Original German Model 1895 Chilean Contract Mauser Rifle by Ludwig Loewe Berlin – Serial G 4463 Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very nice service used condition example of the Model 1895 Chilean Mauser Rifle, made by the renowned LUDWIG LOEWE ARMS COMPANY of BERLIN. It definitely shows signs of long service and possible exposure to the elements, which lead to some corrosion on the metalwork, such as on the receiver and rear sight. It was then cleaned up, most likely at arsenal, and put back into service.

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 a pre-1899 ANTIQUE 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 G 4463, which does not match any of the other parts on the rifle. It definitely looks like this example was sent back to arsenal, and had parts swapped out as needed, including the stock. The chamber ring still has a relatively crisp Chilean coat of arms marked on it, and isn’t worn down like it would be from a refinish, though there is some past oxidation towards the bottom. The left side of the stock still has the Chilean cartouche on it, which has an 1895 date in a box at the bottom.

The stock is solid, but definitely does show wear from use in service, and there is a repaired crack on the bottom of the butt stock near the toe, which can be seen from both sides. It’s possible that the stock had this from early on, or that it suffered damage, and was later repaired and put back into service when parts became scarce. Definitely some interesting research potential here!

The metalwork is in very good condition, with the original bluing very well retained on the barrel, while the receiver has suffered some oxidation and subsequent cleaning, which removed a lot of the original bluing. The butt plate, which is usually the first place to show wear, is missing most of the finish on the rear side, and some other components are displaying a polished steel patina. The “Niter Blue” on the bolt release and magazine floor plate is completely worn away. This definitely looks like a rifle that saw long service.

The rifle cycles great, with no issues that we can see. This design features a magazine follower that prevents the bolt from being closed when the magazine is empty. The “wing” safety is fully functional, working exactly as intended with no mechanical issues to note. It prevents firing in the “up” position, and prevents both cycling and firing in the “right” position. The bolt release works correctly, allowing easy field stripping of the rifle, though the spring is worn / broken, so it may need to be pushed back into place. The bore is in very good condition, showing clear lands and grooves and a bright finish. There is some wear and a bit of past fouling in the grooves, so the rifle definitely did see use while in service.

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

Specifications-

Year of Manufacture: 1895
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.