Mauser Identification from Photo

[cwbuff]

Can anyone tell what type of rifle is this WWI German field artillery unit equipped with? It would be great to find out because my wife's grandfather was in this unit in WWI. It could launch another hunt for another Mauser.

[randy langford]

Hard to tell from the photograph not enough detail of the guns all look like carbines to me and I believe that would be correct for a artillery unit . Could be 98 Mauser, Kar 88 commission or possibly 71/84 but I would doubt they would still be using that one by w w 1 sorry I could not be of more help

[JBinIll]

The rifle the second soldier on the left is holding looks to have a straight bolt handle.Neither the Commision 88 or the Mauser 98 carbines had this feature,they were curved.Since many artillery units were armed with older weapons as were many non frontline units I would hazard a guess it's the Mauser Model 71/84 carbine.If the picture were a little clearer it might be possible to make an ID.

[cwbuff]

I know the picture is not the best. I agree that the bolt looks straight. Thanks.

[Garden Valley]

Many German reserve units mobilized at the beginning of the war were still equipped with 71/84 rifles or carbines, so based on the photo my guess would be 71/84.

[sail32]

The carbine carried by the solider in the back row, 4th from the right, looks like he has an early Kar 98, or Kar 98a carbine, judging from what looks like a pistol grip. This 18 inch barrel carbine was replaced by the 98AZ carbine with the 24 inch barrel when it was found that the 18 inch carbine was a bit much to shoot with the new S cartridge, of 154 grains at about 2800 fps from the 98 rifle with it's 29 inch barrel.

For picture you may have to go to "Mauser Military Rifles of the World", by Robert W. D. Ball. Bannerman published a small booklet on German WWI bayonets, and it had a picture of the 98 rifle and 2 carbines.

[cwbuff]

That is a good catch! You have better eyes than I do.