Mauser: The Rifle That Made Good

This article, written by Ludwig Olson, appeared originally in the April 1975 issue of The American Rifleman. To subscribe to the monthly magazine, visit NRA’s membership page.

One of the most important Mauser rifles and one which represented a major step in Mauser development was the Spanish Model 93. This rifle won against all contenders in the Spanish rifle trials of the early 1890’s and was approved and made regulation by royal order of Dec. 7, 1893. So pleased were the Spanish with the Model 93 that they awarded Paul Mauser the Grand Cross of the Order for Military Merit.

Chambered for the 7 mm. rimless cartridge, the Spanish Model 93 rifle featured a staggered-column box magazine flush with the bottom of the stock. This five-round magazine not only gave the rifle improved compactness and a better appearance, but also facilitated carrying and afforded protection for the magazine box.

The Model 93 proved its worth during the Spanish-American War. of 1898, and this was no small factor in making the Mauser rifle popular throughout the world. The excellent ballistics of the 7 mm. Model 93 and the great rapidity with which this rifle could be clip loaded caused U.S. officers to take note. After a large number of Model 93 rifles fell into U.S. hands, an extended study of the Mauser system was made at Springfield Armory which led to adoption of the M1903 Springfield by the U.S. Army.

Ever on the alert for new developments. Turkey was impressed by improvements in the Spanish Model 93 and decided to adopt a similar rifle, but in cal. 7.65 mm. and equipped with a magazine cutoff. The cutoff was a spring-actuated lever pivoted in the right side of the action. When engaged, it held the cartridge column in a slightly lowered position to prevent feeding.

The contract for the Turkish Model 93 (201,100 rifles) was handled by the Mauser Co., and was largely responsible for making the year 1893 one of the most successful in Mauser history. Turkey was Mauser’s best customer for many years, and contracts from the Imperial Ottoman government kept the Oberndorf firm busy for almost a decade.

In 1894, Brazil adopted a cal. 7 mm Mauser rifle practically identical to the Spanish Model 93 except that its magazine follower was tapered off at the rear so that it didn’t have to be depressed manually while closing the bolt on an empty magazine. European troops of the former Congo Free State also used Model 94 Mauser rifles, but in cal. 7.65 mm.

Sweden placed an order with the Mauser Co. for 5,000 Model 94 cal. 6.5 mm. carbines in August. 1894, and another for 7,185 of this model in June, 1895. In 1896. the Swedes also adopted a cal. 6.5 mm. Mauser infantry rifle. The Mauser Co. received a contract for 45,000 Swedish Model 96 rifles in 1899, and a new structure known as the Swedish Building was added to the factory in Oberndorf. Many Swedish Mausers were also produced in Sweden under license by the Carl Gustafs Stads Geväersfaktori, a government establishment, and the commercial firm Husqvarna Vapenfabriks, A.-B.

Swedish Mausers retained the staggered-column box magazine and cock-on-closing action of the Spanish Model 93. but had a rounded cut in the left wall of the receiver to facilitate loading the magazine and permit easy escape of gas. Since this cut was full depth, it was necessary to locate the bolt guide rib on the bolt instead of in the receiver. Another feature of Swedish Mausers was a projection on the upper rear of the cocking piece to permit lowering with the thumb.

The 7 mm. Model 95 Mauser rifle was very similar to the Spanish Model 93. Adoption of the Model 95 by Mexico. Chile, Uruguay, and the Boers (Transvaal and the Orange Free State) was evidence of the prominent part the Spanish Model 93 played in making the Mauser rifle universally popular. The 7 mm. Model 95 Mauser was also adopted by China and Iran.

Deadly long-range fire from 7 mm. Mausers during the Boer War (1899- 1902), did much to influence the design of military rifles and ammunition. Defensive tactics of the Boers and the open terrain made accurate shooting at long range an important factor, and the superior performance of the 7 mm. for this type of warfare soon made itself apparent to both sides.

Britain made an extensive study of military rifles and ammunition following the conflict, and this resulted in development of a cal. .276 experimental Enfield rifle which fired a high-velocity 7 mm. cartridge.

