{"product_id":"original-german-pre-wwi-gewehr-88-05-s-commission-rifle-by-ludwig-loewe-with-turkish-markings-serial-8854-f-dated-1891","title":"Original German Pre-WWI Gewehr 88\/05 S Commission Rifle by Ludwig Loewe with Turkish Markings, Dated 1891, Serial No. 8854 f","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal Item: Only One Available. This is an original Imperial German Gewehr 88 Commission Rifle manufactured by\u003cstrong\u003e Ludwig Loewe \u0026amp; Co. of Berlin\u003c\/strong\u003e in \u003cstrong\u003e1891\u003c\/strong\u003e and later updated to the Gewehr 88\/05 S configuration. It retains German military markings, later Turkish crescent and Eastern Arabic numeral markings, a German regimental marking on the nose cap, and matching serial number \u003cstrong\u003e8854 f\u003c\/strong\u003e on the receiver and barrel jacket. The bolt and several smaller components are nonmatching, reflecting its long service and arsenal reworking history.\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\u003eThese rifles were originally chambered for 7.92mm \u003cstrong\u003ePatrone 88\u003c\/strong\u003e ammunition and had a fixed magazine loaded by En-bloc clip. 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 \u003cstrong\u003eS\u003c\/strong\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis particular rifle also has notched plates welded to the rear of the receiver on either side to accept the 1905 pattern stripper clips, making this a Gewehr 88\/05 S. This conversion also involved filling in the slots on the inner sides of the receiver where the en-bloc clip used to be, and installation of a floor plate to keep dirt out of the magazine, though it is \u003cstrong\u003emissing on this example\u003c\/strong\u003e. It also has the tell tale \"notch\" cut into the rear of the receiver, as the loaded clip would run into this area.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe right side of the receiver is marked in German blackletter:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGew. 88.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe receiver and barrel jacket are both numbered:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e8854 f\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOther numbered components, including parts of the trigger guard and magazine assembly, are nonmatching.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe chamber is clearly marked:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLOEWE BERLIN.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e1891.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLudwig Loewe \u0026amp; Co. was one of the major manufacturers of the Gewehr 88 and later became part of \u003cem\u003eDeutsche Waffen- und Munitionsfabriken,\u003c\/em\u003e better known as \u003cstrong\u003eDWM\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA Turkish crescent marking was subsequently applied above the maker and date on the receiver, with additional crescent marks on the bolt components. Eastern Arabic style numerals also appear on parts of the bolt, while the rear sight retains Western numerals. These markings are consistent with the rifle having entered Turkish service after its German military use.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe left side of the nose cap is marked:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e3. G. R. 6. 120.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a German regimental property marking indicating assignment to the \u003cem\u003e3rd (Queen Elizabeth) Guards Grenadiers\u003c\/em\u003e, 6th Squadron, weapon 120.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe stock is in very good service used condition with an attractive dark, worn patina from long handling. It shows numerous dents, scratches, dings, gouges, and other marks consistent with extended military use. Any original inspection cartouches are now extremely faint, and the rifle appears to have undergone arsenal reconditioning at some point in its service life.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn old repaired crack runs through the receiver securing bolt area on both sides of the stock, with additional smaller repairs around the rear of the receiver. The letters \u003cstrong\u003eM M\u003c\/strong\u003e have been scratched into the right side of the butt. The front sling swivel remains present, as does the rear sling fitting for a Gewehr 98 style sling. The distinctive double slot cleaning rod is missing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe metalwork is in good service used condition. Most of the original finish has worn to an aged oxidized patina with scattered evidence of old peppering. The receiver appears to have been blued during a past refurbishment, supporting the likelihood that the rifle was completely refinished during arsenal reconditioning.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe bore is in very good condition with clear lands and grooves and a mostly bright interior. There is slight rounding to the lands from service use, but no major bore damage is noted.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe action cycles smoothly and the safety operates during manual inspection. The bolt release is also functional. However, the bolt head is completely missing and the firing pin was ground off long ago, leaving the bolt assembly incomplete and the rifle incapable of normal operation in its present state. These observations describe only its current mechanical condition and should not be interpreted as confirmation that the rifle is safe to load or fire.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWith its 1891 Ludwig Loewe manufacture, Gewehr 88\/05 S conversion, German regimental marking, Turkish crescent and Eastern Arabic numeral markings, serial number 8854 f, surviving sling fittings, and very good bore, this is a particularly interesting example of a Commission Rifle with evidence of service under both German and Turkish ownership. The nonmatching components, missing cleaning rod, missing magazine floorplate clip, repaired stock cracks, old refinishing, missing bolt head, and ground firing pin are all fully disclosed. It would fit especially well in an Imperial German, Gewehr 88, Ottoman or Turkish military, WWI era, or advanced European service rifle collection. A rifle that possibly saw service on TWO fronts of WWI.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecifications-\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eYear of Manufacture: 1891\u003cbr\u003eMaker: Ludwig Loewe\u003cbr\u003eModel: Gewehr 88\/05 S\u003cbr\u003eSerial No.: 8854 f\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\u003cbr\u003eFederal Classification: Pre-1899 Antique\u003cbr\u003e\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","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45776774070341,"sku":"ONSV24OID021","price":895.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/files\/ONSV24OID021.jpg?v=1789575147","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-german-pre-wwi-gewehr-88-05-s-commission-rifle-by-ludwig-loewe-with-turkish-markings-serial-8854-f-dated-1891","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}