Mauser Model 1871

Mauser Model 1871 / Gewehr 71
Mauser Model 1871
Type	Service rifle
Place of origin	German Empire
Service history
In service	1872–1918 (Germany)
Used by	German Empire Kingdom of Serbia Empire of Japan Thailand China Ecuador Uruguay South African Republic Macau Korean Empire Venezuela Irish Volunteers Honduras
Wars	Satsuma Rebellion, First Boer War, Serbo-Bulgarian War First Sino-Japanese War, Second Boer War, Boxer Rebellion, Balkan Wars, Serbo-Bulgarian War, Easter Rising, World War I (limited)
Production history
Designer	Mauser
Designed	1871
Manufacturer	Mauser
Variants	Jägerbüchse Carbine M1878/80(Serbia) G.A.G. M1879(Border Guards) M71/84 M1887(Turkey) M80/07C(Serbia)
Specifications
Weight	4.5 kg (9.92 lbs)
Length	1350 mm (53.15 in)
Barrel length	855 mm (33.66 in)
Cartridge	11.15×60mmR 10.15×63mmR 11.15×37mmR 9.5×60mmR 11×59mmR Gras 7×57mm 7.65×53mm 6.5×53.5mmR
Caliber	.43
Action	Bolt action
Muzzle velocity	1,430 ft/s (440 m/s) (11×60mmR)
Feed system	Single-shot M71/84: 8-round tubular magazine M80/07: 5-round stripper clip, internal magazine
Sights	Iron sights

The Mauser Model 1871 adopted as the Gewehr 71 or Infanterie-Gewehr 71, or "Infantry Rifle 71 ("I.G.Mod.71" was stamped on the rifles themselves) was the first rifle model in a distinguished line designed and manufactured by Paul Mauser and Wilhelm Mauser of the Mauser company and later mass-produced at Spandau arsenal.

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 of 1870–71, and which was found to have a number of weaknesses.

The now well known Mauser "wing" type safety lever was developed for the Gewehr 71. The Gewehr 71 is a conventional looking bolt action chambered in 11mm using black powder cartridges. The action included only a bolt guide rib as its single locking lug, locking forward of the receiving bridge. The original design was a single-shot. The design was updated in 1884 with an 8-round tubular magazine designed by Alfred von Kropatschek, making this Germany's first repeating rifle. This version was designated the Gewehr 1871/84. A version of this repeater was adopted by the Ottoman Empire. Designated the M1887, it differentiated from the M71/84 in that it had a side mounted cleaning rod, a second locking lug on the rear of the bolt, and it was in caliber 9.5×60mmR, which Paul Mauser touted as the most efficient (black powder) cartridge. In the early 20th century a few were converted to 7.65×53mm smokeless by the arsenal in Ankara.