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Grandpa's rifle is a Gew (Gewehr = rifle) '98 (Mauser model of 1898) made in 1905 at the Prussian arsenal in Spandau. It has been heavily sporterized by cutting down the stock, adding a recoil pad and a sporting barrel band front sight. Looks like the metal has been reblued. There is no sign of a rear sight, leading me to wonder if the job was ever completed to where the rifle could be shot.
The rifle serial number is 637 d. Yes, the letter counts. The floorplate not matching is not a surprise on such a much modified gun.
Dollar value is low and collector interest is nil. Consider it a memento of Grandpa.
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