T H E. -M A U S E R.

MAGAZ | N E R FLECALIBRE 7,65 – 6.5 mm.

(.301 in - 256 in)-| UD W. LOE WE & Co.

COMMAND IT - GES E L L S CHA FT AUF ACTIEN

E E R - ||N

CONTRACTOR'S DO THE IMPERIAL C. E. R. MAN ARMY.

*WAFFEN FABRI K MAUSER

O BERND ORF on THE NEC KAR(WURTEMBERG).

X \* . * : * ** *

T H E

MAUSERMAGAZINE RIFLE

CALIBRE 7,65 – 6,5 mm.

(.301 in. - .256 in.)

LUDW. LOEWE & Co.C O M MAND IT - GES E LLSC HAFT AUF ACT | EN

B ERL|N

CONTRACTORS TO THE IMPERIAL GERMAN ARMY.

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WAFFENFABRIK MAUSERO BERND ORF ON THE NEC KAR

(WURTEMBERG).*wo

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QERTIFICATE

Royal Commission of InspectionBERLIN Martinikenfelde, 24th December 1891.

J. No. 1221. 1891.

TO

LUDW. LOEWE & Co.

Commandit-Gesellschaft auf Actien

BERLIN.

In reply to your letter of the 16th November 1891 the

Committee beg to inform you that the 425000 Rifles (88)supplied by your firm have in all respects answered the require

ments stipulated.

(signed) KlopschCaptain and President.

LUD W. LOE W E & Co.COMMANDIT - GESELLSCHAFT AUF ACTIEN.

B ERL IN.

WAFF E N F A B R H K M A U S E R,O B E R N DO RF am Ne C k a r.

(Württemberg).

-i

A. Works in Berlin.

The Berlin Works consist of two separate factories.

a. the principal factory for the Manufacture of Rifles is situated at

30/31 Kaiserin Augusta - Allee, Charlottenburg, near Berlin, and

covers an area of about 68 500 square metres, or about 17 acres.

b. the principal factory for the Manufacture of Machines and Machine

Tools is situated at Nos. 32 / 35 Hollmannstrasse, Berlin, and covers

an area of about 5000 square metres or about 1/, acres.

The two Berlin factories extend, therefore, over an area of 73,500 square

metres or 18:/, acres, of which 42,530 square metres or Loi/, acres, are

occupied by buildings, mostly four stories high.

LUDw. LOEWE & Co., BERLIN.

The motive power for these factories is supplied by

19 Steam Engines

4 Electric Motors

I Hot Air Motor

representing a total of 3000 Horse power.

The steam for this machinery is supplied by 24 Boilers and the total

length of shafting is about 4:160 metres.

For the manufacture of the various parts of the rifles, there are

employed 4255 different machines, some of special and some of ordinary

construction.

B. Works in Oberndorf On the Neckar.

These Works consist of three different factories, viz.- the upper, the

lower and the suburban factories. They extend over an area of about

60,000 square metres, or 15 acres, of which about one fourth part is covered

with buildings.

Adjoining these Works is a shooting range, which permits of firing at

very long ranges.

The motive power for these factories is supplied by

7 Fixed Steam Engines-

2 Portable Engines

2 Turbines

representing a total of 1000 Horse power.

The steam for this Machinery is supplied by 7 Boilers, and the shafting

has a length of 1520 metres.-

Over 18OO Machines are at work in these factories for the manufacture

of Rifles, including Special Machines, Drop Hammers, &c.

WAFFENFABRIK MAUSER, ORERNDORF A. NEC KAR.

The two establishments of Ludw. Loewe & Co. and Waffenfabrik

Mauser had in their employ on the 1st of June 1891, at the various works,

a total number of 8000 workmen.

They are both furnished with the most modern and improved plant and

appliances, enabling them to turn out as many as

25oo Rifles daily

or 60,000 per month.

In order to meet the exacting requirements of the present time in

regard to the perfection of modern military fire arms, the system of division

of labour has, as far as possible, been introduced in the manufacture: – as

an example the number of operations which a few of the parts of the Mauser

Magazine Rifle have to pass through between the first and the finished stages

are as follow : –Barrel . . . . . . . 54 operations

Complete breech bolt . 174 **

Body or shoe . . . . 120 **

Complete Magazine . . 141 , ,

Stock . . . . . . . 49 **

Q." the year 1890/91 the firm of LUDIV. LOE WE & Co. supplied

to the Administration of the German Army

425,000 Rifles of the German pattern 88

for which the certificate on page 3 was given to the firm.

