{"product_id":"original-german-pre-wwi-gewehr-88-05-s-commission-rifle-by-danzig-arsenal-1891-dated-serial-no-9549-d-with-turkish-markings","title":"Original German Pre-WWI Gewehr 88\/05 S Commission Rifle by Danzig Arsenal, 1891 Dated, Serial No. 9549 d with Turkish Markings","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal Item: Only One Available. This is an original German Gewehr 1888 Commission Rifle manufactured at the \u003cstrong\u003eImperial Danzig Arsenal\u003c\/strong\u003e in \u003cstrong\u003e1891\u003c\/strong\u003e, later updated to Gewehr 88\/05 S configuration and subsequently marked for Turkish service. Serial number \u003cstrong\u003e9549 d\u003c\/strong\u003e is matching on the receiver and barrel, while the remaining numbered components are mismatched, consistent with a rifle that underwent extensive arsenal service and reconditioning.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is an antique black powder firearm manufactured before 1899. Under federal law, it may generally be owned within the United States without a special license or permit and does not require transfer through a Federal Firearms Licensee. However, state and local laws may vary. This firearm is sold solely as a historical collector’s item and has not been test fired or inspected for firing safety by a professional gunsmith. Any mechanical or bore observations provided below describe only its present condition and should not be interpreted as confirmation that the firearm is safe to load or fire. The purchaser is solely responsible for complying with all applicable federal, state, and local laws.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe receiver is marked on the right side:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGew. 88.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ein German \"Black Letter\" typeface and bears serial number:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e9549 d\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ematching the barrel. Over the chamber is the Imperial arsenal marking:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCROWN\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDANZIG.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e1891.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eidentifying manufacture at the Imperial Danzig Arsenal, located on the Baltic Sea Coast, in present day Gdańsk, Poland.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe rifle was originally chambered for the 7.9mm Patrone 88 cartridge and used the original Mannlicher style en bloc packet loading system. It was later altered for the newer S cartridge, indicated by the prominent:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003eS\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003estamp over the chamber. The rifle was further updated to Gewehr 88\/05 configuration, with stripper clip guide plates added to the rear of the receiver, the original internal packet clip openings altered, and a magazine floor plate installed. The rear receiver also has the characteristic relief cut required for loading from the later stripper clip system.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe rifle additionally carries Turkish service markings. \u003cstrong\u003eCrescent Moon\u003c\/strong\u003e stamps are present on the bolt components along with Eastern Arabic numerals, and the rear sight ladder has been renumbered in Eastern Arabic numerals. These markings are consistent with later Ottoman or Turkish service after the rifle left its original German inventory.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe left side of the nose cap is unit marked:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e110. \u003cem\u003eR.\u003c\/em\u003e 2. 107.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe stylized italic R identifies this as an Imperial German Reserve unit marking, supporting attribution to the 110th Reserve Regiment. The remaining numbers indicate the subunit and individual weapon or rack number within that formation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe stock appears to have been reconditioned and refinished during its long service life, although faint original cartouches remain visible on the right side and underside of the butt. The metalwork has aged to an even gray patina, with remnants of original blue still present on the barrel jacket. The receiver and bolt, originally finished bright, now show scattered oxidation staining and service wear.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe rear sight remains complete and functional, although the slider is somewhat stiff on the ladder. The bolt shows wear along its bearing surfaces, and the extractor remains present. The action presently cycles correctly, the firing pin is intact, and the safety functions. The magazine has not been tested with cartridges, so no statement is made regarding feeding reliability. The bore is in very good present condition, remaining bright with strong lands and grooves and only light visible wear. The original double slot cleaning rod is missing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOverall this is a very good service used Gewehr 88\/05 S with an unusually layered history represented by its 1891 Danzig manufacture, Imperial German unit marking, later S cartridge and stripper clip conversions, and subsequent Turkish service markings. The mismatched component numbers, refinished stock, scattered oxidation staining, stiff rear sight slider, and missing cleaning rod are all fully disclosed. It would fit especially well in a Gewehr 88, Imperial German rifle, Ottoman or Turkish service arm, German arsenal conversion, or advanced WWI military rifle collection.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecifications-\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYear of Manufacture: 1891\u003cbr\u003eCaliber: 7.92×57mm Mauser\u003cbr\u003eCartridge Type: Centerfire Cartridge\u003cbr\u003eBarrel Length: 29 inches\u003cbr\u003eOverall Length: 49 Inches\u003cbr\u003eAction type: Bolt-Action\u003cbr\u003eFeed System: 5 round internal magazine\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","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45644777717829,"sku":"ONJR23SS088","price":995.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/files\/082EAFDB-252A-489A-A75D-DD1AD555CFFB.jpg?v=1787943940","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-german-pre-wwi-gewehr-88-05-s-commission-rifle-by-danzig-arsenal-1891-dated-serial-no-9549-d-with-turkish-markings","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}