Infanteriegewehr 88 or Gewehr 1888 and Ammunition

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Infanteriegewehr 88 or Gewehr 1888 and Ammunition

 I have made a summation of some of the markings and ammunition as it applies to the Gew 88.  

The Germans copied the rifling of the 1886 Lebel rifle in their hurry to get a smokeless powder rifle into production. A bore diameter 7.9mm (0.311”) was adopted and with a grove depth of 0.10mm (0.003937”) and rifling width of 4.5mm (0.177”), with 4 groves with a right twist.

The original 88 bullet had a weight of 14.7 grams (226.9 grains) and a diameter of 8.1mm (0.319”).

The bullet jacket and rifling combination resulted in 50% of the rifles returned in 1897 needing new barrels.

After testing it was found that increasing the grove depth from 0.10mm (0.003937”) to a grove depth of 0.15mm (0.0059”), for a total grove diameter of 8.2mm (0.3228” or 0.323”) solved the barrel problem.

The new grove depth was adopted in July 7, 1896 by a Prussian “All-Highest Decree” N0. 10 345.

All new and converted rifles with the 0.15mm depth groves were stamped with a “Z”.

“S ammunition” adopted by order of 4/3/1903, No. 251.03. The “S” bullet had a diameter of 8.22mm (0.3236”). The larger bullet needed the chamber to be modified as the 1888 case was still used.

The rifles with the modified chambered rifles for the “S” cartridge were marked with an “S”.

The War Ministry ordered that only 1888 rifles with new unused barrels be adapted for the “S” cartridge.

The early production 1898 Mausers were also stamped with a 2.5mm “S” on the head of the breech and on the barrel when converted to the “S” cartridge.

Original 1888 Barrel = ((0.1mm)+(7.9mm)+(0.1mm)) = 8.1mm = 0.3188976” or ~ 0.319”

Barrels after July, 7 1896 = ((0.15mm)+(7.9mm)+(0.15mm)) = 8.2mm = 0.3228346” or ~ 0.323”

“S” bullet diameter = 8.22mm = 0.323622” or ~ 0.324”

“S” bullet diameter minus bore diameter = 8.22mm – 8.2mm = 0.02mm = 0.0007874”

MARKINGS

😊  2mm diameter dot = Modified barrel contours, post 1891.

Z   3mm high = Deepened rifling groves, post 1896. A large 7mm “Z” may also be stamped on                                    the right side of the butt.  

S   3mm high = Rifles suitable altered for S-Munition. 1903-5. An additional 7mm crowned “S” may be found on the right side of the butt.

n   2mm high = Signifies an 88/14 conversion, 1914-15.

 Unit marking are generally located on the left side of the barrel band, and occasionally on the top service of the butt plate. For example ( 132.R.5.116 )        

    
Cartridge examples.

Cartridge   Powder      Gas Pressure   Velocity   Powder Type

88 = 2.67 g Gew.Bl.P. (1890-91) = 3350 atm. = 610 m/s = Ethyl acetate till 1899.

88 = 2.63 g Powder 436 (1898) = 2700 atm. = 620 m/s = Ethyl alcohol powder.

98 = 3.2 g S 682b (1903) = 3100 atm. = 870 m/s = Ethyl alcohol w/diphenylamine. (Original “S” cartridge with the original 9.8 gram bullet)

610 m/s = 2001 ft/sec
620 m/s = 2034 ft/sec
870 m/s = 2854 ft/sec

One atmosphere = 101.325 kPa = 14.70 pounds per square inch
3100 atm = 45,557 pounds per square inch


“S” and “sS” cartridges.

Cartridge    Charge      Bullet form    Bullet weight    Velocity (Vo)

“S” = 98 = 3.2 g = short concave arched base = 10.2 grams = 895 m/s = 2936 ft/sec
“sS” = 98 = 2.85 grams = long torpedo shape = 12.8 grams = 785 m/s = 2575 ft/sec
Barrel lengths, 740mm = 29.13”

The “sS’ cartridge was adopted in 1918 as a long range machine gun cartridge and was the standard issue cartridge of WW2.


Rifles 88/05 and 88/14

The basic modifications’ for the rifles designated 88/05 and 88/14 were to use the 98 charger leading method instead of the original 88 Mannlicher clip that goes into and forms part of the magazine. Charger guides were added and the magazine was modified for charger loading. The rear sight was also modified for the ballistics of the “S” cartridge.

The Carbine 88 and the Rifle 91 were similarly modified. The Rifle 91 is the Carbine 88 with a stacking hook added, similar to the Carbine 98 AZs stacking hook.

The Yugoslavians’ modified 1895 Mannlicher straight pull rifles from 8x50Rmm to 8x57mm.
The 1890 Mannlicher straight pull was also modified from 8x50Rmm to 8x57mm, I believe by the Greeks.

Oil cleaning was introduced in October 1897, water had been used prior to that.

One inch = 1” = 25.4 mm
One foot = 1’ = 0.3048 m, Both from Canadian Metric Practice Guide CAN3-Z234.1-76

All dimensions in both books are in metric.

The preceding information was from “German Military Rifles and Machine Pistols 1871 – 1945”,
By Hans Dieter Gotz. Translated by Dr. Edward Force, CCSU. Includes information on assault rifles and Sten copies.

And “The German Rifle, A comprehensive illustrated history of the standard bolt-action designs,
1871-1945”. By John Walter. Includes information on the use of captured French Chassepots
He quotes from Gotz.

German Bayonets

For German bayonets the book “World Bayonets 1800 to the present” by Anthony Carter, is a good choice. It contains pictures of 258 bayonets, 66 of them German from 1860 to WW2.

Hope this helps.

Also:
http://parallaxscurioandrelicfirearmsforums.yuku.com/forums/92/GEW-1888-Commission-Rifles#.VGZXP5UtDIU

http://forums.gunboards.com/forumdisplay.php?14-Mannlicher-Steyr-amp-Blackpowder-Cartridge-Rifles

http://www.militaryriflejournal.com/

http://www.hungariae.com/Mann13.htm

Almost an 88

http://www.hungariae.com/Mann04.htm