Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very nice service used example of the Mauser Model 1871/84 rifle, the first Magazine rifle widely used by the German Empire. This example definitely saw long service and more, showing major repairs as well as parts being swapped at arsenal. The rifle is covered with Imperial German inspection and acceptance markings. The serial number 7094 is present on the receiver and barrel, while the bolt is marked with serial number 1333. The other components are completely unmatching, typical for an arsenal refurbished rifle, like many returned to service during WWI.

The receiver is faintly dated 1886. 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 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 10,95 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.

The butt plate tang is marked with regimental designation 86. R. E. 4. 146., most likely for the 86th (Schleswig-Holstein) Fusiliers "Queen" Regiment. This unit was raised 27 September 1866, garrisoned in Flensburg, and fought as part of the IX Army Corps. The "E" designation is for Ersatz, so this rifle was issued to a "replacement" unit, called up at the last need.

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 has acquired a gray oxidized patina over the decades. The barrel and other fittings are a nice faded blued finish, with some wear on the fittings and light peppering. The metal front plate from the nose fitting is also missing. Overall it has the look of a typical service used gun that saw a lot of cleaning after exposure to the elements.

The bore is in very good condition, showing crisp lands and grooves with a mostly bright finish. There is just a bit of oxidation and fouling on the last few inches near the muzzle, probably from exposure to the elements. The bore does not look to have seen much firing use in service. The action cycles well, and the magazine cutoff selector works correctly. The stock shows the expected wear and small dents from service, in addition to some larger gouges and scrapes. It has a lovely red brown color, and does look to have been arsenal reconditioned at some point, which has made the stock cartouches faint. There are no major cracks or other damage we can see.

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 well used Mauser rifle to your collection. Ready to hang on the wall and display!

Specifications:-

Year of Manufacture: 1886
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.

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