{"product_id":"original-imperial-german-pre-wwi-pair-of-gewehr-1888-commission-rifle-ammunition-pouches-with-unit-markings-dated-1898-1906","title":"Original Imperial German Pre-WWI Pair of Gewehr 1888 Commission Rifle Ammunition Pouches with Unit Markings - Dated 1898 \u0026 1906","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal Items. Only One Pair Available. This is a great \u0026amp; scarce pair of Imperial German Gewehr 88 ammunition pouches. They are in fair condition for their age and they both bear great markings.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe first pouch is stamped \u003cstrong\u003eAWM 16 \u003c\/strong\u003eon one side, and is stamped under the lid \u003cstrong\u003e20 \/ 12 J.Rgt. 1898.\u003c\/strong\u003e The second pouch is stamped under the lid\u003cstrong\u003e 40.R\u003c\/strong\u003e. over \u003cstrong\u003e1906\u003c\/strong\u003e. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA great set of pouches, ready for further research and display.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHistory of the Gewehr 88\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.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42209936015429,"sku":"ONSV24SLN099","price":195.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/files\/ONSV24SLN099__02.jpg?v=1743246092","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-imperial-german-pre-wwi-pair-of-gewehr-1888-commission-rifle-ammunition-pouches-with-unit-markings-dated-1898-1906","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}