Original German Mauser Model 1871/84 Magazine Service Rifle by Spandau Dated 1887 – Matching Serial 4549 Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. This is a wonderful example of the Mauser Model 1871/84 rifle, which does not appear to have seen much service at all. It is covered with Imperial German inspection and acceptance markings on the metal work. The serial number 4549 appears on the barrel, bolt, and receiver, while the rest of the components bear the shortened serial 49.

The receiver is dated 1887. and marked I. G. Mod. 71/84. on the opposite side. It also has regimental markings on the butt plate tang: K. A. R. / R. 260.. This indicates use by the Kaiser Alexander Garde Grenadier Regiment, also known as the 1st (Emperor Alexander) Guards Grenadiers, first raised in 1814 and located in Berlin. As this was an Imperial guard unit. this may explain why the rifle seems to have seen little use in service.

The rifle is complete with all major parts intact and functional, and in very good to excellent condition. The exterior metal finish is great, except for the last barrel band and magazine end cap, which have some past pitting. The wood stock is in excellent condition, and has not been sanded down at all, so all proofs are clear and crisp. There is only a bit of minor handling wear. 

The bore is in pristine condition, with sharp lands and grooves, and a mirror bright finish. 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 the F.W. monogram.

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. The action works great, as does the magazine cutoff and feed mechanism.

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: 1887
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

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