Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very nice example of the Mauser Model 1871/84 rifle, the first Magazine rifle widely used by the German Empire. It does not look to have seen much service at all, however it does look like it was stored improperly for a long period of time, which allowed the finish to degrade and the metalwork to oxidize. It was then cleaned to remove the oxidation from the metalwork, and the stock was also refinished to put the rifle into its best light. In spite of this the bore is like a mirror, and as close to MINT as we have ever seen. The rifle is still covered with Imperial German inspection and acceptance markings. The serial number 9662 or shortened number 62 appear on almost every component of the rifle, making this a very nice "ALL MATCHING" example.

The receiver is faintly dated 1888. on the right and marked I. G. Mod. 71/84. (partly worn away) on the opposite side in "Black Letter" typeface. The top of the chamber is marked with a very faint Crown over SPANDAU, for the Prussian (and later Imperial) Spandau arsenal in Berlin, a storied production plant that would produce weapons up until 1919, including the famous MG08 Maxim. Below this is the Crown over FW proof for Kaiser Wilhelm I, who used this cypher during his reign 1861-1888. Next to this is a 11 designation, giving the bore diameter in millimeters. The receiver and barrel nocks form area shows significant wear from cleaning, which has made many of the markings relatively faint. There are no regimental markings we can see, so the rifle was most likely never officially issued.

The rifle is complete with all major parts intact and functional, as well as some of the original finish in areas. The receiver was originally bright steel, but suffered oxidation and was later resurfaced, so it is still bright with some areas of past oxidation. The barrel and other fittings are a nice faded blued finish, with some wear on the fittings and light peppering. It definitely looks like a rifle that was stored improperly and then cleaned up, probably sometime during the 20th century.

The bore is in unissued MINT condition, and is like a mirror. We have really never seen better, and there is also little to no oxidation on the bolt face as well, indicating it was probably never fired after the proof firing at the factory. The action cycles well, and the magazine cutoff selector works correctly. The stock has a lovely honey color, showing no repairs, and the markings are still mostly crisp, so it was only resurfaced a bit before it was refinished.

This gun is most likely a WW1 Veteran's "bring back" souvenir. Great quantities of these 71/84 Rifles were pressed into service in WW1 since great piles of them had been put into storage in 1888 with the introduction of the M-1888 7.92mm German Commission Rifle. The action works well, however the magazine feed system is a tad stiff. It works much more smoothly with the magazine cutoff engaged.

This is a chance to add a very nice Mauser rifle to your collection. Ready to hang on the wall and display!

Specifications:-

Year of Manufacture: 1888
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

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.