Interesting Kaiserliche Marine 1871 mauser photograph

[Warrior1354]

I bought this photograph a few months ago, and one of the reasons I bought it. Take a good look at the rifle stock? There looks to be unit markings painted on the stock, like rack numbers. Wanted to see if other collectors here. Has anyone ever seen something like this before? With the 1871, or 1871/84 rifles. Either way I find it very interesting.

 

[cj556]

By the mag tube this one’s a 71-84. That said CB had an Erfurt 84 marked to the same unit albeit without rack numbers.

 

[Warrior1354]

By the mag tube this one’s a 71-84. That said CB had an Erfurt 84 marked to the same unit albeit without rack numbers.

I figured it was a 71/84 not just by the magazine tube, but you can barely see the magazine cut off in the photograph as well. Is there still a documented serial number record of that rifle by chance? It does make me wonder, if there are other examples like this.

 

[mauser1908]

Great photo, looks like 1st Matrosen Division to me. I bet the number below is the equipment number much like a normal marking. Never seen a painted example before.

 

[cj556]

K.M.I.M.D.374. 1888 2429 was Craig’s example.

 

[Warrior1354]

That is very close to Vincent's rifle. His rifle is also an Erfurt 1888 2843. From 1887 until 1892 the Kaiserliche Marine ordered almost 62,000. But, now this is sounding to me that Erfurt most likely did the whole contract with these particular rifles. Which makes sense. They did some of the early Gew98 Naval contracts.

Thank you for sharing that data Marc

 

[MichaelWC]

Great photo Jordan. I can't really say I've ever seen markings like that on the side of a Mauser 71-84 stock before. Looks like he is equipped with Hirschfänger 71. Going off of his equipment and uniform. I'm guessing this was taken sometime in the summer of the 1880's or 1890's.

 

[Warrior1354]

Great photo Jordan. I can't really say I've ever seen markings like that on the side of a Mauser 71-84 stock before. Looks like he is equipped with Hirschfänger 71. Going off of his equipment and uniform. I'm guessing this was taken sometime in the summer of the 1880's or 1890's.

Me neither. I want to go through some of my other Kaiserliche Marine photos too. Mainly the ones showing them with 71/84 rifles. I might see more with these unit rack numbers.