Mauser IG71 from 1878

[Absolut]

At a recent gun show I saw a nice rifle which didn't fit my field of collection - but to the one of a very dear collector friend. So after having gotten the permission I took a few mobile phone pictures and sent them to the other side of the globe. Not being given an answer I called half an hour later to make aware of my messages. Got confirmation and fortunately it wasn't gone, so went to buy it on his behalf.

Back home I researched a bit more on these rifles and it turned out that even our picture reference in here doesn't have a lot of Mauser made IG71 rifles, hence I asked the future to be owner of this rifle whether I may take pictures of this rifle and post them here, to what he agreed.

Therefore find attached pictures of an all matching pretty mint (well, at least for its age) Mauser I.G. 71 rifle from 1878. The stock acceptance makes it a Württemberg-accepted rifle, what to my knowledge anyway most of the Mauser IG71 were. It is all matching numbers and untouched, meaning everything still in original configuration, as it left factory. Almost every part has an acceptance kind of everywhere - I only removed one of the action screws which has the serial on the head; guess what, it has an acceptance stamp on the body of the screw (on the cylindrical non-threaded part)! Interestingly the cleaning rod though isn't serialized, at least I only saw a matching acceptance stamp on it. The buttplate also has an unit marking, 51.R.R.19.78. (something like 51. Reserve Regiment, Kompanie 19, Waffe 78?). Most of the weapon, especially the metal parts, are still covered in dried up grease and oil. After all my task was to buy it, and not to clean it, so I left all of this fun for him to do .

Well, I hope you in here like it - and he too, since I'll also send him a link to this thread so he can read the comments.

 

[Absolut]

... forum only lets me attach 15 pictures, hence the last picture in a separate post. There are many more parts that have serials on them that I did not picture, for example the front barrel band at the front end (between barrel and cleaning rod), etc.

 

[Cyrano4747]

That's a really nice one. You usually don't see them in that kind of condition. I've got one but it's in much rougher shape comparatively.

Nice crisp Wurttemberg acceptance on the stock, too. Damn.

Amazing rifle.

 

[chrisftk]

That one is a gem Georg-- thanks for posting the pics. To my knowledge, the 1871 Infantry Gewehr, Jägerbüchse, and Carbines all were purchased by Württemberg. The regiment on the buttplate is not a Württembergische unit, but these could have been bounced around once obsolete.

It's top shelf-- I think outside of museums the only other one I know of in similar condition is @cj556 example.

Screamer Oberndorf 71 Rifle

Picked this one off Gunbroker and paid dearly for it. Matching down to the screws, beautiful wood and metal. I understand Oberndorf made rifles are fairly scarce and this one is frankly the best 71 I’ve handled.

www.k98kforum.com

Both of these are now in the reference.

I recently acquired a comparable 71/84 which was posted and Mauser 71 jägerbüchse in similar condition I'll be posting in the coming weeks. Any 71 from this maker is considered very rare. In upper condition, even moreso.

Thanks again!

 

[krukster86]

A wonderful example, and the photography is on point!

 

[AN-94]

That's an absolutely gorgeous rifle and the photos do a great job of showing how nice this one is! Stock acceptance is really beautiful and crisp too! Is the barrel with the large C/W also denote Württemberg contract rather than the standard Prussian C/FW? Your friend is lucky to have you as his friend. Must be one hell of a gun show, can't say I've ever seen a 71 of any kind at my local show.

 

[chrisftk]

Stock acceptance is really beautiful and crisp too! Is the barrel with the large C/W also denote Württemberg contract rather than the standard Prussian C/FW?

That's correct. You can even look at the Württemberg contract Gew 98s and see a similar W. The House of Württemberg was the ruling family of the Kingdom of Württemberg. Wilhelm was a name used for two Württembergische monarchs. (Wilhelm I and Wilhelm II, but not to be confused with Wilhelm I and Wilhelm II of Prussia.) Confused yet?


Friedrich Wilhelm was a hereditary name tied to the Hohenzollern family of Prussia. Friedrich Wilhelm Viktor Albert was Kaiser Wilhelm II's given name, for instance. Hence the c/FW cypher long used in Prussia (dates back to flintlock muskets)

 

[AN-94]

That's correct. You can even look at the Württemberg contract Gew 98s and see a similar W. The House of Württemberg was the ruling family of the Kingdom of Württemberg. Wilhelm was a name used for two Württembergische monarchs. (Wilhelm I and Wilhelm II, but not to be confused with Wilhelm I and Wilhelm II of Prussia.) Confused yet?
View attachment 394631

Friedrich Wilhelm was a hereditary name tied to the Hohenzollern family of Prussia. Friedrich Wilhelm Viktor Albert was Kaiser Wilhelm II's given name, for instance. Hence the c/FW cypher long used in Prussia (dates back to flintlock muskets)

Thanks for the explanation, Chris! That is a mess with 4 different Wilhelms to think about but it clears up the C/W vs C/FW for me. I understand that Bavaria has their own and presumably Saxony did too.

 

[Absolut]

The regiment on the buttplate is not a Württembergische unit, but these could have been bounced around once obsolete.

It's top shelf-- I think outside of museums the only other one I know of in similar condition is @cj556 example.

Did you notice that his rifle is same letter block H, as well as that its unit marking is almost identically 51 respectively 53. R.R.?

 

[chrisftk]

Did you notice that his rifle is same letter block H, as well as that its unit marking is almost identically 51 respectively 53. R.R.?

I sure did! Very cool. I would assume they live very similar lives for quite a while to both end up in such good shape.

 

[Loewe]

I finally had the chance to add this rifle to trends page, I too noticed the close match (I long noticed the bunching of close units with the 98a and it is clear this was a general practice long b4 the 98a, - which is not surprising at all!)

The research thread is updated and I will link the report to Georg and this thread so that is easier to retrieve the reporting thread. Great rifle Georg!

***the close match (5560 H) is also a German source (German auction house)

 

[7up]

Nice nice nice

 

[MichaelWC]

Damn, that's a great looking M1871. Your photography is outstanding like always Georg.

 

[OnlyMil]

What an incredibly fine rifle to have survived in such a state for so long and a rare one to boot. Am I reading your thread correctly in that you intend to export this rifle Stateside?

 

[Absolut]

Not going to the US, if that was the question.

 

[PrayingMantis]

Thanks for getting photos! Glad to have a good look it, and it's very helpful for the reference.