Mauser
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| Founded | Oberndorf,Germany (July 31, 1811) |
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| Founder(s) | Wilhelm & Paul Mauser |
| Headquarters | Isny im Allgäu, Germany |
| Industry | firearms |
| Products | Hunting rifles |
| Owner(s) | Rheinmetall |
| Website | http://www.mauserwaffen.de/ |
Mauser is a German arms manufacturer, maker of a line of bolt-action rifles and pistols from the 1870s to present. Their designs were built for the German armed forces but have been exported and licensed to a number of countries since the later Nineteenth and early Twentieth Centuries, as well as being a popular civilian firearm.
In the late twentieth century, Mauser continued to make sporting and hunting rifles. In the 1990s it became a subsidiary of Rheinmetall. Mauser Jagdwaffen GmbH was split off and continues making rifles, while the Rheinmetal subsidiary, called Mauser-Werke Oberndorf Waffensysteme GmbH made other products for a time before being merged into Rheinmetall Waffe Munition Gmbh. The Mauser name has also sometimes been licensed by other companies.
[edit] History
[edit] The Early Years
Peter Paul Mauser, often referred to as Paul Mauser, was born on June 27, 1838, in Oberndorf am Neckar, in Württemberg, Germany. His brother Wilhelm was four years his senior and their father, Franz Andreas Mauser was a gunsmith at the Wuerttemberg Royal Armory which was set up by King Frederick I on July 31, 1811. The factory was built in an Augustine cloister and was chosen because it was very stoutly built and was ideal for arms production.[1] Franz Andreas married a girl from Oberndorf in 1819 and they eventually had 13 children. Another son, Franz came to America in 1853 with his sister and worked at E. Remington & Sons.[2] Peter Paul was drafted in 1859 and became an artilleryman at the Ludwigsburg arsenal where he began working as a gunsmith. He developed a rifle based on the Dreyse needle gun (Zündnadelgewehr). The rifle had a turn-bolt mechanism that cocked the gun as it was manipulated by the user and although it initially used a firing needle, a later version used a firing pin that fired a rear ignition cartridge.[3] The rifle was shown to several governments but it was only after the Austrian War Ministry showed it to Samuel Norris of E. Remington & Sons that anyone showed any serious interest in it. Norris believed that the design could be adapted to convert Chassepot needle guns to fire metallic cartridges and soon thereafter, a partnership was formed in Oberndorf, Germany between Norris and the Mauser brothers.[4] The partners went to Liege, Belgium in 1867 but after the French government showed no interest in a Chassepot conversion, the partnership was dissolved. Paul Mauser went back to Oberndorf in December, 1869 while Wilhelm arrived in April, 1870.[5]
Peter Paul and Wilhelm Mauser continued working in Paul's father-in-law's home developing their new rifle.[5] The Mauser brothers' rifle was accepted by the government of Prussia on December 2, 1871 but not accepted for service until February 14, 1872. The delay was the result of a design change Prussia requested to the safety lock.[5] Actual production of the rifle was given to government arsenals and large firms although the Mauser brothers were given an order for 3,000 sights for the new rifle. The Xaver Jauch house was used as a factory beginning on May 1, 1872 to produce the sights and after an order for 100,000 rifle sights from the Bavarian Rifle Factory at Amberg was procured, the Mauser brothers began negotiations to buy the Wuerttemberg Royal Armory. A delay in the sale forced the purchase of real estate overlooking the Neckar River valley where the Upper Works was built in 1872. A floor of a house in Oberndorf was rented to facilitate the Bavarian sight order.[5] The Wuerttemberg Armory was finally acquired on May 23, 1874 after an agreement was reached between the Wuerttemberg government and the Mausers to produce 100,000 Model 71 rifles. The partnership of Mauser Brothers and Co. was formed between the Wuerttemberg Vereinsbank of Stuttgart, Paul and Wilhelm Mauser on February 5, 1874. By May 23, 1874 the Mauser partnership had 3 factories in Oberndorf.[6]
