11mm Mauser Schutztruppe Police Rifle

[7up]

Hi there, I have come across a Mauser 71 that has Ortspolizei on the stock. Sadly the gun is dinged up and cant read the rest of the writing, apart from a number (rack?).
Does anyone have any information on these please ?
Thank you

 

[MichaelWC]

This was used by the Schutztruppe police. Sometimes called the Kaiserliches Gouvernement Polizei. It would normally say ORTSPolizeibehörde. Then the District or town it was used in. Then a rack number. For example "ORTSPolizeibehörde Bethanien 359"
Definitely used in South West Africa, prior to the formation of the Landespolizei in 1905. Got any more photos if I may ask?

 

[7up]

Hi Michael thank you so much for this info. More pictures here.
Gun is an IG71 Spandau , are the Schutztruppe police ones rare / collectable ?

 

[MichaelWC]

Thank you so much for the photos. Yes they are very rare. This one makes me pretty excited because this is the first one I've ever seen that is a IG1871. I have only seen, recorded and cataloged Jägerbüchse 1871 used by any polizei of the German colonies. Do you mind if I record this rifle?

 

[7up]

Hi Michael, of course please do. And it's you that i need to thank for making me happy with this purchase!

 

[MichaelWC]

You're welcome but I have to thank you more for posting this.

 

[AndyB]

Interesting piece, maybe the letters between 2 large dings in buttstock by gently cleaning, could be visible and by comparing of town listing could be location deciphered.

 

[7up]

Thanks all, I cant put this thing down, I'm amazed by it !!

Its all matching numbers (in same font) - everything

More pictures, and apologies as I am trying to capture with my phone what I am seeing under the magnifier glass.
After a cotton bud and mild degreaser I have managed to uncover more letters , which should hopefully decode the area. The middle ding could be brought up with steaming, but may leave as is...
Photos of what I believe I can see I can see with my doodling with ms paint. Of course this is purely subjective (feel free to correct me).... Also please excuse the unsteady hand!
Not sure about this cleaning rod though ?
Bore is excellent and I have not even cleaned it yet.

A good idea to do a chamber cast, all seems okay

 

[chrisftk]

Thanks all, I cant put this thing down, I'm amazed by it !!

Its all matching numbers (in same font) - everything

More pictures, and apologies as I am trying to capture with my phone what I am seeing under the magnifier glass.
After a cotton bud and mild degreaser I have managed to uncover more letters , which should hopefully decode the area. The middle ding could be brought up with steaming, but may leave as is...
Photos of what I believe I can see I can see with my doodling with ms paint. Of course this is purely subjective (feel free to correct me).... Also please excuse the unsteady hand!
Not sure about this cleaning rod though ?
Bore is excellent and I have not even cleaned it yet.

A good idea to do a chamber cast, all seems okay

I wouldn't advise any invasive cleaning, steaming or other methods. Enjoy it as it is, you don't want to risk irretrievably damaging it.

The cleaning rod is not correct, but you can find VERY high quality repros for a reasonable price.

 

[7up]

Yep agree with you, will leave alone

 

[AndyB]

The buttstock was mostly black painted or dyed? and someone fixed it by claws so visible many traces of press areas there in claws. I believe You could already confirm what MichaelWC already mentioned upper row is OrtsPolizeiBehoerde , 2166 is probably the inventory number, the middle part should be looked for lists of areas that came in question. I personally would use nothing abrasives but there are more time lyers of not period laquer. By middle part i would say Windhoek?? as possible. Application of beewax on cleaned buttstock could stabilise it, the black paint probably helped better to see the stamping in that case.

 

[MichaelWC]

So here's three examples of police 1871 Jägerbüchse used by Town Police in German South West Africa. I figured these would be good references.

1880/Danzig/2343/This rifle is marked "ORTSPolizeibehörde Bethanien 359" (This would indicate that it was used by a Kaiserliches Gouvernement Polizei unit at Bethanien in SouthWest Africa, prior to the formation of the Landespolizei in 1905. 359 would be the weapon issue number.)

1881/Danzig/9564/? (This rifle is marked with the Imperial Eagle colonial proof mark next to an "S." The "S" next to the Imperial Eagle colonial proof could stand for Spitzkoppe. With an issue number of 2104.

?/ÖWG/4294/10.D.4.97 (This rifle was 1871 Jägerbüchse that been sporterized. It is also marked "ORTSPolizeibehörde Warmbad 160" for Southwest African Police.)

 

[7up]

Having a closer look , I can see the numbers 12 under the ORTS part. I think AndyB may have nailed the location with Windhoek, as I shine the light on it , what I thought was an A looks like a partial W and and I, and that looks like a k at the end/ Could this be Windhoek ?

As for the paint / dye. I think its just patina, there are elements of red tints here and there , which I think may be filler touch ups.

 

[7up]

Hi all, Thanks to you, now I can now put this locality mystery to bed, and best of all with no intrusion. Simply wet my little finger (no nails!) and a single forward and backward rub, and this reveled the remaining lettering.

As you can see the dink has slanted the letters inward, which makes sense with it being pushed down. Again hard to show you what I see up close with my phone pictures, but I can 100% confirm with my own eyes that the lettering spells Windhoek.
Prize goes to AndyB, take a bow mate.

Michael, I guess you can add the location too now.

So there you have it - Cheers !

 

[Cyrano4747]

That's neat as can be, congrats on landing a very unusual rifle.

 

[7up]

Thanks. Slugging the bore also yields some luck . Groove diameter is .453 and I have a heeled bullet mould (used for a former M71) that drops out unsized bullet with .455 front band, and .446 base. I have created a round with front band outside and it chambers. Use the same round in my Apt' Werder but sized .446 fully as it won't chamber.
Lets hope it shoots well...

 

[7up]

Thanks. Slugging the bore also yields some luck . Groove diameter is .453 and I have a heeled bullet mould (used for a former M71) that drops out unsized bullet with .455 front band, and .446 base. I have created a round with front band outside and it chambers. Use the same round in my Apt' Werder but sized .446 fully as it won't chamber.
Lets hope it shoots well...

Hi Just an update on this keeper. Shoots good and straight with a moderate load , and without having to drift any sights.

 

[7up]

Recording of target from 100 yards with myself and my dad shooting. No cleaning, just running with the rounds. 60gr2F , card wad, 50% beeswax 50% Vaseline cookie, card wad, 390gr heeled bullet (.455 driving band, then .446 heel inside case so that the round can chamber).

Aim 6 o'clock hold, speed at the muzzle average 1245 FPS , such a nice blast noise too !

https://streamable.com/vg6vf3

 

[7up]

Just added picture of the barrel underneath, they almost run out of places to stamp this ?

 

[7up]

Just snipped these from another forum. Not sure if I can make out M71 Long in the photos. I can see a G88 and what I believe G98's