Luow. Loewe & Co., BERLIN.

Origin of the New Mauser Magazine Rifle

with clip or “charger“ loading.

In 1884 the German War Office decided upon adopting for the Army,

the Mauser Magazine Rifle, pattern 7 1/84; in the Spring of 1886 the

entire equipment of the army with this Rifle was completed.

Shortly afterwards France followed this example by adopting a similar

magazine arm with a forestock magazine, but 8 mm (.315 in.) Calibre. Thisis known as the Lebel Rifle.

Slightly later, Austria adopted the straight pull and push Mannlicher

system, in which there is a magazine underneath the breech like the well

known older constructions of Lee, Russell, Bertoldo, Fosbery, &c., the

loading of this Magazine being attained by introducing the cartridges in

packets, together with the holders in which they are delivered to the soldiers.

The undoubted superiority of the 8 mm (.315 in.) Calibre adopted by

France, as compared with the 11 mm (.43 in.) Calibre which had so far

been

retained by Germany, induced the German Government, as early as 1888,

to introduce a new rifle having the ballistic advantages of

the small calibre.

In this rifle there was retained the approved breech closing mechanism of

the Mauser Rifle, pattern 1871, with slight alterations, and there was com

bined with it the cartridge holder from the Austrian Mannlicher Rifle. This

latter feature, however, was not adopted without an important alteration

made by

the Small Arms Inspection Committee in Spandau, which alteration

made it possible to arrange or pack the cartridges symmetrically, and intro

duce the packet into the Magazine with either side uppermost. TheCartridge holders constructed by Mannlicher u

p

to that date had a rhomboid

form and could, therefore, only be introduced into the magazine in one

particular way i. e. the holder had an upper and a lower side and the lower

side must always enter the magazine first.-

This was the state of

affairs in 1888. At

that time, when nothing

better was known, most favourable results were anticipated from the adoption

of

the Mannlicher cartridge holder in Magazine Rifles, the more so as very

few hitches occurred at the trials with the holders or frames, which were

made with special care by

hand. It was hoped that even these hitches

would be removed when the holders were manufactured wholesale by

Machinery. But this hope was not realized, as it is impossible to obtain a

sufficiently high degree of precision in such holders which can only be made

by pressing or stamping from steel sheets.

Belgium was the next country to give consideration to the new armament,

and was very nearly following the example of Austria by adopting the

Magazine Rifle with Mannlicher packet loading. However, shortly before

the final decision, the special difficulty, or drawback, in connection with the

Mannlicher system, namely the impossibility of reloading the Magazine before

the last cartridge is fired, was more carefully considered, with the result that

its weighty importance and consequences were fully recognised.

The Mannlicher Magazine Rifle, owing to this drawback, lacks that

quality or

feature which is the most essential in a military Magazine rifle,

namely – that the enemy can always, and under all circumstances, be met

with the magazine fully charged – unless this can be

assured the confidence

of

the soldier in his weapon, and consequently his courage, is liable to be

greatly impaired. With the Mannlicher magazine – owing to the above

mentioned fault – there may be periods in actual warfare when the supply

of

the Magazine, which is mainly wanted only for supreme moments of

the

conflict, is nearly or altogether exhausted. It is clear that this may entail

the most painful consequences and must have a prejudicial effect on

the mindof the soldier.

As soon as this fault of

the Mannlicher packet system was recognized,

manufacturers of

small arms in all countries were requested to submit a rifle

into which the cartridges could be inserted in groups, as in the Mannlicher

system, but absolutely without the drawbacks referred to above. It was

especially set forth as indispensable to the complete reliability of

a military

arm, that the magazine should admit of being refilled at any moment with

single cartridges. In consequence of

this request on

the part of

the Belgian

Government the New Mauser Magazine Rifle, which can be loaded by

means of

a clip or charger, was produced; it proved the only one which

fulfilled the above conditions in a fully satisfactory manner. Of the many

rifles submitted it proved to be by

far

the best, excelling even the productions

of

the very practical and experienced Belgian Fire Arm Manufacturers. After

exhaustive trials it was definitely adopted by

Belgium as answering in every

respect the strict requirements of

the Belgian Authorities on Fire Arms.

LUDw. LOEwB & Co., BERLIN.

