1340 GERMAN WWI MAUSER MODEL 1918 TANK GEWEHR SINGLE

Category Firearms & Military
Auction Currency USD
Start Price 1,750.00 USD
Estimated at 3,500.00 - 5,500.00 USD
SHOT BOLT ACTION ANTI-TANK RIFLE CONVERTED TO 50 BMG. Cal. 50 BMG. S# 3979. Numbers match on receiver, bolt assembly, trigger guard, trigger, & bolt stop. Bbl. 36 1/4". Ladder aperture rear sight graduated to 1500 yards. Post front sight. The receiver ring is marked on top w/ the Mauser banner & "1918" plus is marked on both sides w/ imperial proofs. This interesting lg. bore rifle was custom made using a Mauser Model 1918 Tank Gewehr which was chambered originally in 13x92SR. The Tank Gewehr developed for the German army late in WWI was reasonably successful in penetrating the armor of the early allied tanks. The 13mm cartridge is a scarce collectible in its own right and has lead to some of these rifles being to converted to the U.S. 50 cal. machine gun cartridge which is much more readily available. The original 13mm bbl. has been replaced by a bbl. converted from a U.S. 50 cal. machine gun bbl. This bbl. retains its original number D7162012 which may be the drawing number & also has a sm. U.S. flaming bomb ordnance acceptance mark. The bbl. is numbered L2J729 as well. The installation was accomplished by using a bushing to increase the diameter of the machine gun bbl. to fit the threads in the Mauser receiver. The bushing protrudes approx. 1 3/4" forward of the receiver ring. The bolt face and extractor appear to be unmodified and the 50 BMG cartridge does not extract properly. The firing mechanism appears to function correctly. The firing pin appears unmodified. The stock has an unusual duffle cut extending upward and rearward diagonally from the front guard screw separating the stock into 2 halves. There has been an attempt to repair the joint but it is separated. The buttstock has the usual 2 piece dovetailed construction common to these rifles. The original stock markings at the belly are illegible. The bbl. band has been arc welded at the rear but the bbl. shows no evidence of welding in the bbl. band area. The bbl. band retaining pin is not present. CONDITION: the stock is well worn w/ staining, gouges & handling marks. There are numerous missing chips around the forend tip & the forward receiver ring screw. The grip has notable gouges on the top & left side. The joint in buttstock has an open appearance and the butt area which was made w/out a buttplate has considerable checking. Approx. 1 1/2" crack behind receiver tang & two 1 1/2" cracks behind the trigger guard. The forend has a lg. crack extending rearward approx. 7" at the bottom. There are 2 carved notches at the bottom of the forend behind the bbl. band. The pistol grip has two approx. 3" cracks at the sides and notable checking at the top w/ wear & staining. The receiver & trigger guard have been blued & have thinning, wear & areas of light oxidation. The bolt has been polished but is returning to a gray appearance. The bbl. retains 50% of its original parkerized finish w/ thinning & wear. The front sight base & ramp have a flaking black finish. The screw extending through the bottom of the stock into the receiver ring interferes with the bolt when fully seated. The trigger guard is equipped w/ 3 screws. The rear most screw extends only into the wood but is not present. Bore has degree of shine w/ strong lands & appearance of frosting in grooves. (24-776/RW). MODERN. $3,500-5,500.