Original German Mauser Model 1871/84 Magazine Service Rifle by Spandau Dated 1886 – Serial 8494 Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very nice service used example of the Mauser Model 1871/84 rifle, which was most likely reissued for use in WWI. It is covered with Imperial German inspection and acceptance markings on the metal work. The serial number 8494 appears on the barrel, receiver, while the rest of the numbers do not match, typical of rifles reconditioned for WWI use. The rear sight was also replaced with a Gewehr 1888 sight, most likely due to damage to the original.

The receiver is dated 1886 and marked I. G. Mod. 71/84. on the opposite side. It also has regimental markings on the butt plate tang: 3.G.G.R. / E.1.115. This is most likely from the 3rd (Queen Elizabeth) Guards Grenadiers Regiment from Charlottenburg Berlin, E Company, 1st Battalion, weapon 115. The post on the end of the magazine tube is missing, probably from when the cap was replacd at arsenal.

The rifle is complete with all major parts intact and functional, though the magazine cutoff can be hard to move, and the lower sling swivel is missing. The exterior metal finish on the fittings does show wear, with some evidence of pitting, and the barrel and receiver are in similar condition. The barrel still has a good amount of the original bluing. The wood stock is in good condition, though it does have a good number of dents. It has been sanded down at least once, so the original proof marks are not visible.

The bore is in very good condition, with clear lands and grooves, and a partly bright finish with some light oxidation.. 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.

This gun is most likely a WW1 Veteran’s “bring back” souvenir, as this rifle is in truly excellent condition. 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.

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 very nice fully functional condition.

Specifications-

Year of Manufacture: 1886
Caliber: 11x60mmR Mauser
Cartridge Type: Centerfire Cartridge
Overall Length: 51 Inches
Action type: Bolt-Action
Feed System: 8 Round Tubular Magazine

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