This one came in yesterday and I bumped it to the front of my photo queue, as I've been wanting one for a while. This completes my 71/84 maker set and my Mauser set of 71s (excluding the wonky police/customs carbines).
While Mauser was the creator of the 71/84 system, mainline production for Germany was handled through the Crown Arsenals (Spandau, Danzig, Erfurt and Amberg) The WMO 71/84 was only produced for the Kingdom of Württemberg. A contract was executed with Mauser and approximately 19,000 were delivered. According to Storz, production was completed in 1887, and despite further need by Württemberg, no more were produced as Mauser was overwhelmed with the large Ottoman contract for 500,000 rifles. The Württemberg 71/84s bore the c/W cypher on both the barrel and stock (for Wilhelm of Württemberg).
Based on serial number, this is one of the later rifles (being a mid "a" suffix). While the barreled action matches (with its characteristic c/A c/B c/C, c/D acceptances), unfortunately the stock and fittings were replaced at Mainz (#6), likely in the early days of WW1. Based upon other similar examples, Mainz was not known for the quality of its work and renumbering, particularly of stock and small parts was minimal. Additionally, as we have seen with Gew98s, early war depot work was often haphazard during the shortages of 1914/early 15. The most likely use of 71/84s would also be earlier in the war. Other depot 71/84s I have handled/owned are also equally hasty in their reworking.
The buttplate is unit marked to the 138th Infantry Regiment (I coincidentally have another depot 71/84 also marked to this regiment with several similarities). The follower, front screw and pin were missing, but I have a few spares.
This one is a war horse and far from perfect, but still a worthy addition; these are exceptionally scarce with a high attrition / low survival rate. This is the 5th documented in our study and the first to exhibit depot work and a Prussian unit.
Now the pics--
While Mauser was the creator of the 71/84 system, mainline production for Germany was handled through the Crown Arsenals (Spandau, Danzig, Erfurt and Amberg) The WMO 71/84 was only produced for the Kingdom of Württemberg. A contract was executed with Mauser and approximately 19,000 were delivered. According to Storz, production was completed in 1887, and despite further need by Württemberg, no more were produced as Mauser was overwhelmed with the large Ottoman contract for 500,000 rifles. The Württemberg 71/84s bore the c/W cypher on both the barrel and stock (for Wilhelm of Württemberg).
Based on serial number, this is one of the later rifles (being a mid "a" suffix). While the barreled action matches (with its characteristic c/A c/B c/C, c/D acceptances), unfortunately the stock and fittings were replaced at Mainz (#6), likely in the early days of WW1. Based upon other similar examples, Mainz was not known for the quality of its work and renumbering, particularly of stock and small parts was minimal. Additionally, as we have seen with Gew98s, early war depot work was often haphazard during the shortages of 1914/early 15. The most likely use of 71/84s would also be earlier in the war. Other depot 71/84s I have handled/owned are also equally hasty in their reworking.
The buttplate is unit marked to the 138th Infantry Regiment (I coincidentally have another depot 71/84 also marked to this regiment with several similarities). The follower, front screw and pin were missing, but I have a few spares.
This one is a war horse and far from perfect, but still a worthy addition; these are exceptionally scarce with a high attrition / low survival rate. This is the 5th documented in our study and the first to exhibit depot work and a Prussian unit.
Now the pics--
