WW1 Gew 98 with German soldier's name

[Greg W.]

I obtained this 1908 Spandau Gew 98 over a year ago from a lot that was being deaccessed from a museum. It had more of a story to it than I knew at the time. When I finally got around to giving it a good cleaning I found the following written in heavy pencil under the handguard:

"P. Steyer aus Nordhausen 1915 Russland" There is some other writing in German script which is smudged and unreadable.

It took me awhile to get over the shock! Has anyone ever found a WW1 or WW2 German weapon so marked? Any idea how I might identify the unit to which this individual belonged given his name, apparent home town and the fact that he was on the Russian front in 1915? The id disc on the butt is unmarked. The images are the best my digital camera will do. I would like to hear your thoughts.




Greg

[Chris N.]

That is one beauty piece. You keep good care of that.

As for the name why not try one of those "grave finder" sites, they might give some help... other then that I have no idea.

[JohnB]

Gew 98

Beautiful gun, could it have seen action at the battle of Tannenberg in 1915?
I have never seen this before, but I have one with a French soldier's name carved into the stock, "Arson Daniel" from a Pioneer unit.
Anyway, nice find.
John

[GerColctor]

Personal rifle

This is a great find. Some faceless German who was a member of the Imperial Army in 1915 in Russia. Makes you wonder who he was, what unit was he in and did he survive. Too bad he didn't include his unit numbers so at least we would know what his outfit was involved in during the Great War.

You have a rifle that actually "talks" to you from the past.
Joe

[Greg W.]

I recently obtained some information from the City of Nordhausen on the possible identity of the soldier who wrote his name on this rifle. Apparently 80% of the town was destroyed during WWII along with the city records. A German friend did a little research for me and identified a Paul Steyer, cabinet maker, who was living at Hall Strasse 22, Nordhausen just before the start of WW1. His occupation as a cabinet maker fits the character of someone who would write his name under a piece of wood no one is likely to see for years. Does anyone have access to, or have any idea, as to which regiment(s) I should be aware of, that this soldier may have served with in Russia in 1915?

I obtained this 1908 Spandau Gew 98 over a year ago from a lot that was being deaccessed from a museum. It had more of a story to it than I knew at the time. When I finally got around to giving it a good cleaning I found the following written in heavy pencil under the handguard:

"P. Steyer aus Nordhausen 1915 Russland" There is some other writing in German script which is smudged and unreadable.

It took me awhile to get over the shock! Has anyone ever found a WW1 or WW2 German weapon so marked? Any idea how I might identify the unit to which this individual belonged given his name, apparent home town and the fact that he was on the Russian front in 1915? The id disc on the butt is unmarked. The images are the best my digital camera will do. I would like to hear your thoughts.




Greg

[Garron]

Hi Greg

If you want to know about ww1, I recomend

www.1914-1918.net and that sites forum. (great war forum)

Some one on there will have knowledge or know how to find out.

Garron