Original German Museum Grade Mauser Model 1871/84 Rifle by Spandau Dated 1888 – Serial No 9744 Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. “Museum Grade” is not a term that we use often at all, so we do not use it lightly. However there is no better description for the condition of this rifle. It definitely never saw service, and is one of the best examples of the Mauser Model 1871/84 rifle that we have ever seen. Only two we can recall exceeded the condition of this example. It is covered with Imperial German inspection and acceptance markings on the metal work, almost as crisp as the day it was made. It also has lovely wood stock, which has some great “curl” to the grain on the left butt stock.

We were not able to find any regimental designation stamped anywhere on this rifle, or any areas where one might have been removed. As best we can tell, this rifle was never officially “issued” to any unit, and may have been kept as a production sample, or possibly was personally given to some high ranking officer. We unfortunately have no way of finding the history of this rifle, so we can only imagine. Where ever it was, the rifle was treated with great care, and is simply a stunning example.

The serial number 9744 or shortened number 44 appear on every component of the rifle. This is a completely matched, totally unmessed with rifle.

The receiver is dated 1888. and marked I. G. Mod. 71/84. on the opposite side. The rifle is complete with all major parts intact and functional, and almost all of the original finish. There is however a bit of surface peppering in areas, probably from fingerprints that were not wiped away. The receiver is bright steel, while the barrel and other fittings are a polished high-gloss blue finish. There is a bit of light staining and rust dusting on the bright components, but nothing major. It also shows that this rifle was not one that someone refurbished: it’s all original. The bore looks brand new. The stock only has a bit of denting to the left of the receiver, and is other wise in incredible shape, with all proofs intact and clear. 

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. Great quantities of these 71/84 Rifles were pressed into service in WWI since great piles of them had been put into storage in 1888 with the introduction of the M-1888 7.92mm German Commission Rifle. This one however was probably recovered from the factory, or someone’s house. The action works well, as does the magazine cutoff and feed mechanism.

A true “Museum Grade” Mauser 71/84 rifle, which will will probably not see the like of again. This is a chance to add a truly magnificent piece of Mauser rifle to your collection. 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.

Specifications-

Year of Manufacture: 1888
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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