Adoption of the Mauser Magazine Rifle.

The Mauser Magazine Rifle has up to the present been adopted by the

following States:

Belgium (Belgian Pattern 1889)

-

Turkey (Turkish , 1890)

Argentine Republic (Mauser pattern for Argentina 1801)

Spain-

(Altered Turkish pattern 1890)

and its acceptance by other countries is shortly expected.

Advantages of

the Mauser Magazine Rifle.

The Mauser Magazine Rifle is,

as already explained, constructed to

meet the latest military requirements, and has been thoroughly tested in

every possible respect and approved. The main features by

which this

Rifle excels all

other Rifles at present in existence, are as follow: –

The Breech Closing Apparatus of

the Mauser Magazine

Rifle consists of a single piece, – the movable bolt head of other

Rifle systems (combined breech closing apparatus) is dispensed with.

This renders it possible to make the breech closing mecha

nism much more exact than hitherto; a good fit in the mechanism

has been found very necessary especially with the high gas

pressure employed in arms of

small calibre. The construction

of

the breech closing apparatus in one piece also removes

the possibility of

the soldier using his rifle without any bolt head,

and consequently injuring himself.

With other types of

rifles cases have frequently happened

in which, through some oversight, men have fired without the

bolt head and have been seriously wounded.

The striking or percussion mechanism of

the MauserMagazine Rifle is most simple and solid.

WAFFENFABRIK MAUse R, OBERNDORF A. NECKAR.

The safety device can be put in operation with the riflecocked, as well as after firing.

This is an advantage, principally when drilling, because it

prevents the opening of the breech.

The Extractor – this very important part – is most perfect

in the latest construction of the Mauser Magazine Rifle and more

solid than in any other rifle.The insertion and removal of the Extractor is done in the

most simple manner imaginable without the use of any tools

whatever.

The Ejector of the Mauser Magazine Rifle does its work with

the greatest uniformity.

In the Mannlicher Rifle the ejector may be prematurely dis

placed owing to its

friction in the groove of

the body; in that

case the ejector fails to act on the cartridge.

- *

The body of

the Mauser Magazine Rifle forms a complete tube

in the rear part and is not cut through by a slot or gate.

In this way a good and firm fitting of

the breech mechanism

is attained and the body is rendered very much more capable of

resistance.

The Magazine is completely closed, and therefore fully protected

against infiltration of sand and dust.

In the Mannlicher Rifle and rifles of

similar construction,

the Magazine is open at

the bottom, in order that, after the last

cartridge has been removed and inserted into the barrel, the

empty cartridge holder may fall out. The consequence of

this

is that if the soldiers adopt the prone position in firing, soil and

other substances may penetrate into the magazine and cause ob

structions in loading.

i I

LUDw. LOEwB & Co., BERLIN.

The loading clip or “charger” of the Mauser Magazine Rifle is

not introduced into the magazine, and forms no integral part of the

Rifle mechanism.

The Cartridges lie free in the magazine.

These are very important features by which the Mauser

Magazine Rifle is distinguished to its advantage over the Mann.

licher and Rifles of

similar construction. In these latter, the

cartridge holder must be introduced into the magazine along with

the cartridges; the whole repeating mechanism of

these Rifles

therefore depends upon great precision in the execution of

the

cartridge holder, and this precision is most difficult to attain.

In the Mauser Magazine Rifle the feeding of

the maga

zine may also be effected without the use of the loading

clip or “charger”, whereas the Mannlicher Rifle, and rifles of

similar construction, cannot be

used as repeating rifles without

the cartridge holder.

A further drawback in the Mannlicher and rifles of similar

construction, which may entail the most serious consequences, is

this: – the cartridges packed in the holders may stick fast after

being stored for some time; this may occur by being transported

in damp weather – particularly in the field – or by

the for

mation of

rust or verdigris in the holder. The rusty holder may

certainly be put into the magazine and with a proportionate

application of strength the first cartridge may be pushed into the

barrel and fired off, but the feed spring has not the power to

lift

up

the remaining cartridges fastened in by

rust, and these

cartridges are therefore useless to the man; he has to remove

the cartridges with the holder from the Rifle, and to put in a

new packet, with which the same difficulty may be repeated if

the cartridges are again fast by

rust.

i

WAFFENFABRIK MAUSER, OBERNIORF A. NECKAR.