Wilhelm Mauser died on January 13, 1882. Problems with his health plagued him throughout his life which was aggravated by his frequent business travels.[7] The partnership became a stock company with the name of Waffenfabrik Mauser on April 1, 1884.[8] The shares held by the Wuerttemberg Vereinsbank and Paul Mauser were sold to Ludwig Loewe & Co. on December 28, 1887. Paul Mauser stayed on as the company's technical leader.[8] Ludwig Loewe & Co. was 50% owner of Fabrique Nationale d'Armes de Guerre, a company formed in 1889 to manufacture Mauser rifles for the Belgian government.[8] Deutsche Waffen und Munitionsfabriken A.G. (DWM) was formed on November 7, 1896. DWM was the product of a merger of Ludwig Loewe & Co. A.G., Deutsche Metallpatronenfabrik A.G., Rheinisch-Westfaelischen Powder Co. and Rottweil-Hamburg Powder Co.[9] Mauser A.G. was formed on April 23, 1897. After World War 2, DWM was renamed Industrie-Werke Karlsruhe A.G. (IWK).[9]
[edit] Mauser-Norris Model 67/69 Rifle
A single shot, bolt action rifle developed between 1867 and 1869 by the Mauser brothers and Samuel Norris. The caliber and number of rifles produced is unknown but Ludwig Olson in his book, Mauser Bolt Rifles, 3rd edition, states that a "specimen was on display many years ago at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C."[10] The rifle was first patented in Austria by Samuel Norris on December 24, 1867. The bolt head did not rotate, a feature chosen by Paul Mauser to "protect the heads of paper cartridges from friction and possible damage while locking the bolt and to provide a non-rotary seat for the extractor when metallic cartridges were used."[10]
An improved version of the rifle utilized a coil spring wrapped around the firing pin, a safety and a cocking piece attached to the rear of the firing pin.[11] [10] This rifle was shown to the Prussian government and after some design changes to the safety, was accepted for service by Prussia as the Infantry Rifle Model 71 on February 14, 1872.[10] This weapon is often considered a close relative of the Chassepot rifle but as stated by W.H.B. Smith in his book, Mauser Rifles and Pistols, "While the genesis of the turning-bolt action lock is usually credited to Dreyse, and the overall form of that first Mauser rifle is often thought to resemble closely that of the French Chassepot, the truly revolutionary features in the design are strictly those of Peter Paul Mauser."[12]
[edit] Model 1871 and derivatives
The Mauser Model 1871 was Mauser's first rifle. The new Mauser Model 1871 rifle was adopted by the German Empire (with the exception of the Kingdom of Bavaria) as the Gewehr 71, or Infanterie-Gewehr 71 (I.G.Mod.71 was printed on the rifles themselves). Production started at the Oberndorf factory for the infantry version firing a black powder 11 x 60 mm round from a long 850 mm barrel, and shorter versions were introduced with the 700 mm barreled jaeger and 500 mm cavalry carbine. It was adopted by the German Empire but not Bavaria.
A number of slightly modified versions were widely sold to other countries, with rounds that would today be considered very large, typically 9.5 to 11.5 mm in caliber. Serbia designed an improved version of the Model 71 in 10.15 mm caliber, produced in Germany, called the Mauser-Milovanovic M1878/80. In 1884 an 8-shot tubular magazine was added by Mauser, who offered the Model 71/84. The Turkish Model 1887 rifle was the first of a series of rifles produced for the Turkish Army by Mauser. Its design echoed that of the German Gewehr 71/84 service rifle, being a bolt-action weapon with a tubular magazine beneath the barrel.
[edit] The introduction of the 7.92x57mm I cartridge
The last years of 19th Century saw a sort of "arms race" regarding developments of small arms. In 1886 the French Army introduced the Lebel Model 1886 using smokeless powder, allowing smaller diameter rounds to be propelled at higher velocities, with accuracy out to 1,000 yards; most other military rifles became obsolete. Its disadvantage was a tube magazine.
The German army introduced the best features of the Lebel in the Gewehr 88, also known as the Model 1888 Commission Rifle (Judenflinte), along with a modified Mauser action and a Mannlicher style box magazine. There was also a Carbine version, the Karabiner 88; both would be updated in the 1900s and see limited use in WWI. Note that the Gewehr 88 was not a Mauser designed and engineered rifle.
