Original Item: Only One Available. Adopted in 1888 the new German Infantry round in 7.92 X 57mm replaced the old 10.4mm large bore cartridge adopted in 1871. The M-1888 Rifle was referred to as the "Commission Rifle" and was manufactured as a full Infantry Rifle (Gewehr 88) and a Cavalry Carbine (Karabiner 88) starting in 1888. In 1891 Artillery Carbine was adopted called the Gewehr 91, and it was identical to the Cavalry carbine, except it had a stacking hook below the nose cap.

The gun was adopted for Prussia, Saxony and Wurttemberg on 25 March, 1891. They were produced between 1891 - 1896 by private contractors, mainly C.G. Haenel or V.C. Schilling, and the Erfurt Arsenal. Those manufactured or rebarreled post 1896 were Z modified (deepened rifle grooves), and most were "S" modified (like this one) between 1903 - 1905. The Gew 91 were replaced by the Karbiner 98 AZ between 1909 - 1910, and were stored away for the Reserves & Landwehr, then in turn for the Landstrum. They again were re-issued in 1914 after the war began. The rifle was carried throughout WW1, there are many known 1918 dated photographs showing it was still in use with the artillery at the end of the war.

Our example is of the Artillery Carbine Gewehr 91, however this example has had the stock replaced and also had some modifications made to the other components. It was VERY well done however, and the stock has a lovely "pistol grip" as well as checkering on the wrist and fore stock. It does look like the stock was made from multiple pieces of wood, probably adapted from other stocks and re-shaped. The "ears" on the nose cap were removed, and a new front sight installed. It also has two threaded holes in the left side of the receiver, almost certainly for the attachment of a scope or scope mount, now removed. Definitely a carbine with an extensive history!

The receiver is marked over the chamber with (CROWN) / ERFURT. / 1892., for 1892 manufacture at the Imperial Erfurt Arsenal, located in Thuringia. The right side of the receiver is marked with Gew. 91. in German blackface type, and there are additional proof marks on various components of the carbine. The barrel and receiver of the are marked with serial number 5543 / a, which is also present on the main body of the bolt, while the safety, firing pin holder are marked with shortened number 43. The magazine well is also marked with 5543, and the nose cap is marked with 43, which makes this a great "ALL MATCHING" example, in spite of the stock being entirely replaced.

The carbine has an 18" barrel, which has a very good bore, showing a bright finish with clear lands and grooves. There is a bit of light overall wear, but it was definitely very well cared for. The rifle cycles well, with a crisp dry fire, though we have no way of knowing if the magazine feeds correctly. It still has an intact firing pin, and the often lost ejector is still present. The 'wing' safety on the bolt is also fully functional. It bears an S marked over the chamber to indicate modification for the S-PATRONE cartridge introduced in 1903 (we do not recommend firing the S-cartridge in this carbine).

The metalwork on the carbine is in very good shape having had some parts completely reblued when it was turned into a sporter. This has made some of the markings a bit faint, but really has given it a great look. The barrel jacket does show some wear to the finish and light dents. The stock is lovely, showing only light use since it was assembled, and it is fitted with a very nice hard rubber butt pad.

In 1891 this was cutting edge technology as the Gewehr 1888 Mauser rifles and carbines were the first to use the 7.92mm cartridge that replaced the 10.4mm used in the Mauser 1871/84 tubular magazine rifles.

This little carbine used an integral 5 shot box magazine and was extremely popular. It was superceded in 1898 with the introduction of the Gew 98 rifle also in an updated version of the same caliber and many 88s were updated and then marked with a small "S" on the receiver ring to indicate it could be used with the upgraded ammunition.

Both the Mauser Model 88 and 98 rifles and carbines saw extensive use in WWI. During the Great War cavalry was quickly becoming a thing of the past once trench warfare was introduced. By WW2 the Germans had adopted the Mauser 98K Rifle, again in the improved 7.92mm caliber, this rifle was shorter than the Gew 98, longer than the carbine, and became the standard.

A very rare 1892 dated Mauser Gew. 91 Artillery Carbine, Sporterized post war and only 38" in overall length. Federally classified as an antique due to its pre-1899 manufacture date. Ready to research and display!

