CptCurl
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| 26/09/21 09:44 PM |
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Mauser Spandau arsenal 71/84
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I've just bought a Mauser Spandau arsenal 71/84. I don't have it in possession yet. I'll be gathering up a bullet mould, dies, and brass because I plan to shoot that wonderful antique.
As I go along I hope to have some useful advice from members of this forum. I know it will be a fun undertaking.
Here's my first question. It has a unit mark neatly engraved on the buttplate. Can anybody interpret the mark so I can know the meaning? Here's a look:
Thanks in advance. I think this unit mark adds a lot of personality to the rifle, so I really want to know its meaning.
More pics and discussion to follow as this develops. Please join in.
Curl
| kuduae |
| (.400 member) |
| 27/09/21 12:16 AM |
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Re: Mauser Spandau arsenal 71/84
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Koniglich (Preussisches Garde-) Füsilier-Regiment = Royal Prussian Fusilier Guards Regiment, E battalion, 4th company, rifle number 102.
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CptCurl
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| 27/09/21 03:49 AM |
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Re: Mauser Spandau arsenal 71/84
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Quote:
Koniglich (Preussisches Garde-) Füsilier-Regiment = Royal Prussian Fusilier Guards Regiment, E battalion, 4th company, rifle number 102.
Kuduae,
Thank you very much! I was hoping you might answer my question.
Curl
| DarylS |
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| 27/09/21 03:54 AM |
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Re: Mauser Spandau arsenal 71/84
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You are in luck, Cpt.Curly as the model of 1884 had a .446" groove diameter, while the 71/76 had a .457" groove diameter, however, only a .447" bullet could be seated in the case and still chamber - using Dominion brass, only.
I was unable to chamber a Bell case, after loading a .446" grooved, lubricated bullet in it, due to the thickness of the case neck. Turning would be necessary.
With extra luck, you might not have that problem.
Here's wishing.
| lancaster |
| (.470 member) |
| 27/09/21 03:56 AM |
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Re: Mauser Spandau arsenal 71/84
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thats a good companion for my airgun
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CptCurl
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| 27/09/21 06:18 AM |
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Re: Mauser Spandau arsenal 71/84
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Daryl,
If it won't shoot, I'm going to blame it on the rotten, pitted, eroded bore.
Here's a look at what I will have to deal with:
I don't know whether a bullet will even slide down that dark and rough bore!
Curly
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CptCurl
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| 27/09/21 06:39 AM |
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Re: Mauser Spandau arsenal 71/84
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Here are a few more photos from the GunBroker listing. Remember, I haven't even seen this rifle yet. I think a good, careful cleaning will do some good.
It obviously needs a good, careful cleaning. Nothing harsh.
It's all there and all matching numbers, including all the screw heads.
Curl
| 93x64mm |
| (.416 member) |
| 27/09/21 06:51 AM |
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Re: Mauser Spandau arsenal 71/84
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Boy you have rotten luck Curl!
What a piece of junk you've picked up there - dark & pitted bore & all!
That bore looks perfect to the point of never been fired, looks like it has been handled a lot, perhaps a parade rifle?
Not sure how old it is, but you're old soldier will I believe surprise you on just how good he will perform!
Brilliant pick up mate
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CptCurl
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| 27/09/21 08:14 AM |
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Re: Mauser Spandau arsenal 71/84
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The receiver is stamped 1887.
Curl
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CptCurl
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| 27/09/21 08:15 AM |
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Re: Mauser Spandau arsenal 71/84
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Does anybody have any extra brass, or a set of dies?
Curl
| 9.3x57 |
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| 27/09/21 08:35 AM |
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Re: Mauser Spandau arsenal 71/84
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Quote:
Koniglich (Preussisches Garde-) Füsilier-Regiment = Royal Prussian Fusilier Guards Regiment, E battalion, 4th company, rifle number 102.
I wonder if one of my wife's Ostpreußische ancestors shouldered that thing!
I remember her Grandmother waxing on about Kaiser Wilhelm whom she and they respected deeply.
Not a little bit his son who she referred to as "Kaiser Bill"!
| DarylS |
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| 27/09/21 08:44 AM |
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Re: Mauser Spandau arsenal 71/84
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Nice condition, Curly. I could send you a box of Bell brass. Not sure that would be a good think as it won't chamber in an 1871/76 rifle with typical .446" bullet.
