Amberg 1890/ gew 88

[ngnrnlo]

Got this from my father-inlaw who passed away. What can you tell me about it?

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[ngnrnlo]

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[SVT-40]

It has WWI German unit markings on the front band and Turkish marks on the receiver (the half moon looking mark). Can't tell if all the SN's match. It has been around. Many of these rifles were sent to Turkey after WWI.

Look for importer markings, which would make it a post 1986 import.

The pic's are actually to small to see much else.

If you take or post clearer pic's of the unit markings on the front band the specific unit can be identified.

They are neat rifles, with a ton of history, but don't command much in the way of price.

Do you know how your FIL acquired it?

[ngnrnlo]

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If you take or post clearer pic's of the unit markings on the front band the specific unit can be identified.

I think you referred to this band. It says
48.R.4.225

[GunKraut]

The bolt is usually straight. This one has been bent, sporter style.
I love shooting my 1891, very smooth action and mild recoil.
Check the bore diameter before sending lead downrange. A lot of previous owners have "worked" on those rifles and there's no guarantee the caliber stamped into the bolt shroud is the actual caliber of the barrel.

[echo1]

The bolt is usually straight. This one has been bent, sporter style. A lot of previous owners have "worked" on those rifles.

Looks like it may have been reblued when they bent the bolt. Maybe a very early and inexpensive Sport Job. They can be quite accurate and will kill a deer dead from a ways off. I have 3 I've never shot, but one's a 88/05/35 Turk. PAX

[870classic]

A German 1888 Commission Rifle that originally started off in the 8x57J ammunition (.318" bullet diameter). With the rifle being sent to Turkey, the barrel was probably changed to 8x57JS (0.323" bullet diameter). (But verify before shooting)

Great shooters, antiques (manufactured pre Jan 1, 1899) and a lot of history. Hopefully, you were given the ammunition clips for the rifle as well. Have the rifle checked by a gunsmith for completeness and bore diameter before loading it up to shoot.

Best regards,
870classic.

[ngnrnlo]

A German 1888 Commission Rifle that originally started off in the 8x57J ammunition (.318" bullet diameter). With the rifle being sent to Turkey, the barrel was probably changed to 8x57JS (0.323" bullet diameter). (But verify before shooting)

Best regards,
870classic.

Can I use this for slugging the barrel?
Speer Hot-Cor Bullets 32 Winchester Special (321 Diameter) 170 Grain Jacketed Flat Nose.

P.S. no clip with it.

[SVT-40]

It looks like it has been converted to shoot the "S" type ammo. The receiver has the "S" proof, and has been notched to accept the slightly longer round...

But I would still slug the barrel.

Foe "slugging" you usually use a lead ball just slightly over size from the groove diameter.

Not a jacketed bullet.

So a lead ball just slightly larger than .323

[870classic]

^^^ Perfect recommendation SVT-40 ^^^
Thank you. I didn't notice the "s" on the receiver.

Best regards,

[ngnrnlo]

So a lead ball just slightly larger than .323

Where do I find a .323 lead ball?

Midway has a slugging kit for about $40, but I don’t think that is a good deal for a few lead balls and wood dowel pieces.

Won’t the .321 (actually .320 according to several reviews of it) jacketed bullet squeeze through .318 landing?

[Enfield47]

You need the softer lead to get into the rifling. The copper jacket will make it really hard to get out and you won't get a true read of you barrel's inner diameter. Use a lead fishing weight and a wooden dowel cut into short pieces - cheap and easy. http://7.62x54r.net/MosinID/MosinSlug.htm

[Springfield45]

Can I use this for slugging the barrel?
Speer Hot-Cor Bullets 32 Winchester Special (321 Diameter) 170 Grain Jacketed Flat Nose.

P.S. no clip with it.

No jacketed bullets will not work well. You could use a lead ball from a 36 cal. cap and ball revolver and hammer it down slightly before going down the bore. That is what I did. I used the 321 bullets you mentioned for reloading my 88's with good results. Lead cast bullets worked OK but had less accuracy. All my 88's have .318 lands with .321 bore diameter. All my reloads were decreased by 20% from normal 8mm loads (2000fps). No reason to beat up a 120+ year old gun.

And you do not need the packet type clip for yours. It was modified to use normal stripper clips to load.

[Springfield45]

[ATTACH]691256[/ATTACH]

I think you referred to this band. It says
48.R.4.225

http://www.cruffler.com/trivia-December99.html

48. = 48th Regiment
R. = Infantry
4. = 4th Company
225 = the weapon #

[Springfield45]

You have a Gewehr 1888 Commission Rifle or Gew. 88/05. It was modified in Germany in 1905 to use Gew. 98 stripper clips. It was made in AMBERG Germany in 1890 and bears the German Imperial Crown. The S mark means it was modified to fire the 7.9mm Patrone S cartridge. Your rifle at some time was sold to Turkey and is commonly referred to as a "Turked" 1888. The half moon and Arabic numbers are from turkey. They may have bent the bolt handle down all so.