The Gewehr 88 was designed around the new 7.92x57mm I cartridge commonly known today in the USA as the "8 mm Mauser" because it was used for later Mauser rifle models. Note that this was not a Mauser designed and engineered cartridge. The 7.92x57mm I incorporated the advantages of smokeless powder and higher velocity found in the Lebel. The 7.92x57mm cartridge was rimless which allowed smoother feeding for both rifles and machine guns. The original bullet had a round head; several redesigns including the adoption of the spitzer bullet with a sharp point and boat-tail brought the cartridge to its current potency. Only later versions of Gewehr 98, or converted Gewehr 88 and Gewehr 98 rifles could fire the improved 7.92x57mm IS cartridges.
[edit] Models 1889/90/91 and Experimental Model 92
After the Mauser brothers finished works on the model 71/84 in 1880, the design team set out to create a small calibre repeater(smokeless). As they failed to have complete design by 1882 due to the setbacks by Wilhelm's death, the German rifle test commission (Gewehr-Prüfungskommission) was formed. And as the commission was divided in its needs, but preferred to create their own design. Paul Mauser decided to create two different variation of the same rifle namely the strengthened stock with barrel a shroud (to safer pull a rider of his horse) and a traditional design following the layout of the 71 series in vain hope that he might be able to overturn the commissions decision or sell his design to the Kingdom of Bavaria, which was known to adopt its own arms. The two rifles became known as the 89 Belgian (with a barrel shroud) and 91 Argentine (with a 71 layout) Mausers, identical in their function and feed system. The main features of this design was the ability to use stripper clips to feed the magazine (a revolution in rate of fire at the time), and its rimless cartridge (7,65 Argentine) also advanced for its time.
The system proved very impressive at the 1884 Bavarian arms trials and both firearms proved to be a success, but failed to convince decision makers of the stripper feeds massive superiority over the en-block system employed by mannlicher at the time. But Mauser started a small scale production of his design to convince foreign powers of its virtues, but failed to convince any of the European great powers. It did however manage to convince the Belgian attache, and his report urged the Belgian government to contact Mauser with the hopes that this design might give them a chance to found a domestic arms industry. And as we know to day the heavy barreled Mauser with the barrel shroud resulted in the founding of FN as an arms manufacturer, but as FN (150 000) could not keep up with order they outsourced production to BSA (70 000) in Birmingham. As the Belgians were in talks with Mauser the Ottoman empire gained interest in the design too, but as they wanted something simpler than the 89 Belgian Mauser they ordered their own variation of the would be 91 Argentine Mauser. They ordered a simpler and less expensive variation of the 91 Argentine known as the 90 Turkish, but as this was taking place the South American nations embarked upon an arms race. And as result of this the Argentine small arms commission contacted Mauser in 1886 about replacing their 71's and as they did not want to retrain their armed forces more than a minimum they went for the Mauser 91. All variations used the same 7,65 mm roundnosed cartridge, and a lot of parts are interchangeable. But sadly not the bayonets of the 89 and 90/91 as the barrelshroud makes the bayonet ring too wide. In an odd twist the 89 Mauser rejected by Germany in 1884 would enter service in 1940 issued to second-line units in Norway, Denmark, Holland and Belgium.
In the model 92, the non-rotating Mauser claw extractor was introduced. The Model 92, in several variations, participated in rifle trials for the U.S. Army of that year, wherein the Krag-Jørgensen rifle was chosen instead.
[edit] Model 1893
The next innovation was the Model 1893. This rifle is commonly referred to as the "Spanish Mauser", although the model was adopted by other countries in other calibers, most notably the Ottoman Empire (Turkey). The M93 introduced a short staggered-column box magazine as standard, holding five 7x57mm rounds flush with the bottom of the rifle, which could be quickly reloaded by pushing a strip of rounds down from the top of the open bolt. The new 7x57mm round became the standard round for the Spanish armed forces, as well as for the militaries of several Latin American nations, and is dubbed, in common usage, the "7mm Mauser".
A higher power version of this model in a Spanish cartridge was employed by the Spanish Regulars in Cuba. It gained a reputation for its use during the 1898 Battle of San Juan Hill in Cuba where 750 Spanish regulars significantly delayed the advance of 15,000 U.S. troops armed with a mix of .30-40 Krag-Jørgensen and some older Trap-Door Springfield rifles. There was little difference in performance between the Spanish M93 and the Krags at the ranges involved, but, compared to the Springfield, the use of smokeless powder gave a serious advantage to Spanish soldiers. In addition, The M93's stripper clip system allowed the Spanish soldiers to reload far more quickly than was possible with the Krag, the magazine of which had to be loaded one round at a time. All of this likely played a role in the U.S. in licensing the Mauser locking technology for the Krag's replacement, the M1903 Springfield rifle.
