Gewher 98 in Afghanistan

Combat Diver

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This was brought over for me to take a look at. German service rifle from 1898 to 1935. Disassembled and cleaned this morning but don't have any 7.92x57mm Mauser here to test it. Made by Mauser in 1917 and still has the Lang Viser rear sight. 49.2 in long, 29" bbl and 9 lbs. Gewher means rifle in German, the Kar98 from WWII was a Carbine.

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CD
 
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That is really cool. Any matching numbers or Turk markings?

It is a shame the US government didn’t see fit to allow such guns to be brought home, or at least auctioned as surplus for sale to collectors here.
 
Pure German Army. ATF Import Branch back in Jun did tell me I could import on a Form 6A C&R firearms on my 03 FFL. Gun doesn't belong to me however :(

CD
 
Pure German Army. ATF Import Branch back in Jun did tell me I could import on a Form 6A C&R firearms on my 03 FFL. Gun doesn't belong to me however :(

CD


Cool. You should import as much as you can. Probably too much of a hassle, though.
 
42 coded (Mauser) 1940 dated K98. Will need to fix the cracked stock and break down. Not sure if original or Khyber Pass. Some things right but some red flags. Barrel bands are wrong, missing SNs on parts, British proofs, etc. Still have some Turkish 7.9mm ammo on stripper clips to let her sing!

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The wrap on the stock doesn’t look to bad. I’ve never seen anything like it.


Wraps like that aren't uncommon in Afghanistan. I had a Long Lee Enfield with something similar to the wrap on the wrist of the OP K98. It also had glass and mirror pieces inlaid into the stock to make it flashy.
 
Ran 5 rds of Turkish 7.9mm thru it yesterday for a function test. Shot good so now to fix the broken stock.
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CD
 
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Can you even bring or mail parts back? I need a few small parts for a K98. :D
 
42 coded (Mauser) 1940 dated K98. Will need to fix the cracked stock and break down. Not sure if original or Khyber Pass. Some things right but some red flags. Barrel bands are wrong, missing SNs on parts, British proofs, etc. Still have some Turkish 7.9mm ammo on stripper clips to let her sing!

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Aha!!!! A Battery Oaks Mortification!!!!
You have a Grande Job!!!!...'cept for that getting shot at, bombed, strafed, mortared, being away from home part.
 
Not legally. Rifle does belong to one of the teams. I'm going to fix it up so it can get demilled and they bring back.

CD


That is better than nothing.

Bummer about the parts. It would be nice to at least be able to preserve something from them.
 
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Went to zero it with some Turkish 7.9x57 today. Bullets mike .323", couple of misfires on first hit but always went bang on second try. However, at 25m bullets are keyholing the target :oops: So, rifle is just a wall hanger and will let couple other people shoot it for the sake as almost out of ammo (15 rds left) Still have a vz26 20 rd 7.9mm mag that I'm looking for the LMG!


CD
 
Combat Driver; that Gewehr 98 has quite a history; I have a 1917 Oberndorf Gew 98 Imperial Germany supplied to its Ottoman Empire ally; I'll try to get photos later.
 
Is the owner of the Gew going to try to bring it back? I had one that I stupidly sold some years back, never shot it but mine was it a nice rifle just to look at
 
Got demilled and took home by the servicemember.

CD

Forgive me if this has already been answered and I’ve overlooked it, what’s the process of demilling include?

we had a Lee Enfield No1 MK3 in our CP I tried to bring back unsuccessfully, they couldn’t get my paperwork back in time
 
I think it is a terrible shame you have to ruin an old rifle to ship it back. I realize this particular rifle wasn't in great shape but you a diamond in the rough may come along. I'm sure there are some rare specimens over there still in use.
 
All that can be found here in 27 CFR § 447.52
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg...FR-2019-title27-vol3-part447.xml#seqnum447.52

If I could get the G98 to another country that's not on the ban list, have it sit there for 6 yrs, then I could request on ATF Form 6 Importation thru ATF. Problem is getting it out and approved for importation to that other country. Not worth it for one or two guns. Now if I find a huge cache and can afford to sit on them for that period, obtain a Importers FFL and then sell them thru distributors as that is how the importation of small arms works. I have imported while I was stationed in Germany on Form 6s for personal use. One type of firearm that is NOT a defensive article is sporting shotguns. Believe me I've talked to ATFs Importation Branch many times. Just talked to a ATF agent here in Afghanistan Sunday all about this (he's doing something else with agency not dealing with imports) and he didn't know any of this either. We talked about him going thru the same process we all do for SBRs.

Referencing rare specimens like Saddam's Hussains engraved Hi Power I had in Iraq 04', even thou prohibited, ATF said "We can talk" (didn't know that back then)


CD
 
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It’s a crying shame our service members and those working over there can’t bring back some of these old war houses and give them a proper retirement

I would have had a nice little collection, minus the AK74 we had. I would have gladly taken that home demilled
 
It’s a crying shame our service members and those working over there can’t bring back some of these old war houses and give them a proper retirement

I would have had a nice little collection, minus the AK74 we had. I would have gladly taken that home demilled
Remember ATF stance, Once a machine gun, always a machine gun. Even demilled a AK would be a unregistered MG, unless it stays on unit books. Huges Amendment in 86' closed the registry for us :(

CD
 
Dang, reading through this and unless it’s over 100 years old, slim chance of getting it home

I was talking to my neighbor up the road who showed me his Remington Rand 1911 that he “acquired” when in the Navy. Also was able to bring back some rifles from Germany (where he originally is from) that had been in his family forever. Said he just threw them into his duffel bag, stoved them away, and then walked off the ship in VA with them in his duffel bag again. No questions, no searches
 
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