Original German Mauser Model 1871 Cavalry Carbine by ŒWG Steyr Dated 1876 – Matching Serial No 5418B Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. This is an excellent example of the Mauser Model 1871 Carbine, which is covered with Imperial German inspection and acceptance markings on the metal work. The serial number 5148B appears on virtually every component of this carbine, with some smaller parts just having the shortened 18. The bolt handle is the correct “down-turned” cavalry version, that would avoid getting wrapped in the horses tack.

The receiver is dated 1876. and marked K. Mod. 71. on the opposite side, for Karabiner Model 1871. The rifle is complete with all major parts intact and functional, and in great condition. The exterior metal finish is blued on the barrel and bright on the receiver, as originally issued. There is some fading and wear, but nothing major. The wood stock is also in great shape, with a nice light beech wood color. It has been sanded a bit, so some of the proof marks are faded.

The bore is in very condition, with crisp lands and grooves, and a just a bit of oxidation in the grooves. The top of the chamber is marked ŒSTERR. WAFFFB. GES., an abbreviation of “Österreichische Waffenfabriksgesellschaft”, or the Austrian Arms-Manufacturing Company. Part of ŒWG was Steyr-Mannlicher, known mainly as Steyr, who continue to make firearms to this day.

Below this is the Crown over FW proof for Kaiser Wilhelm I, who used the F.W. monogram. The butt plate is regimentally marked, with 19. D. 1. 115., for the 19th Dragoner Regiment (Dragoon or Armed Cavalry), 1st company, 115th man. This is exactly the type regiment you should see listed on a cavalry carbine such as this.

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, as does the magazine cutoff and feed mechanism.

Fully cleaned and ready to display!

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.

Offered in excellent collectible condition, with a rare and desirable unit marking.

Specifications-

Year of Manufacture: 1876
Caliber: 11x60mmR Mauser
Cartridge Type: Centerfire Cartridge
Barrel Length: 20 inches
Overall Length: 39 Inches
Action type: Bolt-Action
Feed System: Single Shot

NOTE: International orders of antique firearms MUST be shipped using UPS WW Services (courier). USPS Priority Mail international will not accept these.