As soon as the Ottoman Army learned about the new Spanish Model of 1893, they placed an order for about 200,000 rifles in the same configuration. Their rifles were chambered for the 7.65x53mm Mauser cartridge, and were virtually identical to the Spanish model, except for the addition of a unique magazine cutoff which permitted the feeding of single cartridges, while keeping the magazine full.
[edit] Model 1894 and Model 1895
The armies of Brazil and Sweden issued the Model 94, and the similar Model 95 was sold to Mexico, Chile, Uruguay, China, Iran, and the South African states of Transvaal and The Orange Free State (Boers). A safety feature offered by the Model 1895 was a low shoulder at the rear of the receiver, just behind the base of the bolt handle, which would contain the bolt in the unlikely event that the front locking lugs sheared off due to excessive pressure. South African Mausers were highly effective against the British during the Second Boer War[13]; these proved deadly at long ranges, prompting the British to design their own Mauser-inspired high-velocity cartridge and rifle. The British Pattern 1913 rifle with Mauser style lug might have replaced the Lee-Enfield, but the exigencies of WWI prevented a replacement; thus the Lee-Enfield continued in use until it was replaced by a semi-automatic weapon after WWII. The lower rate of fire and lower magazine capacity was a source of criticism. Ironically, the Germans faced the U.S. M1917 rifle during WWI, which was the Pattern 13 rifle adapted to fire the U.S. .30-06 cartridges.
[edit] Model 1896
On November 3, 1893, the United Kingdom of Norway and Sweden adopted the 6.5x55 mm cartridge. As a result, the Swedes chambered their new service rifle —the Model 96 Mauser— in this round. The Swedish Mauser was manufactured relatively unchanged from 1896 to 1943, and M96 Rifle and M38 Carbine rifles, known by collectors as "Swedish Mausers," are often sought after by military service rifle shooters and hunters. A small initial batch of Model 96 rifles were built in Germany by Mauser, with the remainder being manufactured under license by Sweden's state-run Carl Gustaf factory. The Type 38 carbine was produced by Husqvarna, with additional carbines being converted from Model 96 rifles.
"Swedish Steel" is a term for the steel used by the Swedish and Mauser manufacturing facilities to make the M96 rifles. The Swedes felt that their steel was far superior to all others, so when Mauser was contracted to make Swedish Mausers in Germany they were required to use Swedish Steel in the manufacturing process.
[edit] C1896 Pistol
In 1896 Mauser also branched out into pistol design, producing the C96, commonly known as "Broomhandle," designed by the three brothers Fidel, Friedrich, and Josef Feederle. All versions were made to use detachable shoulder-stock/holsters. Over a million C96's were produced between 1896 and the late 1930s.
In 1897 the Mausers were given control of the factory, forming Waffenfabrik Mauser AG.
[edit] Model 1898
Eventually in 1898 the German army also purchased a Mauser design, the Model 98. M98 incorporated improvements of earlier models, and entered German service as the Gew. 98 officially on April 5, 1898. This remains by far the most successful of the Mauser designs, helped of course by the onset of two World Wars that demanded vast numbers of rifles.
Noticeable changes from previous Mauser rifle models included better ruptured case gas venting, better receiver metallurgy and larger receiver ring dimensions for handling the pressures of the 7.92x57 cartridge. Mauser also incorporated a new, third "safety" lug on the bolt body to protect the shooter in the event that one or more of the forward locking lugs failed. In 1905 the "spitzer" round was introduced, in response to the French adoption of a pointed round, which offered better ballistic performance. The bullet diameter was increased from 0.318" to 0.323". This improved round also copied the pointed tip design instead of the previous rounded nose profile, and most existing Model 98's and some Model 88's were rechambered for the round, designated "7.92 x 57IS". Pointed rounds gave the bullet a better ballistic coefficient, improving the effective range of the cartridge by decreasing aerodynamic drag.
