German Model 1888, Bolt Action Magazine Rifle, Serial Number 8071, Caliber 7.9 x 57mm Mauser, a.k.a. the Model 1888 Commission Rifle

Technical Description: German Model 1888, bolt action magazine rifle, serial number 8071, caliber 7.9 x 57mm Mauser, a.k.a. the Model 1888 Commission rifle. Standard military configuration rifle. The 29.1-inch barrel is covered by a sheet metal barrel jacket on which the front and rear sights are mounted. The barrel is fastened by two blued steel barrel bands, the upper band and stock cap carries a bayonet lug on the right side. The lower band carries the upper sling swivel. The front sight is an inverted "V; the rear sight is a folding leaf, graduated to 2050 meters. The left side of the barrel jacket just forward of the receiver is marked 8071. The left side of the receiver ring is marked 8071 and Gew. 88 / N. M.. The receiver ring top is marked with an S, (indicates a
conversion to fire pointed bullets) CROWN / SPANDAU / 1895. The right side has
several small proof or view marks. The bolt handle root is marked 5286, other bolt
parts are marked 86. The stock is a light colored wood with numerous CROWN
marks thereon. The butt plate is marked EBSP. The cleaning rod is the correct
original. The rifle bore is excellent. The bayonet with the rifle is the German Ersatz
type. The blade is 10 inches in length; steel grips are riveted to the blade tang. The
muzzle ring is the split type with a curved quillion. The right side of the guard is marked
6534. The scabbard is ball tipped blued steel. The blue is aging to brown. Old green
paint on grips.
Historical Significance: See Museum Number 100.
The German Model 1888 rifle was developed at Spandau Arsenal by a German military
commission in 1887-88, and was based on variations of the French Lebel 1886 bolt and
the clip-loading Mannlicher magazine system. Germany had scarcely completed
equipping her army with the Model 1871/84 black-powder rifle, when the French adopted
the Lebel 1886 smokeless powder 8mm rifle. This development, having the immediate
effect of making all black-powder rifles obsolete, compelled Germany to adopt a similar
arm. The Model 1888 was destined to have a short history as Germanys standard
military arm. It was a good rifle; based on some of the best features used on military
rifles at the time it was adopted. But the eighteen eighties and nineties were years of
rapid arms development. The greatly improved Mauser rifle appeared during this period;
it was so clearly superior to the Model 1888 that the Mauser was adopted to replace the
Commission rifle in 1898. The Model 1888 continued in use as a limited-standard arm in
Germany. It was also purchased by Austria and China in considerable numbers. During
World War I Germany and Austria issued the gun to second-line units. Many were
converted to use Mauser stripper clips and the Model 98 Mauser cartridge with Spitzer
bullet. After World War I the Model 1888s were declared obsolete, and were sold to
smaller military powers or on the open market.