What is this?

[Sleighter]

Hey experts, I'm not a C&R guy, but this gun came into my family and we're trying to figure out what it is, the story behind it and what type of value it has to either collectors or shooters.



I tried to get as many pictures of the markings that are visible as possible, but as you can see this gun has been used and stored more often than it's been cared for. I appreciate any info you guys can help find:

[Sleighter]

If more pictures would help just let me know what to focus on:

[Sleighter]

[Spartan301]

My guess!

Looks like a well traveled Gewehr 88!

[Syntax Error]

It's a German Infanteriegewehr 1888, looks like an unconverted model that still uses the en-bloc 5-round clip that it originally used, so those are a bit rarer than the converted 1888/05 model guns.

[Sleighter]

Thanks guys. That at least answers what it is, any clue on what the markings mean or if they point to where it might have been used or come from? Also, what's the value of something like this? Is it even worth anything?

[mosinnagantm9130]

Others will know much better than me since this isn't my area of knowledge, but yes, it has value!

Don't do anything to it now other than keeping it oiled. Don't refinish, reblue, or sporterize anything on it.

[Flyin Brian]

I don't know that much about these, as I have only owned 3. I will say it is uncommon to find one that hasn't been converted, as Syntax mentioned. Also most of these were sent to turkey and were modified there which makes the non-turk ones (like this one) less common.

The receiver would have originally been polished, so this one looks like it was neglected long ago. The barrel is covered with a sheet metal tube or shroud, and that unscrews to reveal a thin tapered barrel that looks like a modern hunting rifle barrel.
Under the S on the barrel should be the Arsenal that made this. I am thinking it looks like an "F" is all that remains of the word Erfurt. Below that is the date but only 18 remains. Most I have seen are between 1890 and 1895.

[The Gleam]

Don't do anything to it now other than keeping it oiled. Don't refinish, reblue, or sporterize anything on it.

It needs a forward grip. Has gots to have a forward grip.

And a picatinny rail. Has gots to have a picatinny rail.

[Divernhunter]

And a hook to hang your keys. And a place for a huge flashlight. and a place for an tea pot

[gun toting monkeyboy]

It looks like one of the Gew 88s that Old Western Scrounger sold a few years back without bolts for about $20 a pop. They came out of a warehouse in Ecuador, where they had spent 70-80 years gently rusting away in the jungle heat and humidity. The main question as to whether or not what you have there is worth anything or not involved the bolt head. If it has the bolt head, with the ejector and extractor, it is worth in the $100-150 range in that condition. If it is missing the bolt head, or either of those small but critical pieces, then it is worth $20-50, tops. I still have a whole box of those things sitting in the toy room, just the way I got them from OWS. They aren't all that valuable because they are missing the bolt heads, and have the old .318" diameter barrel. And they are in about the same condition as yours, which is not very good.

-Mb

[Sleighter]

This rifle is complete with the bolt head, ejector and extractor. MB, would this be worth more if it was refinished?

[phungn]

This rifle is complete with the bolt head, ejector and extractor. MB, would this be worth more if it was refinished?

The answer to this question is almost always no when talking about milsurps.

[pacrat]

It looks like one of the Gew 88s that Old Western Scrounger sold a few years back without bolts for about $20 a pop. They came out of a warehouse in Ecuador, where they had spent 70-80 years gently rusting away in the jungle heat and humidity. The main question as to whether or not what you have there is worth anything or not involved the bolt head. If it has the bolt head, with the ejector and extractor, it is worth in the $100-150 range in that condition. If it is missing the bolt head, or either of those small but critical pieces, then it is worth $20-50, tops. I still have a whole box of those things sitting in the toy room, just the way I got them from OWS. They aren't all that valuable because they are missing the bolt heads, and have the old .318" diameter barrel. And they are in about the same condition as yours, which is not very good.

-Mb

Monkeyboy, have you contacted this guy for 88 bolt head availability?

Joseph.lee.woods@outlook.com

Goes by "chiefwoods" on the Mauser Central forum.

Not pimp'n, no affiliation, don't even know the guy.

[Sleighter]

The answer to this question is almost always no when talking about milsurps.

The reason I ask is I see these in "good" (read: pretty) condition on gunbroker for 300-400. If MB is right and in its current condition it's worth 200 then it seems like the market will pay double for a shiny one.