Paul Mauser died May 29, 1914 before the start of World War I that August. World War I would see very large spike in demand for the company's rifles, as well as a number of variants of it. This included the several 98 carbines as well as an experimental version with a twenty round, rather than five round, box magazine. The extended magazine was not well received, however.
A number of carbine versions known as Karabiner 98's had been introduced and used in World War I, some of which were even shorter than the later K.98k. These carbines were originally only distributed to cavalry troops but later in the war to the special stormtroop units as well.
[edit] G98 derivatives
A great number of military rifles derived from the M98 design. Some of these were German-made by various contractors apart from Mauser, and include the M1899 Serbian in 7x57 mm, M1902 Mexican in 7x57 mm, M1903 Turkish in 7.65x53 mm, M1904 Portuguese 'Mauser-Vergueiro' 6.5x58mm, M1909 Argentinian in 7.65x53 mm, Japanese Arisaka Type 38 and Type 99 in 6.5x50mm and 7.7x58mm, and numerous others.
Following the collapse of the German Empire in the WW1, many countries that were using Mauser models chose to develop, assemble or modify their own G98-action rifle designs; The most prolific were the Czechoslovakian M1922 CZ 98 and M1924 CZ vz.24 and the Belgian Fabrique Nationale M1924 and M1930, all in 7.92x57 mm.
The Belgians and Czechs produced and exported widely their 'Mausers' in various calibers throughout the 20s and 30s, before their production facilities were absorbed by the conquering Nazi Germany and used to produce parts or whole rifles for the German army. Strictly speaking these are not Mauser rifles, as they were not engineered or produced by the Germans. It is a common misconception that the Czech and Belgian 'Mausers' are copies of the K98k due to their superficial similarity in length, in reality these were developed at least 10 years earlier and as they were peace-time products, they are renowned for their high standards of engineering and manufacture.
Meanwhile in Germany, in order to use the widespread and popular German single-shot target (and light hunting) cartridge 8.15x46R (comparable to the US-American .32-40) also in a military-looking firearm, a modified Gewehr 98 was designed in 8.15x46R and referred to as a "Wehrmannsgewehr", indicating civilian shooters' pre-military training usage. These were made primarily as single shots, though some only had a wood block in the magazine space to accomplish that. These became the 1936 Olympic team rifles for the Germans.
 An 8.15x46r Mauser |
 the top of the receiver on an 8.15x46r |
As the restrictions on production were increasingly ignored by the Germans, a new version Mauser was developed in the 1930s from the rifle-length Karabiner 98b, the Karabiner 98 Kurz (carbine, short) was adopted by Nazi Germany as the standard infantry rifle in 1935, and would serve until the end of World War II, (see later paragraph).
[edit] Mauser 1910 and 1914 Pocket Pistols
The 1910 was a small self-loading pistol chambered for .25 ACP (6.35 mm). It was introduced in 1910; an updated model chambered for .32 ACP (7.65 mm) came out in 1914. Model 1934 is virtually identical to the 1914 except for the grip, which had a more curved back. Most of these would go on to be used by the Wehrmacht and the German Navy. They were also sold commercially.
[edit] Type A, Model B, Model K, Armee-Model C, Africa-Model
This was a series of very successful hunting rifles developed the first decades of the 20th century. The Special Rifle Type A was the top of the line sporting rifle of the early 1900s. The Model B (B for Büchse) and Model K were sport rifles offered in many configurations. The Model C was made from 1903 to 1930. It was cheap rifle made in range of cartridges, such as for hunting. Despite its name it was not a major military rifle, though it was purchased by some. The Mauser Africa Model was used mainly by Settlers in Africa, and was introduced around 1904. And then in 1905 they came out again.
[edit] Modell M and Modell S
The Modell M was introduced in 1914. A Modell S (S for Stutzen or short) was also offered.
[edit] Mauser 1925 Special Range Rifle
The 1925 Special Range Rifle, was a commercial product sold in the United States introduced in 1925. It was intended for high accuracy range shooting. they also produced a .22 cal. training rifle during this time frame
[edit] Mauser Model 1934 Pocket Pistol
This was based on the earlier Model 1910/34, and was a small pocket pistol chambered for .32 ACP. It was used by the Kriegsmarine and also sold commercially.
