May, 2024
Spanish Mauser M1893
Spanish Empire
Spanish-American War
Made by Ludwig Loewe in 1896
7x57mm
Spanish Mauser M1893
A major step in the evolution of Paul Mauser’s iconic series of military rifles, the M1893 would be the final arm of Imperial Spain as well the inspiration behind an American icon.
Lee Enfield SMLE MkIII*
Despite initially looking to replace the entire system after the Boer War, the British Short, Magazine, Lee Enfield really came into its own during the Great War, cementing itself as one of the most iconic weapons of the conflict.
Mossberg M44US
Faced with a rapidly expanding military and a need to conserve primary small arms for the front lines, the US would turn to a simple but effective bolt action trainer in .22 Long Rifle.
Type 38 Arisaka
Problems with Japan’s first smokeless powder rifle prompted a redesign of the mechanism, leading to one of the strongest and simplest rifles ever produced, which would serve the Empire for almost half a century.
Mosin Nagant Dragoon
When the original Three-Line Rifle M1891 Mosin Nagant was adopted, a slightly shorter model followed soon after to fill a unique role in the army of Tsar Nicholas II
M1903 Springfield
Despite victory in the Spanish-American War of 1898, it was clear that the Krag rifles in American service were inferior to the Mausers used by their enemies. This prompt would lead to the development of a new universal short rifle that would serve in two world wars and beyond.
Vetterli M1878/81
A Swiss black powder bolt action repeater that represented the start of a new era, as the metallic cartridge, rotating bolt action and tube magazine came together.
Type I Carcano
An interesting hybrid rifle, the Type I is a fusion of the Italian Carcano action to the fittings of a Japanese Arisaka, and is an interesting example of cooperation between the European Axis and the Japanese Empire.
Lee Enfield RIC Carbine
Shortly after the turn of the 20th century, the British Royal Irish Constabulary adopted a new carbine for its constables, built from older MkI Lee Enfield and Lee Metford Carbines with some modifications. These would serve through the Easter Rising of 1916, as well as the subsequent Irish War of Independence that would see the end of British rule in most of Ireland, and the dissolution of the RIC itself in 1922.
Lebel M1886
The first smokeless powder rifle would put represent the most significant advance in small arms technology since the advent of gunpowder itself, but the rifle itself would be rapidly rendered obsolete, despite serving on for more than half a century.
Carcano Moschetto M1891
The cavalry carbine model of Italy’s Carcano is perhaps the most iconic of the series, having seen use by specialists such as the Arditi in the First World War as well as the Folgore paratroopers in the Second among many others.
Mosin Nagant M38
The Soviet M38 was intended for issue to specialists and non-combat troops, but its handy nature made it a popular choice in the brutal urban combat that came to characterize the popular image of the Second World War’s Eastern Front.
Vergueiro M1904/39
Faced with a decision between the Mauser and Mannlicher rifles to replace their black powder Kropatscheks, the Portuguese would instead choose a locally designed hybrid rifle for their forces.
Lee Enfield #4 Mk1
As the Second World War loomed, a need to update the venerable Lee Enfield rifle in British service saw the design modernized into the new #4 Rifle, with a series of improvements on the same core principals.
Type 44 Arisaka
The Japanese Type 44 Arisaka was a specialized variant of the Type 38 rifle intended for use by cavalry and other mounted troops, incorporating a folding bayonet.
Ross MkIII
Canada’s first indigenously produced infantry rifle was a straight pull design made with match grade accuracy in mind. When brought to the conditions of the Great War’s Western Front its deficiencies in other areas became alarmingly apparent.
Mauser M1903
The most modern rifle in Ottoman inventory during the Great War was an example of the excellent Mauser 98, with some special features. These rifles would serve as a pattern during the interwar Turkish upgrade program, in addition to receiving minor modifications themselves.
Mauser Model 1889/36
Despite adopting a new Mauser 98 pattern rifle, as the Second World War loomed Belgium also undertook a program to upgrade existing stocks of the older Model 1889 rifles to the same pattern.
Included at the end of each posting is a reference to the rarity and average price observed by the author. This is, or course, subjective, and results may vary depending on a variety of factors, including condition, certain markings, etc., while rarity may vary depending on time and location.
Rarity is marked on a scale as follows:
Production (currently produced)
Surplus (Currently available on the surplus market)
Common
Uncommon
Rare
Very Rare