Well, my latest obsession is the German GEW 88 rifle. I don't know why but somehow I've ended up with 9 of them. Is that bad?? Anyway, they were made by the Imperial German Army from 1890 to 1895. A number of government arsenals manufactured them: Spandau, Amberg, Danzig, and Erfurt. Germany also contracted with a commercial company "Loewe Berlin" to produce them. The Austrian arsenal Steyr was allowed to produce them as part of a settlement with the Germans over a patent infringement on their "Mannlicher" magazine design. I've restored six now. The other three are coming along good so far and are in various stages of restoration. Don't know why I need so many but I really enjoy working on these things. After all, they are a piece of history and worthy of preserving. They were used by Germany in WWI and after becoming obsolete were sold to countries like Turkey, China and Ecuador. They ended up being replace by the amazing Mauser 98 rifle of WWII fame.
When I get a chance I'll post some pictures of them before restoration and after. It will make you cry to see the condition they were in.
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