[edit] Karabiner 98k
The Karabiner 98k "Mauser" (often abbreviated "K98k" or "Kar98k") was adopted in the mid 1930s and would be the most common infantry rifle in service within the German Army during World War II. The design was based on developed from the Karabiner 98b, one of the carbines developed from the Model 1898 mentioned before. The K98k was first adopted by the Wehrmacht in 1935 to be their standard issue rifle, with many older versions being converted and shortened as well as the design itself entering production.
In the name K98k, the first "K" stands for karabiner (carbine) and the second "k" for kurz (short). The "98" is derived from the earlier rifle's year of adoption (1898), though the carbine itself was adopted in 1935. The K98k is often confused as being the earlier Model 98 design; however, there are notable differences between them. The easiest to spot are its shorter length, and bent, rather than straight bolt handle. Less obvious are that it has different, simpler sights. It was intended to be a "universal rifle" for all parts of the Heer rather than having both Carbine and full length versions.
The rifle has a bolt-action and uses 7.92 x 57 mm rounds (referred to as 8 mm Mauser). It has an effective range of about 800 metres, but when fitted with a high-quality rifle scope, its range increases to 1,000 metres. The K98k has a 5 round internal magazine and is loaded from either 5 round stripper clips that are inserted into a slot in front of the opened bolt and pushed into the magazine with the thumb, or, rounds may be loaded one at a time, allowing for topping off a partially empty magazine. A trench magazine was also produced that could be attached to the bottom of the internal magazine by removing the floor plate, increasing capacity to 20 rounds, though it still required loading with 5 round stripper clips. Over 14 million of these rifles were produced by various manufacturers. However, this number includes versions of the rifle other than the K98k, such as the Czech vz-24 which continued to be produced during WWII.
Post war, many of the liberated European countries continued production of rifles similar to the K98k, for example CZ and FN produced both their proprietary models and new K98k rifles, many of which were assembled from leftover German parts or using captured machinery. This production was a brief stop-gap solution and the vast majority of these rifles were soon stored or given for very low prices to various fledging states or rebel movements throughout the developing world. From 1950 to 1965, Yugoslavia also produced a near-copy of the K98k called the Model 1948, which differed only from the German rifle in that it had the shorter bolt-action of the Belgian M1924 series of rifles. In addition, in 1953, the Spanish La Coruña arsenal was manufacturing a slightly modified version, but with a straight bolt handle.
[edit] Mauser HSc
The Mauser HSc was a self-loading handgun introduced in the 1940s. It was offered in .32 ACP. It was a compact double action blowback design. Production ran from 1940 till the end of production in WWII, and for a period in 1960s and early 1970s. The post war models were also available in .380 ACP
[edit] Mauser Post 1940
In 1940 Mauser was invited to take place in a competition to re-equip the German army with a semi-automatic rifle, the Gewehr 41. The requirements specified that the design should not drill holes into the barrel, thereby requiring mechanisms that proved unreliable. Two designs were submitted, and the Mauser version, the G 41(M) failed miserably in testing and was cancelled after a short production run. Walther's version did not do much better, but was later improved with the addition of a simpler gas-Operated system.
With the fall of Germany at the end of the war, Oberndorf came under French control, and the entire factory was dismantled by the occupying forces. All records in the factory were destroyed on orders of the local French Army commander. For a period of years after WWII, Mauser Werke manufactured precision measurement instruments and tools, such as micrometers. Edmund Heckler, Theodor Koch and Alex Seidel, former Mauser engineers, saved what they could and used it to start Heckler & Koch. Heckler & Koch has since taken over the role of Germany's main small-arms manufacturer. Mauser continued to make hunting and sporting rifles. In 1994 it became a subsidiary of Rheinmetall, who manufactured autocannons, such as the Mauser BK-27 and munitions under the name until 2004 when it merged into another unit. In 1999 the civilian manufacture of hunting, defense, and sporting rifles had been split off from Rheinmetall.
