Mauser Model 1888 (Gew 88 / Model 1888 Reichsgewehr)

History of Mauser Model 1888 (Gew 88 / Model 1888 Reichswaffe)

To compensate for their defeat by the German Empire and the North German Confederation in the Franco-Prussian War (1870-1871), neighboring France relocated and adopted the 8x50mmR Lebel cartridge for its new 1886 Lebel. What set the presentation apart was the 8mm smokeless powder design, which immediately put the French Army at the forefront of light weapons development. An 8-round tubular magazine allows for repetitive firing action, an improvement over all existing single-shot designs. The weapon was a standard bolt-action weapon with an outward-facing bolt handle and a typical "long gun" arrangement of the time, with a solid wood stock and a grooved single-strap wood front.

Of course, support for the bayonet was retained. About 2.8 million units will eventually be produced.

This move naturally prompted the Germans to act, as their existing line of Mauser 1871s was now largely obsolete. It still relies on black powder cartridges, has an inverted bolt handle that jams easily, and uses the larger, slower 11x60mmR cartridge. It initially appeared in single-shot form, but was eventually resolved by the 1871/84 with an 8-round tubular magazine and the 1880/07 with a 5-round "off" magazine feed.

A shortened version of the carbine was also shown.

Nonetheless, the need for modernization is high compared to long-term enemies. This prompted a committee led by the Bundeswehr to issue official specifications for the new small-caliber smokeless powder cartridge and the new shooting service rifle. Interestingly, the committee moved away from the Mauser and focused on the Mannlicher-type clip magazine method characteristic of the Model 1889 "Belgian Mauser" and the competing French Lebel.

The barrel's rifling is largely a borrowed pattern from Lebel, while the weapon features a one-piece wooden frame with a full straight grip and solid wood stock. The action is located in the main part of the body, with the bolt handle protruding outwards. The trigger is located below it, and its ring is integrated into the protruding magazine assembly.

A barrel jacket fits around the barrel assembly. Support for the field bayonet was managed by a mount on the right side of the barrel cover.

At 8.4 pounds overall, it's much lighter than the Lebel, with an overall length of 49 inches and can handle a 29-inch barrelshorter than the Lebel in both grades. The committee also developed a corresponding new cartridge, known as the M88, of which up to five were housed in a fixed magazine assembly.

Sights are mounted on the front of the action and on the muzzle.

The weapon was adopted as the Type 1888 and also had other designations - RR 88 (Gew 88), Type 1888 Council Rifle and Type 1888 Luftwaffe. Ludwig Loewe & Company, Osterreichische Waffenfabriks-Gesellschaft, C.G. Haenel, Steyr-Mannlicher and V.C.

Schilling & Company and several national arsenals (Amberg, Danzig, Erfurt, Spandau) in Germany, Austria and Prussia made.

In practice, the Model 1888 proved to be a solid bolt-action rifle, probably the best of the new generation of smokeless powder firing types. The barrel jackets of the original models were quickly scrapped as they were found to absorb moisture, causing the barrels inside to rust.

A new reinforced barrel was introduced in 1891, followed by a new rifle style in 1896. In early 1890, a short-bodied form was introduced as a variant of the carbine, and another short-rifle variant appeared in 1891.

In April 1903, the German Army dropped the Commission's original M88 "Round Point" bullet in favor of the new 7.92x57mm Mauser "Pointed Point" bullet. This change resulted in the designation of the model 1888S, which appeared in 1905. The conversion to the new cartridges has also led to the use of "clip loading", in which case five stacked cartridges ready to fire are held and inserted into the gun as a unit - helping to speed up reloading.

This acquisition resulted in a new name for the model 1888/05.

The Gew 88 was in service from 1888 to 1915, so it could be used in World War I (1914-1918). When the German Empire went to war with his Austro-Hungarian cousins ??after the assassination of one of their kings (Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria), there were over 100,000 examples of this type in circulation and in service. Some German troops went into battle with their Model 1888 loaded and bolt-action rifles and their variants, which reportedly made a good impression on them.

The fighting, which began in July 1914, turned into a trench warfare by December (many expected it to end by Christmas). A modified loading version appeared that month, the Model 1888/14, with guides engraved on the bridge to make loading easier.

Thousands of guns also ended up in Austro-Hungarian stockpiles (known as "Repetierjager M13"), and even more were shipped to the underarmed Allied Ottoman Empire (Turkey).

The

Gew 88 was officially in service with the German Armed Forces until 1915, although other operators stuck with the type for much longer - many were still in combat during WWII. The pirated version was manufactured at the Hanyang Arsenal in China and designated as "Hanyang 88" for use in the Qing Dynasty.

The Gew 88 was eventually replaced by the excellent 98 rifle, which proved to be a major improvement over the committee's rifle - highlight Mauser bolt action rifle - widely used as the standard for the German Army during WWI and WWII Service rifle.

The Gew 88 rifle was also used in the Second Boer War (1899-1902) against the British Empire and the Boxer Rebellion (1899-1901) involving China, Europe and the United States. Due to early problems with production in some "Jewish-owned" factories, the German media began to mock the Gew 88 as "Judenflinte" or "Judenriffe"/"Judenmuskete".

However, the insult proved to be inaccurate, with more Gew 88 factories than factories not belonging to Gentiles.

Specification

Roles

Dimensions

Performance

Changes