{"product_id":"original-german-pre-wwi-gewehr-1888-s-commission-rifle-by-erfurt-arsenal-dated-1891-matching-serial-3127","title":"Original German Pre-WWI Gewehr 1888 S Commission Rifle by Erfurt Arsenal dated 1891 - matching serial 3127","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOriginal Item: Only one Available. This is a good example of the iconic German Gewehr 1888 \"Commission Rifle\", also known as the Gewehr 88, or GEW 88. It was manufactured at the Erfurt Imperial Arsenal, located in Erfurt, Thurigina, and then and then saw light service, so it still has all the original parts it was issued with.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese rifles were originally chambered for 7.92mm \u003cstrong\u003ePatrone 88\u003c\/strong\u003e ammunition and had a fixed magazine. Virtually all Gewehr 88 rifles in service were converted to take the 7.92×57mm Mauser S Patrone, and had an \u003cstrong\u003eS\u003c\/strong\u003e stamped above the chamber, indicating the conversion. This rifle has the \"S\", but not the notch at the front of the receiver, and it has no 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe right side of the receiver is marked \u003cstrong\u003eGew. 88.\u003c\/strong\u003e in German blackface type and also has serial numbers\u003cstrong\u003e 3127 \/ y\u003c\/strong\u003e on the barrel, trigger guard, bolt, and receiver. Other components bear shortened serial number 27, making this rifle an \"all-matching\" example. Over the chamber it is marked \u003cstrong\u003e(CROWN) \/ ERFURT \/ 1891\u003c\/strong\u003e, indicating production at the Imperial Erfurt Arsenal in Thuringia in 1891.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRifle is in very good used condition, with a solid stock and metalwork. It still retains the rare \"double slot\" cleaning rod, which is in good shape. The metalwork overall has a worn gray patina with light peppering, from decades of storage. Also, the upper barrel band cross bolt is missing, but could easily be replaced. The stock does not have any repairs or major damage, and has a great color with intact proof marks, including \u003cstrong\u003e(CROWN) \/ W\u003c\/strong\u003e for Kaiser Wilhelm II. It does have small dents, scratches, and blemishes from long storage as well. The bore has a bright finish with clear lands and grooves, which we would rate very good to excellent.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAn absolutely genuine GERMAN contract M-1888 Service Rifle, issued to a German Infantry Regiment. 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!\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHistory of the Gewehr 88\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eField 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePrussian Government Arsenals: 750,000\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAmberg: 425,000\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLoewe: 425,000\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSteyr: 300,000\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHaenel: 100,000\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTotal: 1,675,000\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecifications-\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eYear of Manufacture: 1891\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCaliber: 7.92×57mm Mauser S Patrone\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCartridge Type: Centerfire Cartridge\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBarrel Length: 29 Inches\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOverall Length: 49 Inches\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAction type: Bolt-Action\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFeed System: 5 round internal magazine\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":31218716573765,"sku":"ON10849","price":895.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/products\/ON10849__03.jpg?v=1595151310","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-german-pre-wwi-gewehr-1888-s-commission-rifle-by-erfurt-arsenal-dated-1891-matching-serial-3127","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}