Matching GEW 98 photo heavy

[72 usmc]

Rapidrob instead of messing up your post with photos, here is a Matching GEW 98 and locations to look for numbers and cartouches.

This is a bring back, non duffle cut, all matching with original unit marked sling, Deutsche Waffen-und Munitionsfabriken ( DWM ) 1916. A little rough from sitting in a room, but the bore is like new. Maybe this sat out in the rain on the battlefield till the WW I vet recovered it and sent it home. I left it as found with original patina to metal and the stock. It was oiled. Posted so Rapidrob can see what should be matching on his rifle. Today matching examples are somewhat hard to find. I do not fire this specimen. Most collectors would consider this a poor specimen. I have seen some at WI shows that look brand new. A guy at Oshkosh Wi sets up his many fine museum specimens (Not for sale) at the Oshkosh gun show for display only.

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The Bolt

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The stock

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More of the stock

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The parts

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more of the parts and the unit marked, original sling. you see different shots at different settings of the sling's marker's mark. It is hard to see. As you see there is not much difference in the photos.

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more of the sling

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The rifle in overview by sections

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The overview in section, the other side

[indy1919a4]

Well anyone who is so high brow that they would consider that gun poor should be .. well you'll know what to do.... I like that look... Hell of a nice rifle

Do have a overall question what causes those rifle left in the white to cause the metal to darken like that..?? and if one wanted is there a way to cause it to happen or remove it...

[72 usmc]

If you want to age metal it takes some practice, but can be done. The mixture is Hydrogen peroxide, brown mustard and vinegar. This will produce a grayish to brownish to blackish patina depending on the mixture. Apple cider vinegar and 4-8 table spoons of water softener salt will give it a rusted reddish look and works if you want a rusty can look to the metal. Now if you want a more grayish to blackish look then you use white vinegar, hydrorogen peroxide and brown mustard . Use equal parts of vinegar and peroxide with a few table spoons of the mustard. A gray look that is quick is produced by a wipe of diluted toilet bowl cleaner and then a rub with steel wool. The stronger the toilet bowl cleaner the quicker it works. A sort of acid etch surface. Nasty stuff.
Sulfides in the solution produce a brownish patina. If its a cleaned gun surface produced by some nut that likes a new looking metal, then 30w oil on the metal surface followed by a wipe of G96 Gun Blue cream will produce a grey surface. Too much G96 and you get a lighter color blackish patina. Two or 3 applications of G96 cream without any oil on the metal and you will end up with a nice Mosin black. It can also be done with G96 and some high temp, black, grill paint mixed into the G96. Use the pigmented layer at the bottom of the can, best to open a new can and let it air dry overnight so the pigment gets concentrated at the bottom of the can and not so much solution/liquid remains in the can.
So there are lots of solutions to mess with. Just brown mustard and vinegar on an iron Knife will give it a darken surface. For antique repairs I find a beat metal surface is best obtained by the old standby- strong hydrogen peroxide from the women's hair salons-- it's a stronger solution, Brown mustard, and apple cider vinegar or white vinegar less reactive, works fine. The more mustard, the more it darkens metal. This is not so much a rusted looking surface, rather it can produce a brownish to grayish patina. For a rusty can look on new metal, just stick to vinegar and salt; or, if you really want it to rust fast, then use hydrogen peroxide in the normal drug store bottle, rock salt, and white vinegar.

Some caution: hydrogen peroxide and vinegar creates a peracetic acid. And sulfur powder in the mixture or with hydrogen peroxide produces sulfuric acid. It is bad for pets and skin. It is corrosive, posion, and bad to breath in. Nasty stuff, but it does produce grey to brown to blackish patina on metal parts.

You can also buy pre mixed aging solutions for iron, brass, copper, and silver at some antique supply stores. It is a factory made chemical solution that ages the surface of specific metals to produce a aged patina on new repro parts.

To clean use steel wool and hand buffing with a bit of oil to get an old surface so it looks new. Then polish with a cotton buffing wheel. No old firearm has such a nice new surface.

The old GEW 98s had a bare metal polished surface like old wrenches and get that grey patina like old wreches.

[M67]

Nice rifle and all matching and in one piece! Beautiful.

[vandle]

That is a very nice example of a Gew 98

Love the patina on the receiver

One of those are high on my list.

Maybe one day

[ffuries]

I can make out Darmstadt on the sling.......what does the rest of it say?

[vandle]

Not exactly sure but I think Ludwig Muller Darmstat.
There is still a manufacturing plant of the same name that manufactures synthetics/plastics.

Maybe a coincidence