GEW 98 help please

H

Half cocked

New member
Hi,
I have a 1902 Erfurt rifle with complete matching numbers. My questions are (1) My rear sight starts from 200 meters not 400, yet the slide only goes to 400? I didnt know these rifle ever had 200 meters on the slide! ALSO my regimental disc marking are 233. 86. R. 8 ( the R being a fancy script.Can anyone help with the unit markings and history ie : which theatres the unit served?Thanks in anticipation.
 
Photos of the unit mark would help. I assume it reads 233.86.R.8. If so it would indicate Reserve infantry regiment 86, 8th Company, weapon 233.
The 86th Reserve Regiment was part of the 18th Reserve Division, 9th Corps District Schleswig-Holstein. They fought on the western front throughout the war and ended up in the Cambrai area from September 1918 'til the end in November.
 
Hey Half Cocked,
It would be great to see a photo of the sight as well, Is this a Gew 98 or a kar 98?
Best
Gus
PS welcome to the forum.
 
Here are the photos of Half Cocked's Gew 98, George was right on the disc ID, the actual numbering on it is 86.R.8.233.
IMG_0279.jpg

IMG_0284.jpg

IMG_0281.jpg

IMG_0280.jpg

IMG_0282.jpg
 
Here is a phot of the sight, I can not remember, but did they not change the sight increments because they found that they were engaging the enemy at closer ranges? If so, when did this happen?
IMG_0278.jpg
 
My rear sight starts from 200 meters not 400, yet the slide only goes to 400?
Click to expand...

Sight bases with the lowest graduation of 200 meters are found on rifles originally chambered for M88 ammunition (8.1mm diameter bullet). In the 1903 to 1905 time frame a new sight for S ammunition (8.22mm diameter bullet) was developed having the lowest setting of 400 meters. Rifles having the old 200 meter sights were modified by the addition of a new sight leaf calibrated for the S ammunition. The configuration of the new sight leaf is such that the slider will not go below the 400 meter marking on the old base. See Rifle & Carbine 98, M 98 Firearms of the German Army from 1898 to 1918 by Dieter Storz, pages 83 through 85.

Reservist1
 
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