| Origin | German Empire |
|---|---|
| Is ranged | yes |
| Service | 1884–1888 (as the standard German service rifle) 1884–1945 (limited and foreign use) |
| Designer | Mauser |
| Design date | 1881–1883 |
| Production date | 1884–1890 |
| Number | 1,000,000+[1][2] |
| Weight | 4.5 kg (9.92 lbs) |
| Length | 1,350 mm (53 in) |
| Part length | 855 mm (33.7 in) |
| Caliber | .43 |
| Action | Bolt action |
| Velocity | 1,430 ft/s (440 m/s) (11×60mmR) |
| Max range | 1,600 m (1,749.8 yd) (maximum setting on sights) |
| Sights | Iron sights graduated from 200 to 1,600 meters |
The Mauser Model 71/84, adopted as the Gewehr 71/84 or Infanterie-Gewehr 71/84, or "Infantry Rifle 71/84" ("I.G.Mod.71/84" was stamped on the rifles themselves), was the second 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.[3]
History
After troop trials in 1882 and 1883, the design was updated in 1884 with an 8-round tubular magazine designed by Alfred von Kropatschek, making this the German Army's first repeating rifle (a prototype of an M1871 with a tubular magazine was displayed to Wilhelm II as early as September 1881[4]). This version was designated the Gewehr 1871/84, of which over a million examples were produced.
Variants
Jäger
The same configuration as the standard infantry rifle, with the addition of a sling swivel at the butt.[5]
M1887
Adopted by the Ottoman Empire, it differed from the M71/84 in that it had a side-mounted cleaning rod, only two barrel bands, a second locking lug on the rear of the bolt and that it was in 9.5×60mmR,[6] which Paul Mauser touted as the most efficient (black powder) cartridge. A total of 270,000 rifles and 4000 carbines were delivered before adopting the M1890. In 1911, the Ottomans looked into having their rifles converted to 7.65×53mm smokeless by the Mauser factory and Steyr, though they ultimately turned down the proposal, a few were made.[7]
Artillery & Cavalry Carbine
In 1884, Serbia purchased 4,000 units each at the Oberndorf plant for the use of the Serbian cavalry and Artillery in their proprietary 10.15x63mmR cartridge.[8] In 1937, all remaining Model 1884 carbines were converted to the 1870s vintage 11×59mmR Gras cartridge, which was in good supply in Yugoslav Army depots after the Balkan War.[9]
Users
- Ecuador[10]
- Canada: Quebec Home Guard use (rifles marked Q.H.G.)
- German Empire[11]
- Nazi Germany[11]
- Ottoman Empire: M1887[11]
- Kingdom of Serbia: Carbines[12]
- Thailand[13]
- Venezuela[14]
References
- ^ Grant 2015, p. 10.
- ^ Grant 2015, p. 11.
- ^ Doyon, Keith W. "71/84 Mauser". MilitaryRifles.com. Archived from the original on 14 April 2011. Retrieved 2011-03-26.
- ^ "The Hunting Guns of the German Kaiser – German Hunting Guns"
- ^ Storz, Dieter (2011). German Military Rifles: From the Werder Rifle to the M71/84 Rifle. Verlag Militaria. ISBN 978-3902526441.
- ^ Ball 2011, p. 377.
- ^ Speed, Jon. "Mauser Proposal to Convert Model 1887 to 7.65". Gunboards. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
- ^ Ball 2011, pp. 311–312.
- ^ Ball 2011, pp. 313–314.
- ^ Ball 2011, p. 127.
- ^ Ball 2011, p. 148.
- ^ Ball 2011, p. 307.
- ^ "Siamese Thai: Military Rifle cartridges". Free Online Library. Retrieved 2022-12-26.
- ^ Ball 2011, p. 395.