; a supplier of various things, including guns and ammunition.

Tom,
Since Axel hasn't weighed in yet, I'll say your rifle was made from a WW1 surplus Kar 98.Post war,most sporting mauser rifles were made from old military actions rather than more expensive commercial Mauser actions.Many of these actions had the military markings removed, and some had other markings applied.
Mike

These RwE marked sporters were only made for a short time, 1919 - 1921. After the 1918 armistice the German government arsenals Amberg, Danzig and Erfurt tried to convert to civilian production to save as many jobs as possible for their workers. As after November 1918 there were no Kaiser and kings anymore, Germany being a republic, the "Königliche Gewehrfabrik Erfurt" = royal (Prussian) rifle factory in Erfurt was renamed "Reichswerke Erfurt" = RwE. As they had made 98Az carbines during WW1, they used their production line, machines and tools, to make sporting rifles on these small ring M98 actions. They made pistols and some REMO Mauser actioned shotguns too. So these RwE sporters are not converted military rifles, but were factory made as sporters using the tooling and leftover parts from wartime production. As the civilian proofhouse system did not work again, these rifles were proofed by the former military acceptance personell and marked with the military eagle stamp, sometimes with the crown removed from the stamp. In America Remington did the same when they used their facilities to produce M17 Enfields to make their models 30, 30S and 720 sporting rifles. At that time the Germans did not foresee the harsh "peace" conditions they had to sign at gunpoint soon. When the so-called "Versailles Peace Treaty" was enforced in late 1920 - 21, the allied disarmament commissions enforced all these government owned gun factories to be closed down and dismantled, machines and tools handed over to other states as reparations. So the production of those RwE, Gewehrfabrik Danzig and Gewehrfabrik Amberg marked sporters came to a sudden stop. During that short time span RwE apparently made more than 2000 such rifles, guessing from the known serial numbers.

Axel,
Good info, thanks.
Mike