These conversions were performed with a variety of available parts. The top rifle in this photo was altered using a short, export pattern bayonet bar, while the bottom example has been put together with standard Gew 98 parts, complete with parade hook and a regulation length bayonet bar. The H band on the top example has been pinned in place while the bottom rifle has the Mauser H band held in place with a screw mounted through the stock.

In addition to the use of pins and screws, several examples of the Gew 98 converted Three-line rifles have turned up with the H band held in place by a traditional band spring as shown in this photo.

Here is a close up of one of these rifles with the export type short bayonet bar. This type of bayonet lug will only function with the 88/98 ersatz bayonets or with commandeered Mauser export bayonets, which were produced primarily for the South American market. These bayonets have full muzzle rings, the shortened bayonet lug not providing enough bearing surface to support the standard issue German bayonets of the period.

This photo shows two S88/98 ersatz bayonets, one of which has the partial muzzle ring closed, while the other has been left open. With the muzzle ring “ears” open, this bayonet will fit both the Gew 88 and the Gew 98. If the “ears” are closed, the bayonet will no longer fit the Gew 98, since the split ears were designed to slide down either side of the front sight base of the 98. These bayonets turn up with the “ears” in various alignments, some of which have been obviously closed for a tighter fit to a particular rifle they were issued with.

This shot shows the same two bayonets mounted on two of the Gew 98 converted Three-line rifles.

Here is another view, shot from the top of the rifle muzzles.

The “ears” on the cast gripped ersatz pattern bayonets could not be adjusted to fit the particular rifle. This muzzle view of both a cast steel and a cast brass bayonet mounted on two converted Three-line rifles show how the “ears” fit snug against the sides of the front sight base on the Gew 98 converted rifle (left), while the bayonet on the right is mounted on a tubular adapter. In the case of the tubular adapter, the cast “ears” bottom out on the muzzle step in the adapter.

While some of these unusual rifles bear both Austro-Hungarian as well as German markings, several of them are marked with “Deutches Reich” cartouches. One example is German unit marked to the 4 th Fusilier Regiment on the buttplate tang.

Rarer still, is another example of the captured Russian rifles, which was issued to the German U-boat, U 73. At the beginning of the war, each U-boat carried two Maxim machine guns for use by landing parties and for shooting and detonating floating mines. In 1915, when material shortages of every type were beginning to appear, the Maxims were recalled for issue to the army and in their place, each U-boat was issued two captured M91 Three-line rifles. The “U 73” marking was stamped into the stock just below the trigger guard.

A lesser-known conversion practice, which has not to date been published, incorporates the addition of a bayonet lug welded to the original Russian nosecap. The nosecap was then relocated farther down the barrel to allow the proper alignment to side mount a bayonet with a muzzle ring. All of these rifles are currently in the collection of the Belgian Royal Army Museum. They were abandoned by German troops when they withdrew from Belgium towards the end of the war. The Brussels garrison was known to have been issued captured Russian rifles.

Here is a close up view of one of the more unusual alterations. The bayonet lug which has been welded to the side of the nosecap on this particular rifle has two locking notches, one for the standard issue German Mauser bayonets and a second notch, which will accommodate any of the short slot, export bayonets. The typical 88/98 ersatz bayonet, would engage the second notch on this particular conversion.

This close up shows a standard lug with a single notch. Due to the inherent lack of strength in this particular conversion design, it is believed, but not confirmed that this design was intended specifically for issue with the unusual ersatz bayonet made exclusively for use with captured Three-Line rifles. Carter, in his great work on German bayonets, has catalogued this bayonet as EB20. Carter has incorrectly identified this as being issued with Three-Line rifles fitted with the tubular adapter.

This conversion lacks any notch at all. Perhaps the length of the lug is such that the bayonet locks against the very back of the lug.

This photo shows one of these unusual conversions next to the more easily recognized tubular adapters.

Here is a photo of the of the EB20 bayonet, which was produced for issue specifically with this type of conversion. Note the notch cut out of the top of the tubular section of the muzzle ring. The notch engages the front facing of the front sight base. The full tubular ring added badly needed additional strength to the lock up on these otherwise weak conversions. Had Carter ever attempted to mount this bayonet on a rifle converted with a tubular adapter, he would have discovered his mistake. Were this for issue with a tubular adapter, there would be no need for a sight base notch, since the front sight base in completely encompassed by the body of the adapter.

This Bulgarian captured Three-Line rifle has had a very crude rampant lion peened and “carved” into the top of the receiver.

This Turkish captured and reissued Three-Line rifle has Turkish Arabic (Farsi) range markings added to the base of the rear sight. The same rifle also has capture markings added to the top of the barrel.

This most unusual alteration utilizes the top barrel band of a Gew 88 to allow the use of the 88 pattern bayonets to be side mounted on the rifle.

To build up the stock adequately to allow for a tight fit of the barrel band, the stock has been built up with sheet metal. The sheet metal is held in place with small screws and nails.

I don't have any idea where this rifle was converted. It turned up several years ago when the large shipments of Mosin-Nagants were imported from Romania and Bulgaria. I believe it to be a WWI period conversion. I do not believe this to be German as the quality of emergency work at German depots was far superior to this effort. It is most likely a field conversion produced in one of the Balkan countries.

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