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Thread: Regimental markings on 71 Mauser

  1. #1
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    Regimental markings on 71 Mauser

    My M71 Mauser that I recently bought, which I believe was former military and nicely sporterized a long time ago, has a set of stampings in the butt plate.
    The receiver has a large "1876" and a small "1877" on the right side of the receiver toward the rear, so I believe it was made in 1876. The top of the receiver up forward, over the chamber, is stamped "CESTERR.WAFFFB.GES", which I believe means made in Austria.
    The butt plate has the matching serial number of the rifle, and also "B2U2 82". See photo.
    Can anyone tell me where this rifle has been?
    Thanks, DanClick image for larger version. 

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  2. #2
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    I, for one, can not decipher the unit markings, but I can tell you that a diligent search of the internet may turn up that information. It is available....somewhere. I have an unusual Luger pistol that is marked "B.2.T.S.2.62" that I once offered to sell to Simpson, Ltd., Luger experts and specialists whom I believe to still be in business. That might be a place to start, as they apparently had at least some of that information, and might know where to obtain it if their information is incomplete. Might be in an unreasonably expensive book somewhere. We couldn't reach an agreement, but they offered the information that it meant that the pistol had been assigned to a Bavarian hospital train, and was pistol number 62 belonging to that unit. I also have unit marked 71/84 Mausers and several Gew. 88 rifles that are unit marked. On the Gew 88s the markings are usually found on the barrel bands and are crossed out as they were given to Turkey. Your "CESTERR" marking-- the "C" is almost certainly a worn or incompletely stamped "O", as the rifle was produced by Steyr in Austria, Osterreichische Waffenfabriks-Gesellshaft. That arsenal did indeed produce them from 1876 to 1877, 60,000 carbines to Prussia and Saxony, and 1873-1878 474,000 rifles to Prussia and Saxony and 26,000 to China. Your Mauser may have actually been a carbine, judging by the dates on the piece, and the fact that the carbines became extremely popular as sporters as their length was already handy and they were easy to customize.

    At this period in history Austria and Hungary were administered as one country under the Emperor of Austria. It is very common to see "Ostreich" on literature, postage stamps, etc. of that time period, and it can be roughly translated as "Eastern Kingdom" (with some translating it differently) the word "Ost" meaning East, and Reich meaning a form of government, as in the German's "Third Reich". Waffenfabrik means weapons factory or works. Gesellshaft is a legal business entity, like company, corporation, partnership, alliance.

    If you should discover a master list of what the unit markings mean please post the source as I know others would also be interested.

    DG

  3. #3
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    DG you are very knowledgable, I appreciate your insight.
    This rifle indeed may have been a carbine, although I don't know what the original barrel length was. This barrel is about 20 inches, and the only things I think don't look military are the silver blade front sight, and the fine checkering on the wrist of the stock. Possibly the stock was cut back as it is not a full length stock.
    All else, is original as the serial numbers are on every part.
    And I believe the "O" stamping was at an angle, not worn. This rifle has very little wear.
    I also have a GEW88 rifle that was Turked, no numbers match but it is a good shooter. And yes I remember the regimental markings on the barrel bands.
    HEY, I have a book on the GEW 88 rifles that may shed some light on these markings, thanks for jogging my memory! I will post if I find any answers.
    Dan

  4. #4
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    A few things I have found, if I can just put in links. I have not gone through these links completely, there is a lot of info here.
    http://www.bayerischewaffen.de/daten/trstemp.pdf
    http://www.cruffler.com/trivia-December99.html
    http://web.archive.org/web/200801290.../milindex.html


    This statement could explain the "U".
    "7.U.1.31." -is that correct? If so it may be translated as "Weapon #31, 1st Troop, Ulanen-Regiment 7". The full title of the 7th Ulanen was "Ulanen-Regiment Großherzog Friedrich von Baden (Rheinisches ) Nr.7". Ulanen were Lancers and, as Lancers were cavalry, the '71 Carbine would of course be the correct firearm for them.

    I'm still looking!

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    Very good! That's what I was talking about! I'm going to copy the information on these links and add it to my library! Good work, oconeedan.

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