Mauser Model 1871
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The Mauser Model 1871 adopted as the Gewehr 71 or Infanterie-Gewehr 71 ( I.G.Mod.71 was printed on the rifles themselves) was the first of millions of rifles manufactured to the designs of Peter Paul and Wilhelm Mauser (see Mauser).
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 at the end of 1871 pending the development of an appropriate safety. It was adopted by the German Empire but not Bavaria. The action was not based on its predessesor the Dreyse Needle Gun which which had seen service during the Franco-Prussian War.
The now well recognized Mauser "wing" type safety lever was developed for the Gewehr 1871. The Mod.71 Mauser is a conventional looking bolt action chambered in 11 millimeter using black powder. The action included only a bolt guide rib as its single locking lug, locking forward of the receiving bridge. The first weapons were single shot, but in 1884, the design incorporated an 8-shot tubular magazine, making this Germany's first repeating rifle.
