GEW 88 'S' marked receiver

signgod69

February 20, 2003 15:53

I have asked a couple of question on the GEW 88, the reason being is that I have inheriated this and would like to know more. My question is simple. What is the 'S' stamp on the receiver?


chris
signgod777@aol.com

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  rufe-snow

  February 20, 2003 16:12

  When the Germans went to the .323 dia. spitzer bullet in 1905. the old rifles that were converted were marked with a "S" above the chamber.

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  rordog

  February 20, 2003 17:59

  If I remember correctly, some of the Gew88 conversions was no more than relieving the throat in the .318 bore for the new bullet. On a large number of rifles the Germans ret-ro fitted the Manlicher style magazine to use the same stripper clip/feed system as the 98 rifle. The updated 88 rifle was substitute standard during WW1.

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  Iroquois Scout

  February 20, 2003 18:03

  This rifle is known as the Commission Rifle Model 1888/14, as Rufe-Snow correctly stated, at the outbreak of WWI in August of 1914 Germany found it's self short of rifles with which to arm all the men being called up for the army. Also, many of the army reserve troops were armed with the obsolete Commission Rifle Model 1888 useing the original Model 1888 7.92X57 J cartridge with the .318 inch, 226 grain, round nose bullet. However, in 1905 the German army had addopted the Model 1905 7.92X57 S cartridge with a 154 grain spitzer bullet and increased the depth of the grooves in the barrel to give a groove diameter of .323 inch this meant that the diameter of the bullet also had to be increased to .323 inch. To keep from having to issue two types of cartridges during war time, the Germans took several steps. First, all Mauser Model 1898 rifles made before 1905 that had not already been converted to the new cartridge were rebarreled to use the new cartridge. Next, the old Model 1888's were converted in two ways: 1.) The neck of the chamber was reamed to accept the larger diameter neck of the 1905 cartridge. 2.) On some rifles not only was the neck of the chamber reamed, but, the grooves of the barrel were deepened to .323 inch. However, not all rifles had this done. Therefore, you must slug the bore of your rifle to determine which bullet to load if you are going to shoot your rifle. Both conversions were stamped with a large letter "S" on the top of the chamber. While the Germans were converting the chambers of these rifles, some also had the magazine converted from the original Mannlicher type which used a five shot en-block clip which became part of the magazine, to a magazine useing the Mauser five shot stripper clip. You can easily tell the differance by the sheet metal insert in the magazine well which will allow only room for one cartridge at a time to be placed in the magazine, but no room for the Mannlicher clip. The cut in the rear receiver bridge for the Mauser stripper clip and a sheet metal cover over the clip ejection opening in the bottom of the magazine. This cover is often stamped with the date 1914. Hope this is of some help to you. Scout

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