Specifications:-

Year of Manufacture: 1892
Caliber: 7.92×57mm Mauser S Patrone
Cartridge Type: Centerfire Cartridge
Barrel Length: 18 Inches
Overall Length: 38 Inches
Action type: Bolt-Action
Feed System: 5 round internal magazine

History of the Gewehr 88

In 1886, the French Army unveiled the Modelle 1886 "Lebel" rifle. There was an immediate reaction in German military circles bordering on hysteria. Why? Because the Lebel was the world's first small bore military rifle using an efficient smokeless powder cartridge. Now, the Lebel, which used a tubular magazine located under the barrel was not a particularly noteworthy design, but the power and flat trajectory of the new French 8mm round far outclassed the 11mm Reichspatrone black powder round used in the contemporary German infantry rifle, the Mauser 71/84.

In this rather charged atmosphere, the German Gewehr Prfungs Kommission (GPK - Rifle Testing Commission) went to work. Initially, the idea was to revise the Mauser Gewehr 71/84 to use a small caliber smokeless powder round based on the old 11mm black powder Reichspatrone. To this extent, production machinery was ordered from the Ludwig Loewe Company of Berlin-Charlottenburg in December, 1887. As things progressed, the GPK became disillusioned with this technical approach, and so a rather strange hybrid of ideas took shape.

The bolt design was highly revised by a Spandau Arsenal technician named Louis Schlegelmilch and features a separate bolt head. The ensuing rifle had a Schlegelmilch/Mauser action, a five shot clip loaded Mannlicher style magazine (note: while the clip falls out as with the Mannlicher clips, this one was markedly improved in that it could be loaded with either end down as opposed to only one end on the true Mannlicher), and a full length barrel jacket designed by Armand Mieg. The pitch and profile of the rifling were copied directly from that of the Lebel. The cartridge chosen was a modified Swiss style rimless design based on the ideas of Eduard Rubin. By March 23, 1888, the Bavarian military observer in Berlin, General von Xylander reported that the development was virtually complete.

Field trials for the new rifle were completed in November, 1888, and the GPK recommended that it be adopted immediately. The adoption orders were signed by Kaiser Wilhelm II on November 12, 1888. Issue of the Gewehr 88 as the new rife was designated, were first made in the spring of 1889 to the XV and XVI Armeekorps stationed in Elsass-Lothringen. Issue to the Bavarian military units began in October 1889, and by August 1890, all Prussian, Saxon, and Wrttemberger line units had been re-equipped.

The Gewehr 88 was made by the three primary Prussian arsenals at Danzig, Erfurt, and Spandau, a smaller Bavarian establishment at Amberg, as well as several private contractors, including the Ludwig Loewe Company, Osterreichische Waffenfabrik Gesellschaft (Steyr), and Haenel. Production figures up to the time production ceased in 1897 are as follows:

Prussian Government Arsenals: 750,000

Amberg: 425,000

Loewe: 425,000

Steyr: 300,000

Haenel: 100,000

Total: 1,675,000

IMA considers all of our antique guns as non-firing, inoperable and/or inert. Title 18, U.S. Code, Section 921(a)(16) defines antique firearms as all guns made prior to 1899. This law exempts antique firearms from any form of gun control or special engineering because they are not legally considered firearms. No FFL, C&R or any license is required to possess, transport, sell or trade Antique guns. All rifles and muskets sold by IMA that were manufactured prior to 1899 are considered Antiques by the US BATF (United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms). Therefore, all of IMA's Antique guns may be shipped to most US States and most U.S. territories.

These antique guns are not sold in "live" condition, and are not tested for the the ability to feed or load any type of cartridge. They are sold as collector's items or as "wall hangers" not for use, and we make no guarantees regarding functionality aside from what is stated in the description. Any attempt at restoring an antique gun to be operational is strongly discouraged and is done so at the risk of the customer. By purchasing an antique gun from IMA you thereby release IMA, its employees and corporate officers from any and all liability associated with use of our Antique guns.

Pre-1899 Manufacture, no licenses required, allowed to ship to most addresses within the United States.