CptCurl
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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
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RoscoeStephenson.com
YOUR DOUBLE RIFLE IS YOUR BEST FRIEND.
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kuduae
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Loc: middle of Germany
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Koniglich (Preussisches Garde-) Füsilier-Regiment = Royal Prussian Fusilier Guards Regiment, E battalion, 4th company, rifle number 102.
f
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CptCurl
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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
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RoscoeStephenson.com
YOUR DOUBLE RIFLE IS YOUR BEST FRIEND.
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DarylS
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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. 
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Daryl
"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V
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lancaster
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thats a good companion for my airgun
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Norwegian hunter misses moose, shoots man on toilet
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bringing civilisation to the barbarians
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CptCurl
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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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RoscoeStephenson.com
YOUR DOUBLE RIFLE IS YOUR BEST FRIEND.
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CptCurl
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Posts: 5318
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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
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RoscoeStephenson.com
YOUR DOUBLE RIFLE IS YOUR BEST FRIEND.
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93x64mm
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Loc: Nth QLD Australia
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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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The receiver is stamped 1887.
Curl
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RoscoeStephenson.com
YOUR DOUBLE RIFLE IS YOUR BEST FRIEND.
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CptCurl
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Does anybody have any extra brass, or a set of dies?
Curl
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RoscoeStephenson.com
YOUR DOUBLE RIFLE IS YOUR BEST FRIEND.
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9.3x57
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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"!
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What are the Rosary, the Cross or the Crucifix other than tools to help maintain the fortress of our faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of God?
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DarylS
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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.
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Daryl
"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V
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mauserand9mm
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Posts: 1074
Loc: Queensland, Australia
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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.
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DarylS
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Loc: Beautiful British Columbia, Ca...
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I'm surprised it doesn't show on the outside of the barrel, too.
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Daryl
"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V
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DarylS
.700 member
Reged: 10/08/05
Posts: 27701
Loc: Beautiful British Columbia, Ca...
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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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Daryl
"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V
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NitroX
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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.
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John aka NitroX
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Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
"A Sharp spear needs no polish"
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kuduae
.400 member
Reged: 13/01/10
Posts: 1806
Loc: middle of Germany
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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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Reged: 01/05/04
Posts: 5318
Loc: Fincastle, Botetourt County, V...
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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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RoscoeStephenson.com
YOUR DOUBLE RIFLE IS YOUR BEST FRIEND.
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NitroX
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Thanks for the answer Kuduae.
Well done Curl. But it has only one barrel!
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John aka NitroX
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Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
"A Sharp spear needs no polish"
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DarylS
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Reged: 10/08/05
Posts: 27701
Loc: Beautiful British Columbia, Ca...
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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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Daryl
"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V
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CptCurl
.450 member
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Posts: 5318
Loc: Fincastle, Botetourt County, V...
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Yeah, just one barrel. It saves on cleaning time.
Curl
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RoscoeStephenson.com
YOUR DOUBLE RIFLE IS YOUR BEST FRIEND.
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DarylS
.700 member
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Posts: 27701
Loc: Beautiful British Columbia, Ca...
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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.
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Daryl
"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V
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