Founding of the Deutsche Waffen-und Munitionsfabriken A.-G. (German Arms and Ammunition Co., Inc.; abbreviated DWM) on Nov. 7, 1896, was an important event in Mauser history. DWM was formed by merger of the Deutsche Metall-Patronen Fabrik A.-G. (German Metallic Cartridge Co., Inc.) in Karlsruhe, with Ludwig Loewe & Co., A.-G. in Berlin, the Rheinisch-Westfaelischen Powder Co. in Cologne, and the Rottweil-Hamburg Powder Co. in Rottweil. Since Loewe owned the Mauser Co. stock and more than 50% of the Fabrique Nationale stock, these firms became affiliated with DWM. On Apr. 23, 1897, the letters A.-G. (abbreviation for Aktiengesellschaft, equivalent to the British term Limited or the American term Incorporated) were added to the Mauser firm’s name. Paul Mauser remained on the board of directors and superintended the research and development section of the Mauser Co., but had no financial control.

Shortly after the Spanish Model 93 Mauser was introduced, the German government began tests with various rifles to find suitable replacement for the Commission Model 88. It was obvious that the Model 88, particularly its Mannlicher clip-loading system, was inferior to the Mauser Model 93. Furthermore, it was questionable whether cal. 7.9 mm. was best for military use. This prompted the Germans to test Mauser rifles in various calibers. One was in cal. 6 mm. Lee. Others were 2,185 Model 96 rifles chambered for a 6 mm. round somewhat larger than the 6 mm. Lee, some cal. 7.65 mm. rifles, and 2,000 cal. 7.9 rifles with a tubular metal handguard. The latter were ordered from the Mauser Co. in Jan., 1895. Mauser also produced the cal. 6 mm. rifles.

The Model 96 6 mm. experimental rifle had several improvements over the Spanish Model 93 and Swedish Mausers. Most important was a shrouded bolt head. The portion of the bolt forward of the locking lugs was a close fit with a cylindrical recess in the receiver ring. This helped prevent rearward escape of gas and strengthened the receiver ring. Other features were a safety lug toward the rear of the bolt, and a large flange at the forward end of the bolt sleeve which served as a gas shield.

A second version of the Model 96 6 mm. experimental rifle was generally similar to the first version, but had a cockon- opening action. Another feature was a bolt-sleeve lock to prevent rotation of the firing mechanism when the bolt was moved rearward.

After considerable experimenting with various rifles, the German Rifle Testing Commission recommended that an improved Mauser rifle of cal. 7.9 mm. be adopted. Designated Infantry Rifle 98, this Mauser with an action similar to that of the second version of the Model 96 experimental rifle was adopted by Germany April 5, 1898.

In 1904, a contract for 500,000 Model 98 rifles was given jointly to Mauser and DWM. Production facilities at Oberndorf were so taxed that a new structure known as the German Building was added to the Mauser plant. The Model 98 was also produced by German government arsenals (Amberg, Danzig, Erfurt, and Spandau) as well as Waffenwerke Oberspree Kornbusch & Co., V. Chr. Schilling, C. G. Haenel, Simson & Co., and J. P. Sauer & Sohn.

Soon after Germany adopted the Model 98, many other nations ordered rifles with actions of Model 98 design. These were in various calibers and with an assortment of model designations. Turkey was one of the principal buyers with an order for 200,000 rifles. China, Serbia, Mexico, Costa Rica, and several South American nations were the other purchasers. Much of this business was handled by DWM.

Among the more unusual Mauser rifles was the Portuguese Model 1904 Mauser-Vergueiro in cal. 6.5 mm. Developed by Vergueiro, a Portuguese officer, this bolt-action repeater was produced by DWM. It featured the Mauser staggered-column box magazine, but had a separate bolt head similar to that of the German Commission Model 88 rifle. The receiver also resembled that of the Commission Model 88 in that it had a slotted bridge for passage of the bolt handle. A cal. 7 mm. version of this rifle was produced for the Brazilian military police.

