Original German Mauser Model 1871 Infantry Rifle by ŒWG Steyr in Austria – Serial No. 1580U Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very nice example of the Mauser Model 1871 Infantry Rifle, manufactured by the famous ŒWG Steyr in Austria. It is covered with Imperial German inspection and acceptance markings on the metalwork. It bears serial number 1580U on the barrel, receiver, bolt, and just about every other part that would have a serial number except for the bolt washer and a few screws, which are non-matching. These were probably swapped out during servicing long ago.

The receiver is is a bit worn, so the date is no longer visible on the right side, but the left side is still faintly 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 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 Rifle comes complete with cleaning rod and is in very good condition overall. Interestingly, it has a brass trigger guard installed. The rifle still has both sling swivels intact. The exterior metal finish shows years of cleaning, and now has a lovely worn blued patina on the barrel, with the receiver still bright with a bit of past peppering. The bore is in excellent condition, with crisp lands and grooves and a bright finish. There is just a bit of very light oxidation in the grooves. The rifle cycles correctly, and the firing pin and extractor are both intact. The stock looks to have been arsenal reconditioned long ago, which has unfortunately made the stock cartouches quite faint. It has a lovely honey color and has a very nice varnish finish applied.

Overall this is an very good example of a German Mauser model 1871 by the legendary Steyr in Austria. The perfect addition to any German Mauser collection!

Specifications:-

Years of Manufacture: 1871-1883
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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