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IF all the center fire rifles in the world were counted and cataloged, more than half of them would trace their ancestry to the original German Mauser design. This is true of both sporting and military types, for no other rifle in the history of firearms has ever received such universal acceptance and performed so nobly as has this simple, rugged, almost fool-proof Mauser design. The invention of Paul Mauser, a German, in 1871, its superior features were quickly recognized and it soon outstripped its competitors for popularity in the high powered military rifle field. While not the first bolt action gun, it was, and still is, the best.
The Mauser rifle of today, with the exception of the "clip charger," is essentially the same as it was in 1871. When first adopted by the German Army in 1884, the rifle was chambered for the 11-mm. (.43 caliber) cartridge, which had a rimmed head case and fired a lead bullet at low velocity. Shortly thereafter, due partially to France's adoption of the 8-mm. Lebel and the adoption of the Mannlicher by Austria, the caliber was reduced to 7.9-mm. and a new method of charging was introduced. The new method of charging permitted the insertion of a charger containing five cartridges into the magazine, either side up, and feeding the cartridges one at a time from the charger to the chamber by operating the bolt. While this method was a decided improvement, it was not until a year later (1889) that the loading problem was finally solved to complete satisfaction. This was accomplished by means of a clip which held five cartridges so arranged that they could be stripped from the clip into the magazine and retained therein after the clip was discharged. The first model to use this new development was the Belgian Mauser, Model 1889, and this was followed by the Turkish Mauser, Model 1890, and the Argentine Mauser, Model 1891. All of these rifles used the basic Mauser principle and differed only in nonmechanical details.
Some minor changes and a few refinements have been made since 1889, but the basic mechanical principle remains the same. The outstanding characteristics of the Mauser rifle are simplicity, strength, and ease of manufacture. Its easy opening...