In 1867 Wilhelm and Paul Mauser invented a rotating bolt system for breech-loaders that was simpler and quicker to operate than systems currently in service. It didn't take very long for the advantages of the weapon to make themselves clear, and in 1871 their design became the standard German infantry rifle, known as the Model 71. In 1884 a significant improvement was added, being the addition of an 8 round tubular magazine in the fore-stock loaded singularly from the top with the bolt open.  Succeeding rounds are carried to the chamber by an elevator flap which pivots at the back. There is a magazine cut-off lever on the left side so that the rifle may be used in single shot mode. That rifle was named the Model 71/84, which is the rifle you see in the below pictures. This was the German military's first repeating rifle. Both fired a 11x60mm black powder round. Just a couple of years later smokeless powder was invented and these rifles quickly became obsolete.

The Model 71/84 represents what may be the height of smalls arms manufacturing refinement, the workmanship being since unsurpassed. As many as one million may have been manufactured (records were destroyed in WWII by Allied bombing).

I hope you enjoy the pictures I have posted below. My 71/84 rifle is in exceptional condition and may be unfired. It was manufactured in 1888. Please note when looking at the pictures that every part has a serial number, even the screws. I can't help but wonder where this rifle spent its time over the last 122 years and remained in such great condition.

Those that watched the movie The Last Samurai with Tom Cruise might have noticed that this is the rifle that was used by the govt troops in the final battle scene.


Link to photo album

Couple of teaser pics

Moar pics.

Great rug!

3 out of 10 for no bayonet.    


Seriously man, nice rifle!

You gonna shewt it?

I've never even seen a round of ammo for it. I found some custom loaded ammo a couple years back but they wanted something like $120 for 20 rounds. I'll never fire it. It's too nice.

I came.

When i saw these on AIM i looked up the ammo and found 20 for $73.......pocket change





 

Sidearm:

(6 inch barreled 686 included for size perspective)

Is that the German sidearm of the same time period? Please tell us about it.

This is the proper companion to your rifle, the a 1879 Reichsrevolver.  A few years later the slightly more conventional looking Model 1883 appeared.  Both fired the blackpowder 10.6 German Ordinance cartridge.  A goofy design as the lever you see is a type of safety, although it does nothing more than lock the hammer down.  Also, even though there is a loading gate, there is no ejector.  IMO, US revolvers of the period were better by a good margin.

This particular one is dated 1882, and was made in the Oberndorf (sp?) factory that would ultimately become the Mauser factory.

Did you click the link in the OP?

Very cool. Have you ever fired it? I imagine ammo is pretty hard to come by.

Here is some ammo

If you reload Midway has Dies and brass. Most likely will have to cast your own bullets.

Did you get that from Aim?

Nice

In 1867 Paul and Wilhelm Mauser created the bolt action rifle as we know it.

Everything since then has been an inferior copy.

Thanks for the link to the ammo.


I did not buy my 71/84 from AIM. I don't think the AIM 71/84 rifles are even in shootable condition. They were just spruced up to look good on camera. From AIM:


"Original Mauser M1871/84 11mm Rifles from the movie "The Last Samurai" Starring Tom Cruise. Each “Samurai” edition Mauser M1871/84 is an original Mauser M1871/84 rifle that has been carefully cleaned, reblued, then had its receiver carefully polished as the original examples were. Minor parts such as the extractor, ejector and cutoff levers were replicated, as were the stocks and magazine tubes. The trigger guards were painted gold on-set as well to better recreate the on-screen look desired by the Director. These guns are in good condition, bearing the nicks and scratches from use in the film."

Yes it is, a nice real one too.

That is one hell of a beautiful rifle.  Thanks for sharing the pics.

Nice looking rifle.

By European standards they were obsolete long before World War I.  However, there were still in service in the German colonies in Africa, i.e., Tanganyika and German S.W. Africa (Namibia), so they saw action into the 20th Century.

Cool rifle. I remember seeing them in the movie, but never saw anything written up about them.

i love it, its a very clean rifle

To my knowledge, the last widespread issue of that rifle was to the askaris of von Lettow-Vorbeck's stosstruppe in Tanganika.  After they delivered a crushing blow to the Indian Army (British led of course), they were reequipped with the more modern SMLE MK III.

There may have been some issued to the volksgrenadier in late '45.  Talk about desperate.

I'm thinking a mohogany furniture set, brown leather topped end tables with dark navy pillows on the sofa.

Never fired, don't really plan to...  It takes an advanced reloader to modify .44 Russian to work propelry.  I've heard that some just use it straight, but I don't think that's wise...

I found one of those inside my walls

Very nice rifle!  Thanks for sharing!