Item:
ONSV22KJM51

Original Imperial German Mauser Model 1871/84 Magazine Service Rifle by Spandau Dated 1888 - Matching Serial 8470

Item Description

Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very nice service used example of the Mauser Model 1871/84 rifle, the first Magazine rifle widely used by the German Empire. The rifle is covered with Imperial German inspection and acceptance markings. The serial number 8470 or shortened number 70 appear on almost every component of the rifle, making this a very nice "ALL MATCHING" example!

The receiver is dated 1888. on the right and marked I. G. Mod. 71/84. on the opposite side in "Black Letter" typeface. The rifle is complete with all major parts intact and functional, and some of the original finish. The receiver is bright steel, while the barrel and other fittings are a nice faded blued finish, with some wear on the fittings. The receiver and bolt definitely show signs of past oxidation and cleaning, and have a somewhat "matte" finish now. Overall it has the look of a typical service used gun that was well cared for.

The butt plate tang bears a faint regimental designation, 6. R. J. 1. 15., for the 6th Reserve Infantry Regiment, indicated by the stylized "R" for reserve units. Rifles like these were often reissued to rear echelon units, so it is possible that it was returned to service for WWI.

The top of the chamber is marked Crown over SPANDAU, for the Prussian (and later Imperial) Spandau arsenal in Berlin, a storied production plant that would produce weapons up until 1919, including the famous MG08 Maxim. Below this is the Crown over FW proof for Kaiser Wilhelm I, who used this cypher during his reign 1861-1888.

The bore is in very good condition, with a bright finish and clear lands and grooves. There is just a bit of fouling and oxidation in areas, but nothing major. The stock has the expected wear and small dents from long service, and looks to have been arsenal reconditioned at some point, which has made the original inspection cartouches faint. There are some other numbers stamped into the stock as well,

This gun is most likely a WW1 Veteran's "bring back" souvenir. Great quantities of these 71/84 Rifles were pressed into service in WW1 since great piles of them had been put into storage in 1888 with the introduction of the M-1888 7.92mm German Commission Rifle. The action works well, however the magazine feed system is quite stiff. It works much more smoothly with the magazine cutoff engaged.

This is a chance to add a very nice Mauser rifle to your collection. Ready to display!

Specifications:-

Year of Manufacture: 1888
Caliber: 11x60mmR Mauser
Cartridge Type: Centerfire Cartridge
Barrel Length: 32 inches
Overall Length: 51 Inches
Action type: Bolt-Action
Feed System: 8 Round Tubular Magazine

Originally adopted as the Gewehr 71 or Infanterie-Gewehr 71, or "Infantry Rifle 71 ("I.G.Mod.71" was stamped on the rifles themselves) this was the first rifle model in a distinguished line designed and manufactured by Paul Mauser and Wilhelm Mauser of the Mauser company, and later mass-produced at Spandau arsenal.

Paul Mauser developed his bolt-action rifle from 1866 to 1871. During 1870-71 trials with many different rifles took place, with the "M1869 Bavarian Werder" being the Mausers' chief competitor. The Mauser was provisionally adopted on 2 December 1871, pending the development of an appropriate safety. With support from the government's Spandau arsenal, the improvements to the safety mechanism were completed and the rifle was formally accepted on 14 February 1872 as Infantry Rifle Model 1871 by the German Empire excluding Bavaria. The action was not based on its predecessor, the Dreyse needle gun which had seen service during the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71, and which was found to have a number of weaknesses.

The now well known Mauser "wing" type safety lever was developed for the Gewehr 71. The Gewehr 71 is a conventional looking bolt action chambered in 11mm using black powder cartridges. The action included only a bolt guide rib as its single locking lug, locking forward of the receiving bridge. The original design was a single-shot. The design was updated in 1884 with an 8-round tubular magazine designed by Alfred von Kropatschek, making this Germany's first repeating rifle. This version was designated the Gewehr 1871/84. A version of this repeater was adopted by the Ottoman Empire. Designated the M1887, it differentiated from the M71/84 in that it had a side mounted cleaning rod, a second locking lug on the rear of the bolt, and it was in caliber 9.5×60mmR, which Paul Mauser touted as the most efficient (black powder) cartridge. In the early 20th century a few were converted to 7.65×53mm smokeless by the arsenal in Ankara.

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