If you want it, let me know. I suspect no problem sending the
brass as it was made in the USA.
PM me a mailing address if you can't get brass locally, in the lower 48.
| mauserand9mm |
| (.400 member) |
| 27/09/21 09:54 AM |
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Re: Mauser Spandau arsenal 71/84
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Quote:
Daryl,
If it won't shoot, I'm going to blame it on the rotten, pitted, eroded bore.
Here's a look at what I will have to deal with:
I don't know whether a bullet will even slide down that dark and rough bore!
Curly
Oh no. And the rifling is all twisted too. What a disaster.
| DarylS |
| (.700 member) |
| 27/09/21 10:28 AM |
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Re: Mauser Spandau arsenal 71/84
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I'm surprised it doesn't show on the outside of the barrel, too.
| DarylS |
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| 27/09/21 10:34 AM |
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Re: Mauser Spandau arsenal 71/84
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Quote:Quote:
Daryl,
If it won't shoot, I'm going to blame it on the rotten, pitted, eroded bore.
Here's a look at what I will have to deal with:
I don't know whether a bullet will even slide down that dark and rough bore!
Curly
Oh no. And the rifling is all twisted too. What a disaster.
As an aside, my barrel looked not quite that good, but was really nice. It took, however 45 shots through it with varying grits of grinding compound on the noses of some bore riding nose bullets of .4575". I had to re-chamber it to .450 Alaskan in order to be able to use the larger bullets.
A friend of mine just HAD to have it for bear, so I no longer have it. It shot well with 400 and 505gr. bullets.
20" twist was normal, BTW.
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NitroX
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| 28/09/21 12:39 AM |
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Re: Mauser Spandau arsenal 71/84
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Is this one of the model rifles which were used in German East Africa in WW1?
If so a great usable historical wall hanger, to match with a SMLE and Maasai spears and shields.
| kuduae |
| (.400 member) |
| 30/09/21 10:55 PM |
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Re: Mauser Spandau arsenal 71/84
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Quote:
Is this one of the model rifles which were used in German East Africa in WW1?
No, the German East African Schutztruppe was equipped mostly with the single shot Mauser M71 Jägerbüchse, see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krJxBhHTSuI&list=PLJvsSlrbdhn5v8AuvAZuOYJ5BgEEoDdqm&index=79
Though they were in part rearmed with modern M98 rifles when WW1 broke out, smokeless 8mm ammo was in short supply and had to be saved to feed the few Maxim machine guns. So most of the fighting was done with the old blackpowder rifles until the “day of the old rifles” in 1917 at Ngomano, when a superior, but careless force of Portuguese infantry and cavalry allowed them to rearm with 6.5 mm M1903 Vergueiro rifles and M1896 Mannlicher carbines, solving ammo and supply problems.
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CptCurl
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| 01/10/21 09:07 PM |
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Re: Mauser Spandau arsenal 71/84
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Got a message from the seller yesterday. The 71/84 is on its way to Virginia!
Stay tuned.
Curl
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NitroX
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| 01/10/21 09:28 PM |
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Re: Mauser Spandau arsenal 71/84
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Thanks for the answer Kuduae.
Well done Curl. But it has only one barrel!
| DarylS |
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| 02/10/21 03:04 AM |
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Re: Mauser Spandau arsenal 71/84
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One of my Mauser Books notes that when Peter Mauser offered the model 1871 to the Austrian Government, they initially ordered 3,000 rear sights.
There was a standing rear sight, with a folding up leaf, then a ladder marked to 1000 meters, seems to me, iirc.
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CptCurl
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| (.450 member) |
| 02/10/21 04:13 AM |
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Re: Mauser Spandau arsenal 71/84
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Yeah, just one barrel. It saves on cleaning time.
Curl
| DarylS |
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| 02/10/21 04:43 AM |
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Re: Mauser Spandau arsenal 71/84
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I used Trapdoor Springfield smokeless loads in my 71/76 with H4895 powder to good effect, after re-chambering. However, with the 77gr. original black powder charge with 370gr. bullet, capacity wise, the light .45/70 loads should be just fine in that rifle as well, Curly.
One could start lower, of course, using backer rod if necessary.
Of course, BP could also be used with full sized bullets.
That bore will clean up easily.