Original Item: Only One Available. This is an original Imperial German Mauser Model 1871/84 repeating infantry rifle manufactured at Spandau Arsenal and dated 1888. A particularly attractive example, it retains matching serial number 3608, or abbreviated 08, on nearly all inspected serialized components, an excellent bore, and a notably figured stock with strong flame grain and chatoyancy.

This 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.

The Model 1871/84 was the repeating development of Germany’s earlier Model 1871 Mauser and became the first standard repeating infantry rifle adopted in large numbers by the German Empire. It retained the large 11mm black powder cartridge of the earlier rifle while adding an under barrel tubular magazine and associated feeding system. The type was eventually superseded by the Model 1888 Commission Rifle as Germany transitioned to a smaller caliber smokeless powder service cartridge.

The receiver is dated:

1888.

on the right side and is marked on the opposite side in black letter typeface:

I. G. Mod. 71/84.

for Infanterie-Gewehr Modell 1871/84. The top of the chamber is marked:

CROWN
SPANDAU

identifying manufacture at the Imperial Spandau Arsenal in Berlin. Below this is the CROWN / FW cypher associated with Kaiser Wilhelm I, together with an 11 bore designation. Numerous additional Imperial German inspection and acceptance marks are present throughout the metalwork and stock. No regimental marking was located during inspection.

The full serial number:

3608

or the abbreviated form:

08

appears on nearly all inspected serialized components, making this a very strong matching example with no obvious major numbered components noted as replacements.

The metalwork shows honest age and service wear. The barrel and fittings, originally finished in blue, now display a mixture of surviving original finish, worn gray areas, and peppered age patina. The receiver and bolt, originally left bright, have developed a mottled oxidized patina. The rear sight remains present and functional, though somewhat stiff, while both sling swivels are intact and similarly stiff from dried grease and oxidation.

The bolt action cycles well in its present condition and the firing pin and extractor remain intact. The safety operates correctly, and the tubular magazine feed system and magazine cutoff also function during manual inspection. The magazine system has not been tested with cartridge cases or ammunition, so no representation is made regarding actual feeding under load. These observations describe only the present mechanical condition and should not be interpreted as confirmation that the rifle is safe to load or fire.

The bore is in excellent condition, with a bright interior and crisp, well defined lands and grooves. There is only light evidence of past wear and no indication of the extensive fouling, corrosion, or neglect often encountered in black powder service rifles.

The stock is likewise in excellent overall condition and has matured to a rich dark red brown color. It shows expected dents, scratches, and several small edge chips from age and service, but no major cracks or repairs are evident. Particularly attractive flame figuring begins beneath the chamber area and continues through much of the butt stock, producing pronounced chatoyancy as the grain changes appearance under shifting light.

This gun is possibly a WW1 or WW2 Veteran's "bring back" souvenir. Model 1871/84 rifles remained in German stores after adoption of the Model 1888 and saw secondary and reserve use into the First World War era. While no specific wartime or veteran bring back provenance accompanies this rifle, its 1888 Spandau manufacture places it at the end of the Imperial German black powder repeating rifle period.

With its 1888 dated Spandau receiver, matching serial number 3608 throughout the inspected components, extensive Imperial inspection markings, functional magazine system and cutoff, excellent bore, and unusually attractive figured stock, this is a particularly strong example of the Imperial German Model 1871/84. The worn blue, oxidized bright components, peppered patina, stiff sight and sling swivels, small stock chips, and untested feeding with cartridge cases are all fully disclosed. It would fit especially well in an Imperial German, Mauser, Spandau Arsenal, early repeating military rifle, or advanced 19th century European arms collection.

Specifications:-

Year of Manufacture: 1888
Maker: Spandau Imperial Arsenal
Model: 1871/84 Mauser
Serial No.: 3608
Caliber: 11x60mmR Mauser
Cartridge Type: Centerfire Cartridge
Barrel Length: 32 inches
Overall Length: 51 Inches
Action type: Bolt-Action
Feed System: 8 Round Tubular Magazine
Federal Classification: Pre-1899 Antique

Originally adopted as the Gewehr 71 or Infanterie-Gewehr 71, or "Infantry Rifle 71 ("I.G.Mod.71" was stamped on the rifles themselves) this was the first rifle model in a distinguished line designed and manufactured by Paul Mauser and Wilhelm Mauser of the Mauser company, and later mass-produced at Spandau arsenal.

Paul Mauser developed his bolt-action rifle from 1866 to 1871. During 1870-71 trials with many different rifles took place, with the "M1869 Bavarian Werder" being the Mausers' chief competitor. The Mauser was provisionally adopted on 2 December 1871, pending the development of an appropriate safety. With support from the government's Spandau arsenal, the improvements to the safety mechanism were completed and the rifle was formally accepted on 14 February 1872 as Infantry Rifle Model 1871 by the German Empire excluding Bavaria. The action was not based on its predecessor, the Dreyse needle gun which had seen service during the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71, and which was found to have a number of weaknesses.

The now well known Mauser "wing" type safety lever was developed for the Gewehr 71. The Gewehr 71 is a conventional looking bolt action chambered in 11mm using black powder cartridges. The action included only a bolt guide rib as its single locking lug, locking forward of the receiving bridge. The original design was a single-shot. The design was updated in 1884 with an 8-round tubular magazine designed by Alfred von Kropatschek, making this Germany's first repeating rifle. This version was designated the Gewehr 1871/84. A version of this repeater was adopted by the Ottoman Empire. Designated the M1887, it differentiated from the M71/84 in that it had a side mounted cleaning rod, a second locking lug on the rear of the bolt, and it was in caliber 9.5×60mmR, which Paul Mauser touted as the most efficient (black powder) cartridge. In the early 20th century a few were converted to 7.65×53mm smokeless by the arsenal in Ankara.

NOTE: International orders of antique firearms MUST be shipped using UPS WW Services (courier). USPS Priority Mail international will not accept these. International customers should always consult their country's antique gun laws prior to ordering.

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 all US States and most nations around the world.

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 almost any deliverable address across the globe. Please note that for international shipping, these MUST be shipped using UPS WW Services. International customers should always consult their country's antique gun laws prior to ordering.