Mauser Model 1871
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Mauser Model 1871 / Gewehr 71 | |
|---|---|
 Mauser Model 1871 |
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| Type | Service rifle |
| Place of origin |  German Empire |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1871 - 1888 |
| Used by | Germany |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Mauser |
| Designed | 1870? |
| Variants | Gewehr 71/84 |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 4,5 kg |
| Length | 1350 mm |
| Barrel length | 855 mm |
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| Cartridge | 11 x 60 mm R |
| Action | bolt-action |
| Feed system | single-shot Gewehr 71/84: 8 round magazine |
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 Paul Mauser and Wilhelm Mauser of the Mauser company.
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 excluding Bavaria. The action was not based on its predecessor the Dreyse needle-gun which had seen service during the Franco-Prussian War.
The now well recognized Mauser "wing" type safety lever was developed for the Gewehr 71. The Gewehr 71 is a conventional looking bolt action chambered in 11 millimeter using black powder cartridges. 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-round tubular magazine, making this Germany's first repeating rifle.
The Gewehr 71 was replaced by the Model 1888 Commission Rifle (designated Gewehr 88) starting in 1888.
