Original German Model 1895 Chilean Contract Mauser Rifle by Ludwig Loewe Berlin – serial D3400 Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. This is an very good service used condition example of the Model 1895 Chilean Mauser Rifle, made by the renowned LUDWIG LOEWE ARMS COMPANY of BERLIN. It shows signs of long service and use in shooting, but does not have any major wear or damage from abuse. This gives it a lovely worn patina that is simply impossible to duplicate.

The Ludwig Loewe company was actually part owner of Mauser Waffenfabrik from 1887 onward, which is why they were the primary contractor for the export Mauser rifles. In 1896 the company consolidated its arms manufacturing, and founded Deutsche Waffen- und Munitionsfabriken, the famous D.W.M.. All rifles made 1897 onward were marked with the new company abbreviation. Therefore ANY LUDWIG LOEWE marked firearm is considered PRE-1899 ANTIQUES by U.S. FEDERAL LAW. Most Chilean Contract M-1895 Rifles and Carbines found today are marked DWM, with examples by Ludwig Loewe being hard to find.

The left side of the receiver on this example is marked with the production information:

MAUSER CHILENO MODELO 1895.
MANUFACTURA LOEWE BERLIN.

To the left of this is serial number D 3400, which does not match any of the other components. The magazine is marked G9420, while the bolt is marked L4322, and the stock serial number is worn away. This rifle definitely looks to have been arsenal reconditioned at some point, with parts swapped out. This was quite common for rifles that saw long service such as this one.

The chamber still has a crisp Chilean coat of arms marked on it, and there is a faint Chilean coat of arms Cartouche over M. E. on the left side of the butt stock, probably from when it was reconditioned. The metalwork overall has a very nice dark arsenal blue from when the rifle was serviced at arsenal. The stock looks to have been completely refinished at some point, and now shows a lovely brown color with very little in the way of dents, dings, or chips.

The rifle cycles well, with no issues that we can see. The “wing” safety functions, preventing firing in the “up” position, and preventing both cycling and firing in the “right” position. However, it is worn, and if the trigger is pulled while the safety is set, the bolt will fire when the safety is moved to the left. The bolt release is present, but the ejector does not move with it, so the bolt cannot currently be taken out. The bore shows clear lands and grooves, but also fouling and oxidation, which make the grooves dark.

Another Military Contract from the Victorian era that Mauser managed to snag from all its European competitors. In very nice condition and ready to display!

Specifications-

Year of Manufacture: pre-1897
Caliber: 7×57mm Mauser
Cartridge Type: Centerfire Cartridge
Barrel Length: 29 Inches
Overall Length: 48 1/2 Inches
Action type: Bolt-Action
Feed System: 5 round internal magazine

More on the Mauser Model 1895:

The Mauser Model 1895 is a bolt operated magazine fed rifle using the 7×57mm Mauser cartridge. It was exported to many overseas powers, including the Chilean forces which adopted as the Fusil Mauser Chileno Mo 1895. It is the first major modification of the Mauser Model 1893 and was produced by Deutsche Waffen und Munitionsfabriken, known as DWM, and Ludwig Loewe Company from 1895 to 1900.

First supplied by the Ludwig Loewe & Co during 1895-1896 then later by the DWM (1897-1900), the Mauser model 1895 first made its appearance during a small arms race between Argentina and Chile in 1896 and 1898. In this period, over 80,000 Model 1895 rifles and 30,000 Model 1895 carbines were shipped and deployed to the Chilean army.

The Mauser Model 1895 also saw service in Mexico, Costa Rica, Paraguay, Iran, El Salvador and Honduras. Mauser Model 1895 rifles and carbines were the standard weapons of the various Mexican armies during the Mexican Revolution while the Paraguayan rifles saw combat during the Chaco War. Forces led by Pancho Villa during the Mexican Revolution and later guerilla campaign would have been armed with these rifles.