Original German WWI Reissued Mauser Model 1871 Infantry Rifle by Erfurt Arsenal dated 1875 – Serial 8417 E Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very nice example of the Mauser Model 1871 Infantry Rifle, manufactured by the Erfurt Imperial Arsenal in Thuringia. It is covered with Imperial German inspection and acceptance markings on the metalwork. It bears serial number 8417 E on the barrel, receiver, bolt, and just about every other part that would have a serial number, while smaller parts bear shortened number 17. That makes this a very nice “ALL MATCHING” example, and it looks to have had a very long service history!

The receiver is dated with 1875 and marked I. G. Mod. 71 on the opposite side in German “Black Letter” type. This stands for Infanterie Gewehr (Infantry Rifle) Model 71. The top of the barrel nocks form is marked Crown over ERFURT, for the Royal Erfurt Arsenal, located in Thuringia. Below this is the Crown over FW proof for Kaiser Wilhelm I, who used the F.W. monogram. The butt plate bears Imperial German regimental designation 85. R. 2. 179., for issue to the 85th (Holstein) Infantry “Duke of Holstein” Regiment, raised 27 September 1866 and garrisoned in Rendsburg, Kiel.

The Rifle comes complete with cleaning rod and is in very good condition overall, still retaining both the front and rear sling swivels. Of interest is that the trigger guard on the rifle is cast iron or steel, which is a known modification for rifles being reissued for WWI. Supplies of brass were very low, and the material was needed to make shell casings, so any items made of brass were stripped from rifles, including the brass trigger guards often seen on these early Mauser designs.

The exterior metal finish is also definitely interesting, as it shows an oxidized patina in areas, while others are almost bright steel, We had considered that maybe this was nickel plating, but there is no flaking or the greenish oxidation we would usually see on nickel plating. It just looks like this rifle probably had the protective oil coating wear off the top areas due to weathering, allowing those areas to oxidize. We checked the bore, and much of it shows a bright finish with clear lands and grooves, however there is an area in the center that shows powder and lead fouling, which even after repeated cleaning still leaves patches black. It probably needs some time with a solvent specifically designed to clean it.

The rifle cycles correctly, and the extractor is intact, however the firing pin looks to have had the last 1/2″ or so cut off to “deactivate” the rifle long ago. The stock does not look to have been refurbished at any time in the past, so the cartouches are well preserved, though the stock overall definitely shows long use in the field.

Overall this is an very nice example of a German Mauser model 1871 from the Imperial German Erfurt Arsenal, which was most likely reissued for use during WWI as a last line of defense. The perfect addition to any German Mauser collection!

Specifications:-

Years of Manufacture: 1875
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.

NOTE: International orders of antique firearms MUST be shipped using UPS WW Services (courier). USPS Priority Mail international will not accept these. International customers should always consult their country’s antique gun laws prior to ordering.