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Mauser Model 1871


Bolt-Action Military Service Rifle


Imperial Germany | 1872



"The Mauser Model 1871 marked the beginning of the storied Mauser bolt-action rifle legend."

Performance
Performance specifications presented assume optimal operating conditions for the Mauser Model 1871. Information presented is strictly for general reference and should not be misconstrued as useful for hardware restoration or operation.
2
Rounds-Per-Minute
Rate-of-Fire
1,430 ft/sec
436 m/sec
Muzzle Velocity
Physical
The physical qualities of the Mauser Model 1871. Information presented is strictly for general reference and should not be misconstrued as useful for hardware restoration or operation.
1,350 mm
53.15 in
O/A Length
855 mm
33.66 in
Barrel Length
9.92 lb
4.50 kg
Weight
Manually-Actuated Bolt-Action System
Action
11x60mmR; 10.15x63R; 11.15x37.5R; 9.5x60R; 7x57mm; 7.65x53mm; 6.5x53.5R
Caliber(s)
Single-Shot (initially)
Feed
Iron Front and Rear.
Sights
Variants
Notable series variants as part of the Mauser Model 1871 Bolt-Action Military Service Rifle family line.
Model 1871 - Initial single-shot production form; adopted in 1872.
Model 1879 (Grenzaufsehergewehr) - Shortened form for Border Guard duty; chambered for 11.15x37.5mmR cartridge; appearing in 1879-1880.
Model 1871/84 - Updated model of 1884; 8-shot tubular magazine for repeat firing - Germany's first such rifle.
Model 1887 - Version of the Model 1871/84 taken into service by the Ottoman Empire (Turkey); side-mounted cleaning rod; additional rear-mounted bolt lug; chambered in 9.5x60mmR.
Model 1878/80 - Serbian model of 1881; single-shot form; bolt-guide-equipped; chambered in the local 10.15x63R cartridge.
Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 07/31/2019 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site; No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.

The Mauser brothers - Paul and Wilhelm - entered firearms history when their Mauser Model 1871 was adopted by the German Army (as the "Gewehr 71"). It became the first such rifle to fire the newly-adopted standardized brass cartridge of the German Army and became one of the first successful examples of a bolt-action design firing a metallic cartridge anywhere in the world. The original weapon series went on to see service until approximately 1888 and ultimately took part in several conflicts of the period including the First Sino-Japanese War, the Boer War, the Boxer Rebellion, the Balkan Wars and World War 1. Variants emerged from the base design and this furthered the reach of the Mauser brand and its respected action - and action that would be borrowed or copied in one form or another for decades later.

The Model 1871 was of a standard manually-actuated bolt-action design with its bolt handle managing the loading and ejecting of the cartridge. The rifle weighed in at 4.5 kilograms and measured a running length of 1,350mm, being chambered for an 11x60mmR black powder cartridge. It was initially a single-shot rifle design at its core and, as such, there was no integral magazine box as part of the system. Only a later design - the Model 1871/84 (1884) - brought about use of an 8-round tubular magazine, broadening the tactical value of the rifle line considerably. The introduction of the 8-round tubular magazine made the updated Model 1871 Germany's first "repeat-fire" rifle. Another form, the Model 1879, was issued to border guards and chambered for the special 11.15x37.5mmR cartridge - this based on the full-power military-grade version. Overall, these early Mauser rifles all shared the same basic design approach utilizing a single-piece wooden stock with integrated shoulder stock, straight grip and two banded design. Slings allowed for use of a shoulder strap while bayonet mountings were standard, consistent with the warfare doctrine of the period where bayonet charges were still in use. The trigger sat within an oblong trigger ring and all of the major internal working components were held within the mass of the rifle body as expected. There were rear- and front-mounted iron sights for ranged work and overall construction of the rifle consisted of a mix of wood, bronze and iron.

Design work on the weapon began in 1871 and evaluations of it (and other designs) were held throughout the year, leading to the rifle's formal adoption in 1872. The delay was caused by the German Army's requirement that a safety be fitted to which Mauser obliged. Production was undertaken by Spandau in Germany and Steyr in Austria-Hungary with local production even reaching English shores through the concern of the National Arms and Ammunition Company of Birmingham. Many more rifles emerged from localized production elsewhere. Serbian versions of the Model 1871 (Model 1878/80) were later re-chambered for the 7x57mm cartridge and fed from a 5-round magazine (becoming the Model 1880/07). Similarly, Uruguayan Model 1871s evolved their Mauser line to fire a smaller 6.5x53.5mmR cartridge. The Mauser Model 1871 was produced in the millions during its operational service life and operators also included Japan, China, Korea, Ireland and Honduras.

Content ©MilitaryFactory.com; No Reproduction Permitted.
Operators
Global customers who have evaluated and/or operated the Mauser Model 1871. Nations are displayed by flag, each linked to their respective national small arms listing.

Contractor(s): Spandau - Imperial Germany; Steyr - Austria-Hungary; NAAC Birmingham - United Kingdom
National flag of Austria National flag of the Austro-Hungarian Empire National flag of China National flag of Ecuador National flag of Finland National flag of the German Empire National flag of Hungary National flag of Ireland National flag of modern Japan National flag of Serbia National flag of South Africa National flag of Thailand National flag of Turkey National flag of the United Kingdom National flag of Uruguay National flag of Venezuela

[ Austria-Hungary; China; Ecuador; Finland; Honduras; German Empire; Ireland (Volunteers); Imperial Japan; Korea; Ottoman Empire (Turkey); Serbia; Thailand; Transvaal (South Africa); United Kingdom; Uruguay; Venezuela ]
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Image of the Mauser Model 1871
Image copyright www.MilitaryFactory.com; No Reproduction Permitted; Image courtesy of Steve B. via email.
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Image of the Mauser Model 1871
Right side profile view of the Mauser Model 1871; courtesy of the Swedish Army Museum, Stockholm.

Going Further...
The Mauser Model 1871 Bolt-Action Military Service Rifle appears in the following collections:
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