Paul Mauser died May 29, 1914, at the age of 76. During his later years he was engaged in development of semi-automatic rifles and pocket pistols. The pistols proved successful, but the semi-automatic rifles were not fully developed.

The Mauser firm was expanded considerably during World War I. At the end of 1916, the number of employees was approximately 7,000. A large quantity of Model 98 rifles was produced during this period, and manufacture of a cal. 13 mm. anti-tank rifle was started in early 1918. Developed by the Mauser firm, this 38-lb., single-shot bolt-action arm was commonly called an “elephant rifle” by factory workers and German troops. It had a shoulder stock and was fitted with a bipod. A repeater version of this rifle was also developed, but it was introduced too late for use in the war.

Performance of the Model 98 rifle during World War I was extremely good. This arm proved very effective and reliable, and was well liked by German soldiers. It did, however, show a few deficiencies which led to development of a new rifle proposed in 1917. Designated Model 98/17, the new rifle was basically similar to the Model 98, but was easier to produce and had a metal bolt cover to keep out dirt. It also had a 100-meter setting for the rear sight to make it easier to hit small targets at short range, and a square shoulder on the rear of the magazine follower to hold the bolt open after the last round was fired. This rifle was developed too late in the war to warrant retooling for its mass production and therefore never got beyond the trial stage. There were also Model 18 and Model 1929 experimental Mausers based on the Model 98.

Because of restrictions placed on military arms production by the Versailles Treaty following World War I, the Mauser firm took up manufacture of precision measuring tools, calculating machines, industrial sewing machines, and other items of peacetime industry. Even a small car, referred to humorously as the Mauser duck, was produced, but it did not prove successful. A larger Mauser car gave better promise but could not compete cost-wise with cars turned out by the auto industry. Due to the nature of the items produced, the name of the firm was changed on May 30, 1922, from Waffenfabrik Mauser A.-G. to Mauser-Werke A.-G. (Mauser Works, Inc.).

The period following the war was a difficult one for Mauser. Center-fire sporting rifles, cal. .22 rimfire rifles, and pistols were produced, but this business was small compared to the large military rifle contracts of World War I and earlier. In 1929, the number of employees dropped to 750, and it appeared that the firm would fail.

Production of Mauser military rifles and carbines was largely taken over during the 1920’s and early 1930’s by Fabrique Nationale (FN) of Herstal, Belgium, and Ceskoslovenska Zbrojovka (Czechoslovakian Arms Factory; abbreviated CZ), Brno, Czechoslovakia. Mausers produced by these firms had various designations, but all had actions of Model 98 design. They were supplied to nations in Europe, Asia, Africa, and Central and South America. Military Mausers with actions of Model 98 design were also produced by government arsenals in Poland, Yugoslavia, Spain, China, and various other countries.

Despite the Versailles Treaty, the Mauser Co. developed a Model 98 type of military short rifle called the Standard-Modell (German spelling of model has double l). This was a shortened version of the German Model 98 rifle, and was developed about 1924. Mauser brochures did not tell directly what was meant by Standard- Modell, but stated that the 600 mm. (23.6″) barrel length of this arm gave special handiness to make the rifle standard for both infantry and cavalry.

The Standard-Modell was introduced commercially in calibers 7.9 mm., 7.65 mm., and 7 mm., and was sold to clubs, and police and guard organizations. It was also sold to Ethiopia and China, and the Chinese produced a crude copy called the Chiang Kai-shek rifle. Both original and copy versions were used by China in the war with Japan (1937-45) and also by Communist forces in Korea. A slightly modified version of this short rifle designated carbine 98k was the standard German shoulder arm during World War II.

With the rearmament of Germany during the mid-1930’s, the Mauser plant again became a beehive of activity. Orders for military arms were so huge that the Mauser Co. took over empty buildings of the DWM arms plant at Berlin-Wittenau in 1934, and operated a branch plant there. The Berlin plant had 4,000 to 5,000 employees, and produced 98k carbines, submachine guns, and machine guns.

