This last week I was able to return to the restoration of my second 7,7cm lFK 1896 n/A.The main problem with this gun has been that the trail was cut off and disposed of by the former owner.I have reproduced a new rear trail, spade, and pointing lever mount for the gun.The elevation gear has been rebuilt; the traversing gear has been cleaned and set back into the gun.The leather back rest have been riveted to the shield.The recoil cradle has been set back onto the carriage.A new set of correct wheels, hubs and hub pins has been added.
The next big push will be to slide the barrel, and hydro-spring recoil mechanism back onto the recoil cradle.I have a machine shop manufacturing the replacement breech parts for this piece as well as two additional 7,7cm guns I have.
Of what was remaining of this gun, the parts were in fairly good condition.The big problem was missing parts.Fortunately, I have a second 7,7cm lFK 96 that is very complete.I have been able to use these parts as patterns.
This is the link for the recent work on the 7,7cm lFK 1896 n/A dated 1917:
The 1917 dated gun must be one of the last of the FK 96 n.A production.
Not all the FK 96s had the Prussian cipher plus the Kaiser's cipher on the barrel - there are examples around with the ciphers of the other German states as
well as examples with just the Kaiser's cipher.
A lot of the FK 96s seem to have been rebarrelled and remanufactured a number of times during their careers - there is an FK 96 at Boonah, Qld with a 1915
carriage, an 1896/1906 stamped breech and a barrel with the centre of the Kaiser's cipher machined off. (http://ammsbrisbane/home.html?L0=7&L1=1&L2=9).
I recently aquired an 1896na, which needs restoration. I have been trying to find a maintnance manual, as well as details of. The firing mechanism in the breech block. Any help would be greatly apprecated.... Lou