Belgian Mauser M1889
Fabrique Nationale de Herstal · Rifle · Discontinued · 1889
Also known as: Fusil Mle 1889, Model 1889 Belgian Mauser, Belgian Model 1889, FN Mauser 1889
Overview
The Belgian Mauser M1889 is a bolt-action service rifle adopted by Belgium in 1889 and the design that launched Fabrique Nationale de Herstal, the company founded that same year to manufacture it. Chambered in the then-modern 7.65x53mm Mauser cartridge, it was the first Mauser to combine a single-column box magazine with stripper-clip charging, fed from a protruding five-round magazine ahead of the trigger guard. Its most distinctive feature was a thin sheet-steel jacket enclosing the barrel, intended to protect and prolong barrel life. The M1889 armed Belgian forces through both World Wars and remained in service in modernized 1889/36 form well into the 1940s.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 4000 g (141.1 oz) |
| Overall Length | 1295 mm (50.98") |
| Barrel Length | 780 mm (30.71") |
| Action Type | Bolt Action |
| Firing Mechanism | Hammer Fired |
| Trigger Type | Single Action |
| Magazine Capacity | 5 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Fixed Box |
| Muzzle Velocity | 610 m/s (2001 fps) |
| Effective Range | 500 m (547 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 2000 m (2187 yd) |
| Rate of Fire | 10 rpm |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Number of Grooves | 4 |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Wood |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- 7.65x53mm Argentine · primary — also known as 7.65x53mm Mauser, 7.65 Belgian Mauser, 7.65x54mm, 7.65 Argentine
Features
- Firing modes: Repeating
- Feed systems: Internal Box Magazine, Stripper Clip
- Safety mechanisms: Manual Safety, Two Position Flag Safety
- Features: Barrel Jacket, Stripper Clip Loading, Protruding Box Magazine, Open Sights, Controlled Round Feed
Variants
- Carabine Mle 1889 - Carbine
- Fusil Mle 1889/36 - Modernized Pattern
Service history
Operators
- Belgian Army · adopted 1889 · as Fusil Mle 1889
- Belgian Congo Force Publique
Conflicts
- World War I (1914-1918)
- World War II (1939-1945)
Production
Production years: 1889-1936
Standard Belgian service rifle from 1889; modernized as the Mle 1889/36. Produced in large numbers by FN and other contractors, including emergency US production during WWI.
Origin
Country of origin: Belgium
Designer: Paul Mauser
Discontinued: 1936
Notes
The barrel jacket, while distinctive, trapped moisture and promoted rust; later patterns abandoned it. The rifle was produced not only by FN but also by other Belgian and licensed makers including Hopkins & Allen during World War I.
Background
The Model 1889 contract was the reason Fabrique Nationale de Herstal was founded, establishing the Belgian firm that would become one of the world's foremost arms makers. In 1914 the rifle famously equipped the Belgian defenders who slowed the German advance, earning it a reputation as a rifle that helped save Paris.