All these defects are completely removed with the Mauser

Magazine Rifle, as the cartridges are pushed into the Magazine

from the clip or “charger", and therefore are placed in the

magazine free from any envelope. Even if the cartridge should

get fastened by rust in the Mauser loading clip (which is less

likely to happen because the touching surfaces of the cartridges

in the Mauser loading clip are much less than in the Mannlicher

holder) this would have no influence whatever upon the utility

of the Rifle, as the Mauser loading clip or “charger", does not

go into the rifle but the cartridges are stripped off the clip into

the magazine, in which they always lie free and movable.

In the Mauser Magazine Rifle the magazine, partly empty, may

at any time be refilled with single cartridges.

This is utterly impossible with the Mannlicher Rifle and

rifles of

similar construction; in order, in these rifles, to refill the

magazine from which some of

the cartridges have been fired, and

to complete the full number of cartridges, there is no

other way

than either to fire the remaining cartridges in the magazine into

space and waste them, or

to drop them, together with the holder,

out of

the Rifle altogether. This means in any case a waste of

ammunition the extent of

which will vary with the perfection of

the fire discipline, for the soldier, following the instincts of

self.

preservation, will be anxious always to have the magazine in his

rifle completely filled against any moment of surprise.

Such waste of

ammunition annuls the principal object of

the

introduction of the small calibre rifle – that is the reduction of

the weight of

the individual cartridges, to enable the soldier to

carry a greater number of

rounds. If he fires away his ammunition

uselessly, or

throws it out of

his rifle, the value of

the extra

amount he carries is entirely wasted.

I 3

LUDw. LOEWE & Co., BERLIN.

The force required to introduce single cartridges from the

magazine into the barrel is in the Mauser Magazine Rifle very slight

indeed, and is always uniform.

In the Mannlicher Ride on the contrary the power required

for feeding the different cartridges varies. The feeding of the

first cartridge requires a greater exertion than that of the remainder, because the cartridges are firmly embraced in the holder

with which they are introduced into the rifle.

In addition to the above named essential advantages the Mauser

Magazine Rifle is distinguished above other systems by:

extreme lightness and simplicity of construction enabling any

uninstructed person to take it to pieces and put it together again

without any special tools. It is also marked by greater durability,

and by a neat and pleasing form.

Construction of the Mauser Magazine Rifle.

The Mauser Magazine Rifle is made for any small calibre, and

for cartridges with either projecting rim or grooved base.

The Magazine can be supplied connected fast with the trigger

guard, or removable.-

The Rifles are constructed with and without jacket tubes.

The whole of the constructive details peculiar to the Mauser

rifle are protected by patents.

--- - -

14

.

PARTICULARSof the

Ma user Magazine RifleBelgian Model 1889

Calibre 7.65 mm for Cartridges with grooved base (not projecting rim)

with jacket tube.

Calibre . - - -

Total length of Rifle

Length of Barrel .

Weight without Bayonet .

Weight of Bayonet

Length of Cartridge .

Length of Bullet *

Weight of Cartridge . . . . . . . .

Weight of Bullet with Nickel envelope .

Muzzle velocity with a charge of 3.05 grammes H. P.

(47.4 grains) powder, measured at 25 metres

from the muzzle

Gas pressure").

Highest Elevation at a distance of 500 metres .

Lateral deviation at a distance of 600 metres

Four grooves with a rifling of .

The bullet makes in the first second.

The sight is graduated up to 2000 metres.

7.05 mm (.301 in)

1275 mm (50 in)

779 mm (30.7 in)

3000 grammes (abt 8"/2 lbs)

450 grammes (abt 1 lb)

78 mm (3.07 in)

30.5 mm (1.2 in)

28.6 grammes (1 oz.)

I 1.2 grammes ("/4 oz)

610 metres (2001 feet) per sec

3000 atmospheres

1529 mm (00 in)

7C0 mm (27'/ in)

250 mm (9.8 in)

2 #40 revolutions.

Power of Pen et ration:

At

a distance of

12 metres the projectile penetrates through hard beech wood of

a thickness of

520 mm (20/4 in) at right angles to the grain.

The Cartridges are packed in clips or “chargers" of

5 each.

*) See note on page 19.

15

PARTICULARSof the

M a user Magazine RifleTurkish Model 1890

Calibre 7.65 mm for Cartridges with grooved base (not projecting rim)

with out jacket tu b e.

