M88/05
GEW88 COMMISSION RIFLE
First, Thank You Glen (the WW1 re-enactor) J.R.23 "von Winterfeldt" for sharing all your wonderful knowledge with me. This page could not have been possible without your help!
Here is the M88/05 or Gew 88 rifle. Originally I thought this rifle was a Model 88/14. The neatly pinned charger guides indicate this rifle as a M88/05. The 88/14 conversion was performed under time constraints and the quality of the conversion to charger loading shows it. The charger guides on the M88/14 were very crudely welded and machined, the welded material providing the actual guides.
(Thank you John Sheehan for the above information on the conversion to charger loading on these rifles.)
Rifle is marked Loewe Berlin 1891 on top of receiver. Low serial number #3412 and no import marks. All numbers match except for lower barrel band. Lower band seems to have been arsenal replaced as it has a line marked through the Regimental Markings. There is almost no blueing, but still is in very good shape as the bore is excellent and and there is no rust or major pitting. The only pitting is on the area of the barrel shroud were your hand would be if holding gun to shoot and this is very minor. Stock is very nice too except there is a crack all the way through from the back of the trigger guard to the top of the buttstock. This has been epoxied back together. This would also need to be pinned if rifle were to be fired. Note that only WW1 ball ammo or proper light reloads should be shot and only if stock is further repaired or replaced. Upper barrel band with correct serial number has markings "84 R. 7. 70". On magazine cover is the date 1915 and G.B.N., the top of the receiver also has an S and a Quarter Moon figure. The sight has the ranges machined through and the ranges renumbered in Turkish and markings on the bolt with same kind of writing.
Here is what all these markings stand for and the history of the rifle. This gun started out with the 84th Von Manstein Infantry Regiment, Schleswig, 7th Company, gun #70. From the 1X Army Corps district, but attached to the Independant 54th Division during 1918. Headquarters/Garrison/home area:Schleswig Prussian Army. This would put this firearm in Schleswig just prior to The Great War! "Von Manstein" is the regimental title, most likely the name of a famous leader in local or Prussian history. Regimental titles in the Imperial Army were honorifics that were often used by the soldaten. Some Regiments of the Imperial German army had them, and others did not. Having one depended greatly on the regimental history, but also on politics and so forth - it was considered a big deal.
The S mark indicates that this rifle has had the S conversion done to it. This means that the bore diameter was opened up to take the larger S ball ammo. More information on the S conversion can be found elsewhere on this website.
Originally I thought the 1915 date on the magazine cover was the date of 88/05 conversion, but I have now learned that this may not be true. It is believed the 88/05 conversion process only lasted for a short time during 1905 -1906. No more conversions were undertaken until the beginning of WWI and these were the 88/14 conversions mentioned at the beginning of this article. The covers may not have been added until the beginning of the War, when it became obvious that there was a serious problem with dirt entering the action through the opening at the bottom of the magazine. Therefore the date (1915) on the cover may be the date the cover was manufactured and not the date of the 88/05 conversion. The G.B.H. on the magazine cover is most likely a makers mark.
(A big thanks to T. P. Hern for providing the above information concerning the magazine cover dates)
The Quarter Moon marking indicates that this Gew88 was sent to aid Germany's WW1 allie Turkey, in her fight, and was later reworked by them. This gun would be a very unlikely but possible participant in the Gallipoli battle, and almost certainly a participant in the defense of Palistine or Baghdad against the British or in the bitter but forgotten fighting in the Causucus, against the Russians.
Very historic rifle! Next are a number of pictures showing several different views and markings. Thumb-nailed to speed the page up. Click on any image for the larger picture.
