[David Murvihill]

The good news is that it was free. The bad news is:

The guy who gave it to me didn't know where it came from, but it looks like it spent alot of time in a humid environment. The "GEW 98" is only about half visible and the receiver stamps are only deeper pits on the receiver. I'm going to soak the front band with kroil and see if it will come apart.

 

[M16A2556MM]

At least the price was right, I would take it for that. Can you salvage the bolt?

 

[missrosalita37]

so.....hows does she group? ;0

 

[wilson180]

I hope it doesn't fall apart after it soaks. It looks pretty far gone.

 

[DK PHILLIPS]

see worse look better after a warm bath in kerosene and a loving touch.....
how does the inside firing pen and rifling look.....?

 

[David Murvihill]

Bolt's frozen. Haven't even looked down the bore...

 

[mrplodd]

I was lucky a couple of years ago to find a G98 on a grassy bank leading down to a road, Delville Wood, Somme France, all there, no wood, cocked and locked, rusty as hell, If it could tell a story.

 

[DK PHILLIPS]

chamber maybe loaded????
soaking may or may not get to primers....

 

[TP]

There is plenty of good news there for a WW1 collector, too bad there was no story with it, it is likely a battlefield recovery. For heaven's sake don't "soak it", it won't do any good and it will destroy any value it has, which in some collecting fields could be a fair amount... if you had the story.Seriously Dave, preserve it as is. And the primers may already be dead anyway, the bolt has been fired, empty brass in the chamber so it is safe. Many battlefield recovered specimens are cocked and have a "live" round in the chamber.

Can you make out anything on the receiver?

 

[mauser1908]

My biggest fear would come true if this was a 1915 Simson.

 

[David Murvihill]

There is plenty of good news there for a WW1 collector, too bad there was no story with it, it is likely a battlefield recovery. For heaven's sake don't "soak it", it won't do any good and it will destroy any value it has, which in some collecting fields could be a fair amount... if you had the story.Seriously Dave, preserve it as is. And the primers may already be dead anyway, the bolt has been fired, empty brass in the chamber so it is safe. Many battlefield recovered specimens are cocked and have a "live" round in the chamber.

Can you make out anything on the receiver?

Receiver is unreadable. You can make out the bottom of the "8" in GEW98, but that's it. Range markings on the rear sight are readable though. I could shadowbox it.

 

[Nodda Duma]

Electrolysis tank. That's as rusty as my wife's grandfather's Mauser that I saved.

If you can hook up a battery charger you can build your own

http://www.surplusrifleforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=80&t=62728

 

[bandook]

Many battlefield recovered specimens are cocked and have a "live" round in the chamber.

I bought a similar rotted example at a gun show because it had some intact parts. It had a live round in the chamber...a 308 Winchester! It also had a rod welded in the barrel. The bolt was removable. I had to cook the round off by carefully heating the receiver in a remote and safe location. Spandau 1915. Pity it had been ruined.

 

[TP]

Never mind, we'll just call this one a double post that got erased.

 

[jjk308 In Memoriam RIP]

Put about 1/3 acetone in the Kroil or whatever. Makes it a LOT easier for the oil to penetrate the rust as the very thin acetone carries it in. but keep the mix away from anything plastic. A day's soak should do it.

I learned this the hard way as usual, taking apart 1878 Nepali Francotte Martinis. Wrecked some screw heads and cussed a lot before I started using acetone.

 

[9 toes]

Tomato Stake

 

[Puska 35.M]

So is it going to be preserved as is?

 

[8x57mauser]

I like it. I'd definitely prefer it as is and not cleaned and would buy it in the present condition over cleaned condition.

 

[Regis Rex]

Seen a lot worse. I'd just wipe it down with an oily rag.

Somebody once gave me a single barrel 12 ga. they dug up installing an underground gas tank. Actually, just the barrel and receiver, back half gone, no fore-end. Some genius tried to shoot a .50 BMG round in it, and the case was welded into the chamber. I would love to know "the rest of the story". Good candidate for a "Stupidest videos" entry.

 

[Stan61]

I like it. I'd definitely prefer it as is and not cleaned and would buy it in the present condition over cleaned condition.

I agree! I think I would try to make an interesting display with a plaque with a simulated mud/dirt background and some old rusty barbed wire. Maybe some old crusty cartridge cases thrown in and voila!....some neat wall art for the gun room! Or you can just stand it in the corner!