SOLD - Very Rare, Matching Mauser T-Gewehr Anti-Tank Rifle

Description

6/4/24 - This is an all matching and original example of the very rare Mauser T-Gewehr Anti-Tank rifle from 1918. There were only ~15,000 produced for the war with the vast majority being destroyed after the war, and even fewer surviving examples still found in original, matching condition. These massive single shot rifles were manufactured in 1918 and are chambered for the 13x92SR cartridge. Known as the "Elefant-Buechse" (elephant rifle) by the German Army, the Tankgewehr 18 (T-Gewehr) was an up-scaled single-shot version of the Model 98 infantry rifle with a bipod and a pistol grip. The T-Gewehr could penetrate the armor of any Allied tank used during WWI. Tanks at this time were only designed to stop rifle rounds and shrapnel. Matching numbers include the receiver, bolt assembly, rear sight, front sight, floorplate and more. The stock is also matching numbered to the gun and has handling wear but is structurally intact. The bluing on the rifle is all original and has no major areas of wear, but there is patina that has set in on much of the metal surface. The bore has fairly strong rifling but has some frost throughout and could use a thorough cleaning. Comes with an original bipod and one original cartridge. Weighs in at over 40lbs and is 66in long.