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LOT 3482
Rare World War I Imperial German Gewehr 98 Bolt Action Sniper Rifle with Scope and Scope Case - Serial no. 156ff, 7.92 mm Mauser cal., 29 inch round bbl., blue/bright finish, walnut stock. This is a fine representative example of a Gewehr 98 sniper rifle as issued by the Imperial German Army and deployed on the Western Front of World War I. Among the leaders in the field of portable optics in the days prior to World War I, the German military was among the first to experiment with equipping their infantry with optics. While the gain in effective range wasn’t as good as what the evaluators hoped for, the scoped test rifles showed utility in dim and fading light conditions where conventional iron sights were all but useless. These lessons were remembered in 1914, when the invasion of France bogged down into the grim trench warfare that would define the next four years on the Western Front. Armed with a mix of civilian sporting rifles and scope-equipped Gewehr 98s, the German “Scharfschutzen” (sharpshooter) were recruited from men already familiar with optics use, and became the terror of the trenches in dusk and on clear nights. Among the first military snipers, the Scharfschutzen set many precedents for later snipers, working alone or in pairs at liberty to both maneuver and observe at their own discretion, acting as both a fatal hazard and reconnaissance asset, and demonstrating great creativity in camouflaging and protecting both themselves and their fighting positions. While donated and purchased sporting rifles performed well, they weren’t rugged enough for war, nor suitable for modern spitzer rounds or the high powered armor piercing rounds issued to snipers, requiring the adoption of a modified Gewehr 98 as early as 1914. These rifles were selected by the factory and later modified by the addition of the scope bases designed for the early German sniper scopes in a few different variations, with this example correctly having a turned down bolt handle, with a set of claw mount bases dovetailed and screwed into the receiver ring and rear bridge, the former eliminating the original manufacturer marks, and wearing a correct green paint finished R. Fuess Berlin-Steglitz made Luxor 3x scope with a double claw front mount and double claw rear base/mount offset to the left. Matching full and partial serial numbers marked on the receiver, bolt
and its components, barrel bands, rear sight, barrel, trigger guard, trigger guard screws, floorplate, follower, inside of the handguard, stock, and buttplate. Non-matching “28” marked on the cleaning rod. Various German acceptance proofs marked on the receiver, components and buttstock. “R. Fuess/Berlin-Steglitz/3 fach/Gew. No 4360/156ff” inscribed on the scope plate with the “4360” period arsenal crossed out and “156ff” added to match the rifle. Fitted with a correct period brown leather sling. Includes reproduction leather scope lens caps (separated leather), and an unmarked period German military style leather scope case. CONDITION: Very good, showing mostly a gray and brown patina with some evidence of light cleaning on the metal with otherwise defined markings, faint traces of faded original blue finish on the exposed areas and strong original blue finish showing in the protected/hidden areas beneath the stock, and some patches of light pitting. Stock is also very good with numerous scattered mild scratches, dents and scuffs characteristic of exposure to trench warfare, and visible stampings. Mechanically excellent. Scope is fine, retains 90% of its green and black painted finishes with a few chips, and slightly hazy but viewable optics. Leather scope cap straps detached/re-glued.
LOT 3483
Scarce World War I French RSC Model 1917 Semi-Automatic Rifle - Serial no. f23385,
8 mm lebel cal., 31 1/2 inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut stock. Originally developed in
1917 and fielded in 1918, the Model 1917, also known as the RSC 1917 (after the designers Ribeyrolles, Sutter and Chauchat), was the first semi-automatic rifle adopted by France. The RSC 1917 and subsequent RSC 1918 were phased out in the mid-20s after seeing service in the Rif War, with the majority being stripped of their gas hardware and converted to straight- pull repeaters (this example escaped this modification) for issue to colonial forces, often in North Africa. Additionally, a number found their way into the hands of the German Volksturm as last-ditch weapons during World War II. Blade front and folding ladder rear sight, with a “MA T.1917” marked barrel and no model or maker markings on the receiver. Fitted with a numbers matching hardwood forend and straight wrist stock with a flat steel buttplate. All visible serial numbers are matching including the barrel, bolt, bolt charger, trigger and wood.
CONDITION: Fine, retains 60% original blue finish with areas fading to smooth brown patina on the balance with some scattered light freckling. Wood is very good as arsenal refinished with numerous scattered dings, dents, scratches and a few cracks at the front of the forearm. Mechanically fine.
Estimate: 5,500 - 8,500
277
Estimate: 8,500 - 13,000