Original German Regiment Marked Mauser Model 1871/84 Rifle by Spandau Dated 1887 – Matching Serial 6428 Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. This is a great example of the Mauser Model 1871/84 rifle the first Magazine rifle widely used by the German Empire. The rifle is covered with Imperial German inspection and acceptance markings. The serial number 6428 or shortened number 28 appears on every component of the rifle. This is a completely matched, totally unmessed with rifle.

It was issued to front line service for a time, as indicated by the regimental marking stamped on the butt plate tang: K. F. R. E. 4. 189.. Research indicates this would be for the “Kaiser Franz Regiment”, the dedication for the 2nd (Emperor Francis) Guards Grenadiers Regiment, first raised 14 October 1814 and Garrisoned in Berlin. The rest of the designation indicates it is for the Ersatz (replacement) battalion, 4th Squadron, Weapon 189. Guard units did not usually see extensive service in combat except during wartime, which explains why this rifle shows very little evidence of actually being fired.

The receiver is dated 1887. and marked I. G. Mod. 71/84. on the opposite side in “Black Letter” typeface. The rifle is complete with all major parts intact and functional, and most of the original finish. The receiver is bright steel, while the barrel and other fittings are a lovely worn blued finish. There are areas of light staining on the bright areas, as well as some peppering and past light pitting on the blued areas. The butt plate does top has some rust as well. This shows that this rifle was not one that someone refurbished: it’s all original.

The bore is in excellent nearly unissued condition, with crisp lands and grooves and a bright finish. We do not see any primer burn on the bolt face, so it’s likely that this rifle was fired very little, if at all.  The stock does have some small dents and scratches, particularly on the left butt stock, but is otherwise 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 this cypher during his reign 1861-1888

This gun is most likely a WW1 Veteran’s “bring back” souvenir. Great quantities of these 71/84 Rifles were pressed into service in WW1 since great piles of them had been put into storage in 1888 with the introduction of the M-1888 7.92mm German Commission Rifle. The action works well, as does the magazine cutoff and feed mechanism, with just a bit of stiffness.

This is a chance to add a really great 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: 1887
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

NOTE: International orders of antique firearms MUST be shipped using UPS WW Services (courier). USPS Priority Mail international will not accept these.