I.G.
Mod. 71. (M1871) German Mauser
GENERALLY: The I.G. (Infanterie-Gewehr) Mod. 71 German Mauser was the first of what would become literally millions of rifles manufactured to the design of the brothers Paul and Wilhelm Mauser. Almost every good original feature of the metallic cartridge, turning bolt action design, was the work of design genius Peter Paul Mauser who systematically developed his basic design over an extended period of time and, while based on theDreyse action, was innovative and one of the first successful metallic cartridge, bolt action rifles. During 1870-71 trials with many different rifles took place, with the "M1869 Bavarian Werder" being Mauser’s chief competitor. The Mauser was provisionally adopted at the end of 1871 pending the development of an appropriate safety. The now universally recognized "wing" type safety lever on the back of the bolt was developed to fill this requirement and the Mod.71 Mauser was adopted by Germany in early 1872. The Mod.71 Mauser is a rather plain and conventional looking bolt action single shot chambered in typical 11 millimeter. The design is a split bridge, single shot, bolt action developed from the experimental Mauser-Norris of 1868 at the royal Wurttemberg Armory in Oberndorf, and very similar in functioning to the French Chasspot, forerunner of the Mle.1874 French Gras. The action included only a bolt guide rib as its single locking lug, locking forward of the receiving bridge.
Rifles were manufactured in Spandau, in Oberndorff by Mauser, in Erfurt by O.W. Styer (OEWG), in Danzig and even initially by National Arms and Ammunition Company in Birmingham, England. Additional rifles were also manufactured in Amberg (Bavaria) after conversions of the Bavarian Werders to the M1871 standard were completed (those rifles becomming the "M1869 n.M. Bavarian Werder") .
The barrels
were finished browned, trigger guard finished either iron in the white
or in bronze, receiver and bolt in natural white, the butt plate in bronze
and remaining hardware fire blued.
The Mod.71, the subsequent "I.G.Mod.71/84" and
all their variations use a two-piece bolt.
PHOTO: The rifle shown is an I.G.Mod.71. (M1871) German Mauser.
DISTINGUISHING CHARECTERISTICS: The left receiver flat is marked I.G. Mod. 71. (Infanterie-Gewehr) in highly Gothic script. There is a Monarch's Cypher which could be F.W. (Fredrik Wilhelm of Prussia), L. for King Ludwig of Bavarian, W. (for the Wurttemberg Kingdom). Most common varieties seem to be those manufactured in and marked "Spandau" and "Amberg"
MISC NOTES: Interestingly, the Mod.71 is the first rifle firing metallic center fire cartridges produced on an assembly line basis. Quantities of the Mod.71 were also sold to China, Japan and Uruguay. A variation of the Mod.71 was also sold to Serbia and Transvaal. (I have no information on the Transvaal rifles and would sincerely appreciate any info anyone might be willing to pass on to me. Thank you).
FURTHER READINGS: (* means all who are seriously interested in this area should have!)
-
*Rifles
of the World , John Walter, DBI Books, 1993, pgs 168-170.
*Military Bolt Action Rifles 1841-1918, Donald B. Webster, Museum Restoration Service, Alexandria Bay, NY, 1993, pgs 39-40.
*The
History and Development of Small Arms Ammunition, George A. Hoyem,
VOL II - Centerfire Primitive and Martial Long Arms, Armory Publications,
Tacoma, 1982, pg 204.
*Armi
Lunghe D'Ordinanza 1841-1890; Guida PraticaAll'Identificazione
(Ordnance Shoulder Arms 1841-1890; Guide to Their Identification)
, Dr. Massimo Pagani, 1997, pg 116.
*Military Rifle and Machine Gun Cartridges, Jean Huon, Ironside, Alexandria, VA, 1988.
Small Arms of the World, W.H.B.Smith, Stackpole, many revised editions since 1960.
The Book of Rifles, W.H.B.Smith, Stackpole, many editions since 1948.
Cartridges
of the World, Frank C. Barnes, DBI Books, 1965-1977 (now in it's
8th edition).