Original Item: Only one Available. This is a very nice service used 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, Thuringia, in 1890, and then saw long service, as indicated by the overall condition the gun, along with TWO crossed out regimental markings on the barrel bands. The stock has definitely been arsenal reconditioned, which has made some of the markings faint. It 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!

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 has 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 has the "S", however, 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. The channels for the en-bloc clip are definitely still present inside the receiver, and it has a functional clip release, with no installed floor plate. 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 1896 / e on the barrel, receiver, bolt body, and magazine housing, with shortened number 96 present on some of the smaller components. The nose cap has definitely been swapped out, and the front sight blade and bolt head / ejector are not present on this rifle either. Most likely it was at arsenal, and since it was not converted to use stripper clips, parts were cannibalized to complete 88/05 S rifles that needed components. Over the chamber it is clearly marked (CROWN) / ERFURT. / 1890., for manufacture at the Imperial arsenal in Erfurt. As mentioned previously there are no Turkish markings indicating that it was shipped overseas during WWI for aid.

The rifle is in good condition overall, with the metal finish worn overall, though we can still see that the receiver was originally bright steel, while the barrel jacket is blued, and still retains the finish quite well. There is just a bit of past peppering in areas, but no major oxidation such as pitting. The rifle cycles correctly with a crisp dry fire, though as noted previously the bolt head is missing, along with the ejector, and it also looks like the firing pin was broken off. We checked the safety and it is fully functional, preventing firing and opening when moved to the right. The bore is in very good condition, showing a bright finish with clear lands and grooves. There is some wear to the lands, but no signs of past oxidation or fouling.

The front sling swivel is still present, and the rear sling clip is present as well, without any swivel or attachment installed. The front sight is missing the blade, and the rear sight is present, however the rear sight spring was removed, so it does not "snap" into place in either position. The bayonet lug is still present, however the cleaning rod is missing. The stock is in very good shape, but has definitely been worn down from cleaning and service, so the stock inspection cartouches on the right butt stock are only "ghosts". There are some significant chunks missing on the right side, and overall scratching, so this definitely saw a long service life.

An absolutely genuine GERMAN contract M-1888 Service Rifle in very nice 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: 1890
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.

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.