Original Item: Only one Available. This is a nice "salty" service used example of the iconic German Gewehr 1888 "Commission Rifle", also known as the Gewehr 88, or GEW 88. It was manufactured during 1894 by the famed Steyr Mannlicher firearms division of Österreichische Waffenfabriksgesellschaft (ŒWG, Austrian Arms-Manufacturing Company) in Austria. The rifle then saw long service, as indicated by the large number of different markings on the gun. The gun has definitely been arsenal re-worked, which has made some of the markings faint. It also does not have any export markings from Turkey or other countries, so this was never shipped off as WWI aid. We very rarely see these rifles in this configuration!

The nose band of the rifle is marked with the regimental designation 145. R. 8. 180., which would indicate that it was issued to the 145th (6th Lotharingian) King's Infantry Regiment. This unit was first raised 28 July 1890 and garrisoned in Metz, part of the Territory of Alsace-Lorraine, which had been Part of France until the Franco-Prussian War. It would later be returned to France. The rest of the designation indicates it is for the 8th Squadron, Weapon 180.

These rifles were originally chambered for 7.92mm Patrone 88 ammunition and had a fixed magazine. As with virtually all Gewehr 88 rifles in service, this example was converted to take the 7.92×57mm Mauser S Patrone, and would have an "S" stamped above the chamber, indicating the conversion. The Spitzer-shaped S Cartridge was ballistically superior to the M/88, however the chamber required modification to accept the thicker walled shell casing. This rifle is not marked with an "S", so it it is possible that it was converted for the "S" Patrone, and unmarked, but we have no way to verify this. More importantly, it does not have the notch at the front of the receiver or GEW 98 stripper clip guides, so it was not converted after 1905 for the clips. The design of the clips necessitated making a notch in the front receiver, so the cartridge tips would clear it. That makes this a very rare example that was not converted for later WWI use! 

The right side of the receiver is marked Gew. 88. in German blackface type and also has serial number 8154 / d on the barrel and receiver, which is also marked on the trigger guard/ magazine housing, the trigger guard screws. The bolt appears to be from a different rifle. Over the chamber it is marked  Œ / WG / STEYR / 1894, for manufacture by Steyr in Austria. As mentioned previously there are no Turkish markings indicating that it was shipped overseas during WWI for aid.

The rifle is in rough condition overall, with very heavy wear and dried grease in the receiver, making it very difficult to cycle the bolt. This could definitely be fixed with some cleaning and TLC. The does cycles and dry fire with some effort, and the firing pin is fully intact, as is the often lost cartridge ejector on the bolt face, as well as the extractor. We checked the safety and it is fully functional, but it requires a good amount of force to move. The sling swivels are still present, and there is no duffel cut. Both sights are intact and the bayonet lug is still retained, however the double slot cleaning rod is unfortunately missing. The stock has a heavy amount of denting, scuffing, and scratches. The original German proofs are visible in many areas. There is some oxidation in certain spots. It does have wear on the bolt bearing surfaces, and the bore is very dark, with the lands and grooves only visible with a bore light. This rifle had a very long service life. 

An absolutely genuine GERMAN contract M-1888 Service Rifle in fair condition. Almost all of these were later updated to the 88/05 S standard, so finding one that was not updated or shipped to Turkey as aid is very rare. Fully cleaned and ready to display.

Specifications-

Year of Manufacture: 1894
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

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.

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