Gewehr 1888 Commission Rifle
Ludwig Loewe & Co. · Rifle · Out Of Production · 1888
Also known as: Gew 88, Reichsgewehr, Infanteriegewehr 88, Commission Rifle, Hanyang 88
Overview
The Gewehr 1888, also known as the Commission Rifle (Reichsgewehr or Gew 88), is a German bolt-action service rifle developed by the German Rifle Test Commission (Gewehr-Prüfungs-Kommission) in response to the French adoption of the smokeless-powder Lebel Mle 1886. Combining a Mauser-style 5-round Mannlicher en-bloc clip magazine with a unique fully-shrouded free-floating barrel, the Gew 88 was Germany's first smokeless-powder service rifle. It was produced primarily by Ludwig Loewe and the state arsenals at Spandau, Erfurt, and Amberg, and saw extensive Reserve service in WWI before being relegated to colonial and second-line use.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 3800 g (134.0 oz) |
| Overall Length | 1245 mm (49.02") |
| Barrel Length | 740 mm (29.13") |
| Action Type | Bolt Action |
| Firing Mechanism | Hammer Fired |
| Trigger Type | Single Stage |
| Magazine Capacity | 5 rounds |
| Magazine Type | En Bloc Clip |
| Muzzle Velocity | 640 m/s (2100 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 2620 J (1932 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 500 m (547 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 2050 m (2242 yd) |
| Rate of Fire | 15 rpm |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Rifling Twist | 240 mm (9.45") |
| Number of Grooves | 4 |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Wood |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- 7.92x57mm Mauser · primary — also known as 8mm Mauser, 7.92x57mm, 8x57 IS, Patrone 88, Patrone S
Features
- Firing modes: Repeating
- Feed systems: En Bloc Clip, Internal Magazine
- Safety mechanisms: Manual Safety, Cocking Piece Safety
- Features: Barrel Shroud, Iron Sights, Bayonet Lug, Free Floating Barrel
Variants
- Karabiner Modell 1888 — Carbine
- Gewehr 1888/S — Modernized For Spitzer Ammunition
Service history
Operators
- Imperial German Army · adopted 1888 · as Infanteriegewehr 88
- Ottoman Empire · adopted 1890
- Republic of China · as Hanyang 88
- Imperial German Army (WWI Reserve) · adopted 1914 · as Reserve and Landwehr units
Conflicts
- Boxer Rebellion (1899-1901)
- Maji Maji Rebellion (1905-1907)
- World War I (1914-1918)
- Chinese Civil War (1927-1949)
- Second Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945)
Production
Estimated total produced: 1,675,000 · Production years: 1888-1900
German production split between Ludwig Loewe, Spandau, Erfurt, Amberg, and Steyr; Hanyang Arsenal in China produced over 1 million additional copies through the 1940s.
Origin
Country of origin: Germany
Designer: German Rifle Test Commission (Gewehr-Prüfungs-Kommission)
Discontinued: 1905
Notes
The Gew 88 was supplanted in front-line service by the Gewehr 98 from 1898 onward but remained widespread in reserve, colonial, and Chinese service well into the mid-20th century as the locally-produced Hanyang 88.
Background
The Gewehr 88 was rushed into production so quickly to counter the French Lebel that its adoption predated the formal involvement of either Paul Mauser or Ferdinand Mannlicher - both of whom later sued the German government for patent infringement and won.