[edit] Civilian market
Mausers were readily adapted as hunting rifles. In Africa, so-called Safari rifles were often made from Mauser rifles. These rifles were often rechambered in larger rounds up to and including .50 cal (12.7 mm). The adaptations usually consisted of shortening the foregrip and barrel, rechambering to popular British rounds, and minor alterations to the action, although the rifle was left fundamentally Mauser designed. In the late 19th century and early 20th century, companies who made alterations were generally Commonwealth based and developed several proprietary big game rounds specifically for hunting large and dangerous game. Today large and small bore Mauser-derived rifles are made all over the world for the civilian market and are popular with hunters.
Additionally, many surplus military Mausers have entered the civilian market. Many of these rifles were left in their original condition and purchased by collectors or even by ordinary gun owners who continue to use them for casual shooting.
After WWII a considerable number of surplus 98K actions were around, and some were used by Schultz & Larsen in Denmark as the basis for target rifles. Some of these are still in competitive use today, although with the benefit of new barrels.
The strong following enjoyed by surplus military Mausers is not only a testament to their reliability but also to the widespread availability of affordable surplus ammunition for these rifles. Ironically, this ammunition can also pose a significant threat to these rifles since much of the ammunition uses a corrosive primer. Corrosive ammunition will remain useful for decades if it is stored in the right conditions, but care must be taken to thoroughly clean the gun after firing lest it quickly suffer irrevocable damage. Still, if proper care is taken one can use corrosive ammunition with no ill effects, and of course one can always have recourse to non-corrosive commercially loaded ammunition.
[edit] Manufacturers
- John Rigby & Company developed no less than four distinct rounds used in hunting big game (.275 Rigby, .350 Rigby, .416 Rigby, and in the early 90's .450 Rigby) for its Mauser Safari rifles.
- Česká Zbrojovka manufactures various 98 Mauser variants, the most notable being the CZ 550 Safari Magnum, from .375 HHMag to .458 Lott.
- Mauser Jagdwaffen GmbH (Mauser Huntingweapons Ltd.) currently makes a Mauser M98 rifle chambered in several medium and magnum chamberings and a M98 Safari rifle, chambered in .416 Rigby, .450 Dakota, .458 Lott, and .500 Jeffry.
- Zastava manufactures several 98 Mauser variants, the best known of these being the LK M70 and M85 series, in various popular calibers ranging from .22-250 to .458 Winchester Magnum. A number of the LK M70 slightly modified versions were widely sold to other countries.
- Carl Gustav Sweden national armory took over the manufacturing of the M94/96 and the famous target rifles CG63 and CG68.
- Husqvarna Vapenfabrik made M94-96 and variant M38 (also M38-96) and many other civilian variations; Model 46 (46A,46B and 46AN) in cal. 6.5X55 and 9.3X57 and 9.3X62) Model 640 (646 — 6.5X55, 648 — 8X57IS, 649 — 9.3X62) without the thumb notch. They also used FN action for later models 640 and 140 series. Considered as being of the finest Mauser-type action, the cross-over model 1640 Improved Mauser (over the M96) is a crossing between M98 and M96. They also produced the 1900 actions.
- Fabrique Nationale de Herstal made one of the finest M98 series, early production being Small Ring, later being Large Ring of "C" (early) and "H" (late)design. The FN actions were used by others, i.e. Sako of Finland as their Hi-Power Rifles, Browning on the early Medallions, Husqvarna Small Ring model 146 and Large Ring late model 640, and Kodiak Arms, Connecticut, USA reconditioned milsurp FN Mauser actions to build fine grade commercial hunting rifles. Many other renowned arm manufacturers used the quality FN action.
[edit] Mauser firearms 1954–2004
In the 1950s Mauser was formally re-established.
[edit] 1960s
A rifle design by Walter Gehmann is purchased, and goes into production in 1965 as the Modell 66. Some self-loading pistols are also offered again, such as the Mauser HSc.
- Modell 66, Modell 66 S, Modell 66 P
[edit] 1970s–1990
- Modell 77
- Modell 86
- Mauser SP66 — a sniper rifle based on the Model 66. A further upgraded model was the Mauser 86 SR.
- Mauser Parabellum - Mauser reintroduces the famous Parabellum pistol
[edit] 1990–1999
In the 1990s Mauser is bought by Rheinmetall Berlin AG, completed in 1996. (Rheinmetall Berlin AG renamed Rheinmetall AG that same year). In 1999 the firearms maker is split off from the Rheinmetall. The Mauser name is divided between the traditional civilian rifle company and a division of Rheinmetall.
