New Member From Durban South Africa

[baugust]

Hi ...My name is Bill. Thank you to Admin for accepting me. I have recently purchased what appears to be a Pre-War M98 sporting rifle in Caliber 9.3x62. I would great appreciate if someone can shed some light on the more or less date of manufacture. I am not as yet in possession of the rifle. The gun Laws in my country are very strict and I am still in the process of licencing the rifle. I bought this one online from a dealer who has to keep in his custody until my licence approval. I do however have pictures for now.
I am very proud to be in the company of such knowledgeable people on this site.
My Best Regards,
Baugust

ulbricht-custom-built-rifle-ulbricht-custom-built-9-3x62mm-bolt-action-hunting-rifle-1009338956_.JPG

[sharps4590]

Oooo...nice rifle!! I like it a LOT better without the modern bases and scope. I'm still a rookie at this but guessing from the style of the stock and all the other goodies I'd speculate before or shortly after WWI. When you get the rifle disassemble it and post pics of the proof marks. They should tell most of the story.

[baugust]

i certainly will thanks for the feedback

[mike ford]

baugust,
Welcome, we are glad to have you with us. I agree with sharps4590, concerning the approximate date of your rifle, subject to what the proof marks tell us. While photographing the markings, be sure to see if it has numbers on the rear of the magazine box and near the recoil lug. Also, check if the double set triggers are built into the trigger guard assy. of if they are pinned into it as a unit. I can't make out the name of the shop, on the barrel, only that it is in Dresden. Someone else will be able to read it and may be able to offer additional info.
Mike

[baugust]

Thank you Mike

[baugust]

Hi Mike,
The inscription on the barrel reads " G. ULBRICHT KGL SACHS. HOF-BUCHSENMACHER-DRESDEN". The only other information I could come up with is a advert placed in the news paper around 1905 of the shop. I attach a.pic of the advert. When I get possession391px-G._Ulbricht_Hofbüchsenmacher_Dresden_1905.jpg of the rifle I will post all the other pics once I have removed the stock. Thank you most kindly
Bill391px-G._Ulbricht_Hofbüchsenmacher_Dresden_1905.jpg

[mike ford]

Bill,
This is an interesting advert., it mentions a large storage(stock of merchandise) and they finish guns themselves using the newest actions and guarantee good work and that the guns will shoot well. They specialized in double rifles, rifle/shotguns, drillings, and hammerless guns. They had a large stock of other items. I look forward to seeing the other photos.

Mike

[algmule]

Hello

Bill,
the following is only partly related but it’s the only thing I’ve got on a Hofbüchsenmacher Ulbricht in Dresden. In a Karl Cutic, Büchsenmacher, ad from 1906 Cutic claims to have partly learned his trade at the establishment of herr Ulbricht, königlich Hofbüchsenmacher, Dresden.

Other than the above I have a Josef Ulbricht, Gewehrfabrikant, St. Georgenthal, Nordböhmen, not a million miles from Dresden so he may be someone related to G. Ulbricht.

Also: Karl Cutic took over the establishment of kaiserlich und königlich Hofbüchsenmacher Johann Erhart, Marburg.

Kind regards
Peter

[Axel E]

The shop of Gustav Richard Ulbricht, Kasernenstr. 23, Dresden, was first mentioned in 1885 and existed until WW2. Ulbricht held the appointment "Kgl. Hofbüchsenmacher" = gunmaker to the royal (Saxonian) court. Though all courts were abolished in Germany November 1918, such titles were used for advertising up into the 1930s, some in Austria even now. So it does not help to date the rifle, pre- or post-WW1. We need to know the proofmarks under barrel to date it, at least approximately.
The rifle seems to be refinised quite recently. The "jewelled" treatment of the bolt body was not used in Germany before WW2 and the bluing is too complete for a rifle 80 – 110 years old. The white line, ventilated recoil pad is not older than the 1960s.

[baugust]

Thanks for all your feedback. I must say I am proud to me a member here...Just being in the presence of such knowledgeable people is indeed a great honor and privilege for me. As soon as I am in possession of my rifle there will definitely be more meaningful pics posted. Thank you