Original German Model 1895 Chilean Contract Mauser Rifle by Ludwig Loewe Berlin - Serial E 5119

Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very good condition example of the Model 1895 Chilean Mauser Rifle, made by the renowned LUDWIG LOEWE ARMS COMPANY of BERLIN. It looks to have seen light to moderate service, still retaining much of the original finish, and has a great look that is sure to look great as part of any collection. Many of the markings have been highlighted in white to make them easier to see.

The Ludwig Loewe company was actually part owner of Mauser Waffenfabrik from 1887 onward, which is why they were the primary contractor for the export Mauser rifles. In 1896 the company consolidated its arms manufacturing, and founded Deutsche Waffen- und Munitionsfabriken, the famous D.W.M.. All rifles made 1897 onward were marked with the new company abbreviation. Therefore ANY LUDWIG LOEWE marked firearm is considered a pre-1899 ANTIQUE by U.S. FEDERAL LAW. Most Chilean Contract M-1895 Rifles and Carbines found today are marked DWM, with examples by Ludwig Loewe being hard to find.

The left side of the receiver on this example is marked with the production information:

MAUSER CHILENO MODELO 1895.
MANUFACTURA LOEWE BERLIN.

To the left of this is fully matching serial number E 5119, which is also stamped on the bolt, magazine housing, and the stock, as is correct. The shortened serial number 19 is present on many of the smaller components as well. Only the cleaning rod is not matching, marked with 1137, having been swapped at arsenal or in the field long ago. Mauser cleaning rods were designed so that a squad would attach multiple cleaning rods together to reach the correct length, so mismatches are common. This is a very nice "Mostly Matching" example, with no major parts swapped out over the years! The chamber ring still has a fully visible Chilean Coat of Arms marked on it, and isn't worn down like it would be from a refinish. The left side of the stock still has a crisp Chilean cartouche on it, which has M.F. in a box at the bottom, a marking that may indicate that the stock was replaced at some point. There is unfortunately no consensus on what the marking means.

The metalwork is in very good condition, with the original bluing still strongly present in many areas, though it has mostly worn off of the butt plate, except for on the tang. The magazine follower and bolt release still show most of the original "Niter Blue" finish, while the band springs retain it almost completely. The bolt is still bright steel, showing just a bit of staining on the bolt body, with some wear and past staining on the bolt handle. The stock is in good service used condition, with the expected dings and dents from long service, but no there is no major damage or repairs. It has a lovely color, and there is some "curl" to the grain in areas, making it quite attractive.

The rifle cycles great, with no issues that we can see, though we are not able to check to see if the magazine still feeds. The "wing" safety is fully functional, working exactly as intended with no mechanical issues to note. It prevents firing in the "up" position, and prevents both cycling and firing in the "right" position. The bolt release works correctly, allowing easy field stripping of the rifle, and the extractor, firing pin, and ejector are all present. The bore is in excellent condition, showing crisp lands and grooves with a bright finish. It would be very hard to improve upon this bore, and there is just a bit of a primer ring on the bolt face, indicating it saw very little use while in service.

Another Military Contract from the Victorian era that Mauser managed to snag from all its European competitors. In lovely condition and ready to display!

Specifications-

Year of Manufacture: 1895
Caliber: 7×57mm Mauser
Cartridge Type: Centerfire Cartridge
Barrel Length: 29 Inches
Overall Length: 48 1/2 Inches
Action type: Bolt-Action
Feed System: 5 round internal magazine

More on the Mauser Model 1895:

The Mauser Model 1895 is a bolt operated magazine fed rifle using the 7×57mm Mauser cartridge. It was exported to many overseas powers, including the Chilean forces which adopted as the Fusil Mauser Chileno Mo 1895. It is the first major modification of the Mauser Model 1893 and was produced by Deutsche Waffen und Munitionsfabriken, known as DWM, and Ludwig Loewe Company from 1895 to 1900.

First supplied by the Ludwig Loewe & Co during 1895-1896 then later by the DWM (1897-1900), the Mauser model 1895 first made its appearance during a small arms race between Argentina and Chile in 1896 and 1898. In this period, over 80,000 Model 1895 rifles and 30,000 Model 1895 carbines were shipped and deployed to the Chilean army.

The Mauser Model 1895 also saw service in Mexico, Costa Rica, Paraguay, Iran, El Salvador and Honduras. Mauser Model 1895 rifles and carbines were the standard weapons of the various Mexican armies during the Mexican Revolution while the Paraguayan rifles saw combat during the Chaco War. Forces led by Pancho Villa during the Mexican Revolution and later guerilla campaign would have been armed with these rifles.