- Modell SR93 sniper rifle
- Modell 94
- Modell 96 / Modell 96 S — a straight pull action rifle
- Modell SR97
[edit] 1999–2004
In 1999 the Mauser civilian gun segment gets separated from the military segment and is bought by the German investors Michael Lüke and Thomas Ortmeier. The Mauser Jagdwaffen GmbH (Mauser Huntingweapons Ltd.) is set up with its company base being situated in Isny im Allgäu in southern Germany. Rifles are produced here exclusively for the hunting/sporting sector. Mauser Jagdwaffen GmbH resumed the production of the Mauser models M 98 und M 98 Magnum again according to the original drawings and respective Mauser patents of the Gewehr 98 and Karabiner 98k.
In 2000 Mauser Jagdwaffen GmbH and its European sister companies, J.P. Sauer & Sohn, Blaser and Swiss Arms were unified by the German investors Michael Lüke and Thomas Ortmeier under the SIGARMS name.
In 2003 Mauser Jagdwaffen GmbH introduced the M 03 hunting/sporting bolt-action rifle.
In 2004 Mauser-Werke Oberndorf Waffensysteme GmbH was incorporated into Rheinmetall Waffe Munition GmbH, along with several other companies.
[edit] Mauser 2004–present
On October 1, 2007 SIGARMS officially changed their name to SIG SAUER. This change of name reflects how SIG SAUER has become one of the largest firearms manufacturing entities in the world.[14] It is also the fastest growing firearms maker in the United States, expanding its operations and increasing sales nearly 50% since 2005.become. SIG SAUER has recently tripled its work force and invested eighteen million dollars into state of the art manufacturing facilities and equipment.[14]
[edit] Mauser rifles offered (2008)
- M 03 Basic
- M 03 Extreme
- M 03 Trail
- M 03 Match / Jagdmatch
- M 03 Solid
- M 03 Africa
- M 03 Arabesque
- M 03 De Luxe
- M 03 Old Classic
- M 03 Alpine
- M 98
- M 98 Magnum
[edit] Mauser M2 handgun
The Mauser M2 is a Mauser branded handgun offered in the United States. It is a self-loading double-action pistol offered in .45 ACP initially, and later in .40 S&W and .357 SIG. The Mauser M2 is dimensionally similar to the SIG P229 pistol, also manufactured by SIGARMS. Unlike most SIGs, it utilizes a rotating barrel like a Beretta. It's also striker-fired, like a Glock pistol.
The Mauser M2 was offered by SIGARMS, though by 2006 it no longer appeared on their website. SIGARMS purchased the Mauser name for pistol manufacture in 1999. This pistol also is no longer supported by SIGSAUER nor Mauser Jagdwaffen GmbH. It hasn't been imported by SIG in over four years, and the Mauser Oberndorf plant where the M2 was manufactured has been closed.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Smith, W.H.B. (Reprinted 1990). Mauser Rifles and Pistols. Wolfe Publishing Company:Prescott, Arizona. Pg. 12-13. ISBN 0-935632-94-8
- ^ Olson, Ludwig (1981). Mauser Bolt Rifles (3rd ed.). F. Brownell & Son, Publishers, Inc.:Montezuma, Iowa. Pg. 1-3
- ^ Olson, Ludwig, pg.3
- ^ Olson, Ludwig, pg. 4
- ^ a b c d Olson, Ludwig, pg.5
- ^ Olson, Ludwig, pg.5-7
- ^ Smith, W.H.B., pg.14
- ^ a b c Olson, Ludwig, pg.9
- ^ a b Olson, Ludwig, pg.10
- ^ a b c d Olson, Ludwig, pg.22
- ^ Smith, W.H.B., pg.54-55
- ^ Smith, W.H.B., pg.17
- ^ Mauser Model 95 / Plezier Mauser 7 x 57 mm
- ^ a b About Us
[edit] External links
- Mauser's official web page (rifles)
- German 1888 Commission Rifles
- The formally Mauser branded autocannons and products
- Persian Mauser
- Zastava Arms
- The Mauser Bolt Rifles FAQ
- M1878/80 Mauser Milovanovic
- Mauser Collectors Forum
- Luger Artillery and Mauser Parabellum
