Help Identifying an M1871

samuel990

Senior Member
So in my search for another French m1777 Charleville, I came across this 1871 mauser, a rifle I have little knowledge of. But I have started to become interested in black powder cartridge rifles, and think if this is a authentic rifle, I would buy it. It is claimed to be an experimental jaeger rifle, but I could find no other rifles like it. It has double set triggers and appears to have the jaeger triger guard. It also has a turned down bolt, which if im not mistaken was only on the cavalry model. But here are a few pictures of it. Please let me know what you think.
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interesting possibly some kind of sporting rifle? don't see any markings on the stock. Do you have good pics of the rcvr?
 
interesting possibly some kind of sporting rifle? don't see any markings on the stock. Do you have good pics of the rcvr?

Yes. Here are dome more pictures. I have a few more, so if you need to see anything else I will try to find it. I did see it was made a Erfurt. No jaeger rifles where made there I think... I tried to find a designation code, but couldn’t find one.
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mmmh interesting. The last time i saw this rifle it featured a straight bolt handle...
 

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mmmh interesting. The last time i saw this rifle it featured a straight bolt handle...

Looks like he thought it would look more like a “jaeger” rifle with the turned down bolt. Here is the responce I got when asking if he had provence or documents on the rifle.

“I am sorry but I do not have any reference on this particular rifle. I have had and seen literally hundreds of Mauser 1871 rifles and carbines over the last 30 years but only two of these with this kind of triggers, bent bolt handle and rear sling swivel. Also the gun is not unit marked suggesting an experimental rifle...

Thank you very much for the interest.”
 
I doubt this is an experimental rifle, as far as I am aware these types of triggers are for hunting purposes, turning down a bolt is common enough for that purpose also, though it looks like the bolt is mismatched anyway (so irrelevant to any former status).

Besides the obvious, that double triggers would serve no purpose for a military application, you would need good pictures to offer much of an opinion, - like the date of the rifle, because although experimental rifles can be found after introduction of a variation, they seem to be more common at the beginning (pre-production). Also Erfurt is hardly known for trials rifles, usually they are the patent holders (Mauser/DWM) or Spandau business.

Anyway, these are just some random thoughts and I doubt many could answer your question, not too many specialize on this variation and now that CB is gone, I wouldn't even know where to suggest you begin your journey studying the rifle. You might buy Storz book on the M71 & M71/84, the strength of his books are in museum collections and archival work, it might be the best place to start, but I doubt it will answer your questions. This subject reminds me of Richard Law's boondoggle in Backboner II where double set triggers were applied to a bcd/4 "sniper", which garnered a considerable amount of ridicule two decades ago... odds are excellent this is some bastardization being passed off as desirable.
 
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