State-of-the-art c. 1915.
Another interesting rifle examined by ForgottenWeapons.com — a Gewehr 98 sniper rifle with a 3x scope.
In the midst of a massive industrial slaughter, there was another Frontier Partisan-style conflict of raid-and-riflery going on in the trenches of the Western Front. The finest practitioners of this form of warfare, predictably enough, were hunters — German foresters, Scottish deerstalkers, Canadian frontiersmen, including a large number of Indians.
The Germans had an early sniping edge, due in large part to their superior optics industry. Shooting with telescopic sights was much more common in Germany and Central Europe than it was in Britain and the Commonwealth. And the Germans built state-of-the-art optics. The British sniper scopes were bizarre prismatic contraptions, boxy and unwieldy and — worst of all — offset from the bore. German Mausers were equipped with over-bore scopes, though, as in the one described in the video, the mounts were sometimes offset to allow use of the iron sights.
The Ross with a prismatic scope. Gimme a Mauser fer cryin’ out loud!
(Given that my tastes run to Nightforce and my budget runs to maybe a Redfield Revolution, it is gratifying to be reminded that even the most basic “value scope” of today is far superior to that which those remarkable battlefield hunters used).
Note that the high mount of the scope forces the rifleman to hold his head up and make contact with the side of his chin instead of attaining the “cheek-weld” considered vital to precision shooting today. The equipment is primitive by century-on standards, but the snipers of the Great War got the job done. BTW, this is a posed shot for home front consumption. Nobody stuck their head up over the trench parapets like this — they built very clever hides.
••••
All of which reminds me that I have never posted on the novel “Three Day Road,” by Joseph Boyden. This dark, compelling novel follows two Ojibway-Cree snipers — Xavier and Elijah — as they fight in the trenches in France and Belgium. I am reminded because Xavier prefers to use a captured Mauser sniper rifle rather than the Canadians’ Lee-Enfield or Ross rifles. It is an object of great power. And, well, wouldn’t you?
The novel is told in first-person narration that alternates POV between Xavier and his aunt Niska, out in the Canadian bush. It is a grim and harrowing tale, as cold as the north country from which the young hunters hail. And superb.
The novel is inspired in large part by the great warrior Francis Pegahmagabow, who is honored as the top gun of World War I with (at least) 378 kills. Yes, honored. The Great War was an especially insane conflict, and especially horrific — but tactical prowess and skill at arms are to be admired and honored, regardless. Always.
Keith West says
I completely agree with your closing thought.
I’ll try to work Three Day Road into the TBR pile at some point. Maybe after I retire. Before I die.
JimC says
I realize we’re all loading piles of rocks into each others’ wheelbarrows — but ain’t it fun?
Keith West says
Of course it’s fun. That’s a large part of why we do it.
Craig Rullman says
Leupold 4.5 x14x 40 with TMR illuminated reticle. All ye needs, and all ye shall ever need.
JimC says
I am certain you are correct. For some reason, the hierarchy of needs keeps rearing its ugly head.
This is what I need.
The Ministry of Finance defines this as “want” or “dream.” The Ministry of College Education says, “Yeah, right…”
Rendering this or an equivalent the current viable option… A Bi-Mart rifle. Sigh…
Nick S. says
Added to the list, Ye Gods is it getting long! At least I’ll be busy when I’m old(er) and (more) crippled up!
deuce says
“The Great War was an especially insane conflict, and especially horrific — but tactical prowess and skill at arms are to be admired and honored, regardless. Always.”
Always.
Greg Marshall says
Just visited the Te Papa Museum in Wellington NZ, where there is a fabulous and heart-wrenching exhibit on New Zealand’s disastrous participation in the Gallipoli campaign.
One of the panels dealt with a Maori sniping team who were quite successful using a nautical type spotter’s scope and an iron-sighted .303, an earlier model SMLE, I think.
They didn’t make it home, like many in the ANZAC.
JimC says
What a horror show that was. The sniping was at close range with irons. Billy Sing of Australia racked up a record there.
Greg Marshall says
So, I downloaded and read the book this last week. 1) It was a great read, 2) Anyone who romanticizes WWI is deranged, 3) Our country treated, and continues to treat our First Nations shabbily, and 4) I have been an idiot for dismissing CanLit.
I am glad after reading this I could arise in the morning with my beloved wife of 48 years and walk a beach in the sunny Coromandel to rid myself of the spirit of the windigo.
Thx for the suggestion.
JimC says
Powerful stuff ain’t it?