Original Item: Only One Available. This is a particularly interesting German Gewehr 88/05 S Commission Rifle originally manufactured at Spandau Arsenal in 1890, subsequently modernized to the 88/05 configuration, and later transferred into Ottoman Turkish service. Serial number 9161 v remains on the receiver, while the rifle shows the mismatched and renumbered components expected of an arm that underwent extensive arsenal rebuilding during its long military career. Especially appealing are the original German regimental markings, Ottoman crescent markings, rear sight renumbered in Eastern Arabic numerals, scarce double slot cleaning rod, and an unusually attractive flame figured stock with pronounced chatoyancy.

The Gewehr 88 was adopted by Imperial Germany following developments in small bore smokeless powder military ammunition during the late 1880s. Because the rifle was designed by a government commission rather than a single commercial firm, it became widely known as the "Commission Rifle." Its action combined features from several contemporary European designs and originally used an en bloc packet loading system in which the loaded clip passed through the magazine and eventually fell from an opening in its underside.

This example was manufactured at the Imperial Arsenal at Spandau, outside Berlin. The receiver ring is clearly marked:

(CROWN)
SPANDAU
1890

The right side of the receiver is marked in German blackletter:

Gew. 88.

and the receiver carries serial number:

9161 / v

The barrel jacket is numbered:

7871 / w

but has subsequently been restamped:

9161

to correspond with the receiver. The trigger guard and various smaller components also carry nonmatching numbers. This mixture of numbers and the renumbered jacket are strong evidence that the rifle underwent arsenal level rebuilding during its military career rather than remaining in its original 1890 assemblage.

The rifle was originally designed for the 7.9mm Patrone 88 cartridge and used the original en bloc loading system. It was later modified for the German S Patrone, introduced with a larger diameter pointed or Spitzer projectile. The receiver is appropriately stamped:

S

above the chamber, indicating the chamber and throat were altered for the later ammunition specification.

The rifle was subsequently subjected to the more extensive Model 88/05 modernization. Charger guides were added to the rear receiver bridge so that ammunition could be loaded from the later five round stripper clip, while feed components were added inside the receiver and the obsolete opening in the bottom of the magazine was covered. The rear of the receiver ring was also relieved to provide clearance during charger loading. These features identify the rifle as a true Gewehr 88/05 S configuration.

The magazine floor cover is dated:

1914

This date is an interesting component marking, but it should not necessarily be interpreted as the precise date when the entire rifle underwent its 88/05 conversion. Replacement and conversion parts could be installed during later arsenal rebuilding.

The rifle also retains two German unit markings from its earlier service. The nose cap is marked:

B. R. E. 2. 55.

while the left side of the receiver bears:

21. R. 4. 228.

Both appear to follow Imperial German regimental or replacement unit marking conventions, but we have not established their complete interpretation with enough confidence to assign this rifle to specific units. The presence of more than one marking does, however, further support a lengthy German service history before the rifle passed into Ottoman hands.

Its subsequent Ottoman Turkish service is clearly indicated by several surviving markings. A:

CRESCENT MOON

is stamped above the original Spandau crown on the receiver. The bolt handle bears a:

CRESCENT MOON AND STAR

with additional crescent markings appearing on other components.

The rear sight ladder has also been completely renumbered in Eastern Arabic numerals. Gewehr 88/05 rifles transferred to the Ottoman Empire are well documented with this treatment, and many German rifles sent as military assistance during the First World War had their sight graduations altered for Ottoman use.

Germany supplied substantial numbers of Gewehr 88 and particularly 88/05 rifles to its Ottoman ally during the First World War. The combination of Turkish crescent markings and the Eastern Arabic sight graduations makes Ottoman military service on this example well supported, although we have no surviving records identifying the specific unit, theater, or battles in which serial number 9161 v may have served.

The stock is in very good service used condition and is one of the most visually attractive features of the rifle. It appears to have been arsenal reconditioned at some point, which has softened many of the original stock inspection markings. The wood nevertheless displays particularly attractive flame figure with a high degree of chatoyancy, giving it considerably more character than the plain military stocks normally encountered.

After refurbishment the rifle clearly returned to service, and the stock displays the expected dents, dings, scratches, and handling wear. We do not see major cracks or significant structural repairs.

The original front sling swivel remains present. A swivel has also been fitted to the rear attachment point, allowing the rifle to accept a conventional sling.

The exterior metalwork has developed an appealing matured patina from long service, oxidation, and subsequent cleaning. We cannot determine with certainty how much of the remaining finish is original and how much may date from one of the rifle's arsenal refurbishments.

The bore is in very good condition, retaining a bright interior with clearly defined lands and grooves. There is some rounding to the lands from use but no major fouling or other significant interior issue observed.

The uncommon double slot cleaning rod remains present beneath the barrel. The bolt extractor is also still present, an important small component that is frequently lost when Gewehr 88 bolts are disassembled. The firing pin remains installed.

The bolt cycles smoothly during manual inspection and the safety operates correctly. We have not tested the rifle with cartridges and therefore cannot verify magazine feeding or operation under ammunition. These observations describe only its present mechanical condition and should not be interpreted as confirmation that the rifle is safe to load or fire.

The rear sight remains present and functions correctly.

With its 1890 Spandau manufacture, true 88/05 S charger conversion, receiver serial number 9161 v, multiple German service markings, Ottoman crescent and star stamps, Eastern Arabic sight graduations, figured arsenal reconditioned stock, scarce double slot cleaning rod, and very good bore, this is a particularly evocative Gewehr 88 with evidence of service under two empires. Its mismatched and renumbered components are entirely in keeping with the extensive rebuilding these rifles underwent during their long military careers and add considerably to its historical story. It would be an excellent addition to an Imperial German arms collection, an Ottoman or Turkish military display, or a First World War collection illustrating the transfer and continued use of German rifles by the Central Powers.

Specifications-

Year of Manufacture: 1890
Maker: Spandau Arsenal
Model: Gewehr 88/05 S
Caliber: 7.92×57mm Mauser
Cartridge Type: Centerfire Cartridge
Barrel Length: 29 inches
Overall Length: 49 Inches
Action type: Bolt-Action
Feed System: 5 round internal magazine
Federal Classification: Pre-1899 Antique

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.