13.2x92mmSR. 38.7" barrel. SN: 4742. Blued metal finish with walnut stock featuring spliced and reinforced toe, freestanding pistol grip, and bipod mount to forward forend. Bolt action single shot anti-materiel rifle mounting adjustable tangent rear notch and front blade sights graduated from 100 to 500 meters. Receiver shows MAUSER banner marking to the top with inspection marks to the right side featuring {Crown/RC} and {Crown/Gothic K} and {Crown/Gothic C} inspections. Barrel shank has a bore gauge marking of 13,01, the {Imperial German Eagle} on the left side and three {Crown/Gothic K} stamps. Similar marks on bolt handle. Stock shows {Crown/ Gothic W} and two {Crown/Gothic K} marks to toe. Serial numbers match where observed but the safety flag is not marked, and the rifle is missing the rear sight flat spring. Rifle comes with an unsecured rest in place of original bipod, and two deactivated cartridges dated November, 1918.

In the midst of World War I's grim showcase of human ingenuity, a host of new weapons were developed to counter new and unprecedented threats on the battlefield. The tank proved one of the more troublesome weapons to counter because, while conventional artillery could neutralize these early armored vehicles, such weapons had to be close enough to use direct fire against a moving target. Moreover, tanks could maneuver more quickly in field conditions than artillery pieces, allowing them to engage the more lightly defended portions of a line. Consequently, Germany sought out a new weapon that could maneuver with the infantry and engage tanks wherever they made an appearance. What resulted is essentially a drastically enlarged Mauser action chambered in the 13.2mm TuF (Tank und Flieger) cartridge, which was capable of penetrating newer armored vehicles that conventional armor piercing bullets could not. The rifle was rushed into production in early 1918, with just under 15,000 completed by the Armistice that November. The Mauser Tankgewehr, or T-Gewehr was studied extensively after the end of World War I, and served as the basis for post-war developments. {C&R}

Fair. Bore is Dark with patina throughout, some pitting, and strong rifling. Trigger nonfunctional with broken spring requires repair. Rear sight missing flat spring and has a damaged cross pin requiring repair. Missing crosspin for barrel band and extractor. Metal finish is a mottled brown patina overall with some pitting at rear barrel, on barrel band, and on the receiver. Further pitting on the rear sight. Stock has handling wear and dents overall with signs of sanding weakening original markings. Stock splice seam is separating. Deactivated cartridges with some patina overall. Primers and powder removed.