>

Calibre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65 mm (.301 in)

Total length of Rifle . . . . . . . . . . . 1235 mm (18'), in)

Length of Barrel . . . . . . . . . . . . 722 mm (28.1 in)

Weight without Bayonet . . . . . . . . . .3900 grammes (abt 8'/, lbs)

Weight of Bayonet . . . . . . . . . . . Soo grammes (abt 1%, lbs)

Length of Cartridge . . . . . . . . . . . 78 mm (3.07 in)

Length of Bullet . . . . . . . . . . . . 30.5 mm (1.2 in)

Weight of Cartridge . . . . . . 27 grammes (abt 1 oz)

Weight of Bullet with Nickel envelope . . . . 13.8 grammes (abt '/2 oz)

Muzzle velocity with a charge of

2.65 grammes

(40.9 grains) of

smokeless powder C91.

measured 25 metres from the muzzle . . 630 metres (2066 feet i 1 in) per sec.

Gas pressure") . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3000 atmospheres

Highest elevation at

a distance of

500 metres . . 1450 mm (57 in)

Lateral deviation at

a distance of

600 metres . . 700 mm (27.5 in)

Four grooves with a rifling of

. . . . . . . 250 mm (9.8 in)

The Bullet makes in the first second . . . . . 2320 revolutions

Range 4000 metres with an elevation of

31 degr.

The sight is graduated up

to 2000 metres.

Power of Pen et ration:At 100 metres = 8 mm Iron (.31 in)

400 , = 6 , , (.24 in)

32 , = 12

to , Deal (48.7 in)

IOO , = 7OO ..., , (27.5 in)

400 , = 500 , , (19.7 in

1600 , = 20.5 , , (8 in)

2 150 , = 1 OO , , (3.9 in)

The Cartridges are packed in clips or “chargers" of

5 each.

*) See note on page 19. - *

LUDW. LOEWE & Co., COMMANDIT-GESELLSCHAFT AUF ACTIEN, BERLINPL, I -

WAFFENFABRIK MAUSER, OBERNDORF A NECKAR.

MAUSER MAGAZINE RIFLE.

Riflefor cartridgeswithoutprojectingrim(Constructionwith Jacket-Barrel), breechopen.

Cartridgesatthepointofbeingintroducedintothemagazine,

Side-view,

Section.

Back-view

Top-view

LUDW. LOEWE & Co. COMMMANDIT-GESELLSCHAFT AUF ACTIEN, BERLIN

WAFFENFABRIK MAUSER OBERNDORF A NECKAR.M AUSER MAGAZINE RIFLE

Rifle for cartridgeswithout projectingrim (Constructionwith Jacket-Barrel),breech open.M inefilled.

In closingthebreechtheloadingclipistippedoverintheagazinefalle

directionof thearrowbytheforwardmotionof theboltandfallstotheground - _-_-_- - -- - -

Rifle for cartridgeswithout projectingrim (ConstructionwithoutJacket-Barrel)breechopen. Magazinefilledinclosingthebreechtheloadingclipis tipped o

ve

hedirectiono

f

thearrow by

theforwardmotion of

- bolt- -

andfalls to theground

Section.

PL II

LUDw Loewe 8 ca., coMMANDT-GESELLSCHAFT AUF ACTIEN, BERLINPL III -

wAFFENFABRIK MAUSER OBERNDORF A NECKARMAUSER MAGAZINE - LE

Rifle for cartridges without projecting rim (Construction without Jacket-Barrel) breech closedMain-spring Cocked,readyfor firing the first cartridge

Drawingshows how the remainingCartridgesare fed forward

Rifle for cartridges without projecting rim (Construction without Jacket-Barrel) breech closed

afterfiring the last Cartridge-

IT- -N

-LUDW. LOEWE & Co, COMMANDIT-GESELLSCHAFT AUF ACTIEN. BERLIN. PL TV

wAFFENFABRIK MAUSER OBERNDORF · NECKAR-

MAUSER MAGAZINE RIFLE Magazine,bott»mopen. Cartridges.

Ii#

ihilIll

Section.

Completebreechmechanismenwithshortextractor.

- ExteriorviewSide-viewir.Back-view-

Front-view

Safety-Lock. Safety--- spring.

-- - -

- -Screw.- Cartridgesin clip.

Safety-pin. HTExtractor.

Top-viewBreechbolt

Firingpinnut

Side-view