Original German Mauser M1871 Rifle by Gebrüder Mauser dated 1876 – Württemberg Marked – Serial 6762A Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. This is a wonderful example of the Mauser Model 1871 rifle, manufactured at Oberndorf am Neckar by rare maker Gebrüder Mauser, who developed the design. This could be a rifle that Paul Mauser himself worked on. It is covered with Imperial German inspection and acceptance markings, even on the wood stock. It bears serial number 6762A on the barrel and receiver, while the bolt is marked 6840E, most likely having been replaced at arsenal.

The receiver is marked I. G. Mod. 71 in German “Black Letter” type. This stands for Infanterie Gewehr (Infantry Rifle) Model 71. The top of the barrel nocks form is marked GEBR. MAUSER & Co OBENDORF, indicating manufacture by Gebrüder Mauser & Cie, Oberndorf-am-Neckar, in the German Kingdom of Württemberg. This is the firm, run by Wilhelm and Paul Mauser, was the one responsible for the design of the Model 1871, and many other legendary firearms. There is also a Crown over W on the left side of the knoxform, indicating that this example was made for the Kingdom of Württemberg directly, making this quite a rare example.

The Rifle also bears its original REGIMENTAL MARKINGS on the butt plate tang: 123. R. E. 3. 278., for the 123rd (5th Württemberg) Grenadiers “King Charles” Regiment, raised 17 October 1799 and garrisoned at Ulm. This looks to be from Ersatz (replacement) battalion 3, weapon 278. This is exactly the type of regiment that a Württemberg marked rifle would be issued to.

The Rifle comes complete with cleaning rod and is in good condition overall. The rifle still has both sling swivels intact. The exterior metal finish shows years of cleaning, and now has a lovely gray patina overall. The bore is in very good condition, with a bright finish and clear rifling, probably an 8 out of 10. There is some light wear, so it did see some level of service.

The stock looks very nice, and has been cleaned and waxed to a lovely glow. It has some great “tiger flame” figure to the grain, particularly in the butt stock area. We do not see any major damage or repairs.

Overall this is an very nice example of a Württemberg issued German Mauser model 1871 by the Legendary Mauser Brothers, complete with regimental markings. The perfect addition to any German Mauser collection!

Specifications:-

Year of Manufacture: 1876
Caliber: 11x60mmR Mauser
Cartridge Type: Centerfire Cartridge
Barrel Length: 33.5 inches
Overall Length: 53 Inches
Action type: Bolt-Action
Feed System: Single Shot

History of the Mauser 1871

Adopted as the Gewehr 71 or Infanterie-Gewehr 71, or “Infantry Rifle 71 (“I.G.Mod.71” was stamped on the rifles themselves) 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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