Mauser Model 1871

History of the Mauser Model 1871

When the Mauser brothers - Paul and Wilhelm - were adopted by the German Army in 1871 (known as the "Gewehr 71"), their Mauser models were among the best in gun history. It was the first rifle to fire the German Army's newly introduced standardized brass cartridge and became one of the first examples in the world to successfully fire a metal cartridge using a bolt-action design. The original series of weapons served until about 1888, eventually taking part in several conflicts of the period, including the Sino-Japanese War, the Boer War, the Boxer Rebellion, the Balkan Wars, and World War I operationsand in one form borrowed or copied.

Action or another few decades.

The Model 1871 has a standard manual bolt breech design, with the bolt handle managing the loading and ejection of the cartridge. The rifle weighs 4.5kg, has a barrel length of 1,350mm and holds an 11x60mm R black cartridge.

Its original core was a single-shot rifle design, so there was no full magazine case as part of the system. Only a later design - Model 1871/84 (1884) - led to the use of an 8-round tubular magazine, greatly expanding the tactical value of the rifle line.

The introduction of the 8-round tubular magazine made the updated Model 1871 Germany's first "bursting" rifle. Another form, Model 1879, issued to Border Guards for a special 11.15x37. 5mmR Cartridge - This is based on the full power military version. Overall, these early Mauser rifles all used the same basic design approach, using a one-piece wooden stock with one-piece shoulder rest, straight grip, and dual straps.

Slings allow for shoulder straps, while bayonet mounts are standard, in keeping with the doctrine of warfare when bayonet charges were still in use. The trigger is located in an elongated trigger ring, and all the major internal working parts are contained within the body of the rifle body as expected.

Iron sights for remote work are mounted on the front and rear, and the overall construction of the rifle is a mix of wood, bronze and iron.

Design work on the gun began in 1871, and evaluations (and other designs) continued throughout the year, culminating in the official adoption of the rifle in 1872. The delay was due to the German Army requiring the installation of safety gear, which Mauser agreed. Production was taken over by Spandau in Germany and Steyr in Austria-Hungary, with local production even reaching British shores via the National Arms and Ammunition Company in Birmingham. More rifles come from local production elsewhere. The Serbian version of the Type 1871 (Type 1878/80) was later converted to a 7x57mm cartridge and fed from a 5-round magazine (to become Type 1880/07).

Likewise, Uruguayan Models 1871 improved their Mauser line to fire a smaller 6.5x53. 5mmR cartridge. The Mauser Model 1871 produced millions of units over its lifetime, with operators including Japan, China, South Korea, Ireland and Honduras.

Mauser Type 1871 Specification

Roles

Dimensions

Performance

Changes