Original Item: Only One Available. A very nice bayonet dated on the rear of the blade 1879 this is a Mauser M-71 rifle bayonet with brass hilt. It has a steel cross guard bearing regimental markings: 77.R.R.29.26.
The steel blade is 18″ long and bears the maker marking: Gebr. Weyersberg, Solingen.
The bayonet comes complete with its original brass mounted black leather scabbard bearing multiple regimental markings. Overall offered in very good condition.
The Mauser Model 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 1867 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. General issue to troops began in late 1873 and all units had been converted by the spring of 1875. The Mauser 1871 was replaced by the magazine-fed, smokeless powder using Gewehr 1888 from 1888 through 1890.