At Oberndorf, the number of Mauser employees reached 7,000 by 1936. During that time the Mauser firm became an important center for development and production of machine guns and light automatic cannon. The well-known MG34 dual-purpose machine gun, MG81 aircraft machine gun, 2 cm. Flak 38 AA gun, and MG151 aircraft automatic cannon were largely Mauser developments. Other ac- Many rifles and carbines made by the Mauser firm bear the Mauser banner trademark used since 1909. Activity at the Mauser plant in Oberndorf was large-scale production of 98k carbines and various models of semi-automatic pistols (Luger, P38, and HSc). By 1944, the number of Mauser employees at Oberndorf was close to 12,000, of which 7,000 were Germans. The remainder were slave laborers and others from German occupied countries.

Production at the Mauser plant in Oberndorf was not greatly affected by air raids during World War II until the middle of 1943. The raids were more frequent from that time on. Toward the end of 1944, the raids caused work interruptions almost daily and resulted in greatly decreased production. The first bombs fell in the plant area Feb. 2, 1945, without doing any great damage. On Feb. 22, bombs destroyed part of the Central Works and caused death and injuries.

A French Army unit occupied the Mauser Works at Oberndorf on April 20, 1945. The Research Dept. and parts of the Production Dept. were transferred out of Oberndorf a few days before the occupation, but were overtaken by Allied forces in the Tyrol.

Production at the Oberndorf plant continued under direction of the occupation forces until 1947 when the French ordered liquidation of the firm. Many Mauser machines as well as research records and a large arms collection were then moved to France and various other countries. In 1948 and 1949, a large portion of the plant was razed by demolitions, and several remaining buildings were taken over by companies producing textiles, measuring tools, office machines, and drug products.

The order for liquidation of the firm was lifted in 1959. Production of precision measuring tools and industrial sewing machines was then resumed, and Mauser became affiliated with OTNIMA (now Mauser-Schaerer), a firm which produces items for the German automotive industry.

In 1963, Mauser acquired manufacturing rights to a short-action sporting rifle developed by Walter Gehmann, a well-known shooter and arms dealer of Karlsruhe, Germany. This center-fire hunting rifle was introduced in 1965, and is currently marketed under the designation Mauser Modell 66 (Model 660 in the U.S.). It is of bolt-action design, but differs radically from earlier Mauser rifles. Its outstanding features are a quick-change barrel and extremely short action. The short action is made possible by a receiver slide which supports the bolt in a telescoping arrangement.

Other commercial arms offered currently by Mauser are HSc and Parabellum (Luger) pistols, and center-fire sporting rifles featuring a conventional bolt action easier to manufacture than the Model 98. These rifles are produced for Mauser by the Friedrich Wilhelm Heym Arms Factory in Müennerstadt, West Germany. Except for the rifle manufactured by Heym. Commercial Mauser arms are now produced at the Oberndorf plant by a division of the Mauser firm called Mauser-Jagdwaffen G.m.b.H.

Although superseded for military use by semi-automatic and automatic rifles, the bolt-action Mauser is still an important arm for sporting use. The Model 98 inspired development of famous rifles such as the Winchester Model 70, and many sporting arms with actions of Model 98 design are still produced. When Germany surrendered in 1945, many Mauser records were lost or destroyed. It is therefore impossible to give an accurate account of Mauser bolt-action rifle production. According to one German estimate, the number of bolt-action Mausers with Model 98 action design produced by the Mauser Co. and other manufacturing establishments was approximately 102 million. The Mauser was not only produced in fabulous quantity; it also enjoyed worldwide distribution. It is truly the rifle that made good.

Information for this article was obtained from Alex Mauser, son of Paul Mauser, Dr. Rolf Gminder, Sales Manager of Mauser-lagdwaflen, G.nr.b.11., Ferdinand Feederle of the Heimatmuseum, Oberndorf a./N., U.S. Army Report Of The Chief Of Ordnance (1892), and the following books: Mauser Gewehre und Mauser Patente, by R. H. Korn, Geschichte der Mauser-Werke, and Oberndorf Lebt und Baut Auf.