Info on Mauser 71 made in Soemmerda?

[Hwdavis]

Ok guys I am stumped. I recently aquired an 1875 Mauser 71, single shot. I have seen these made by Spandau, Amberg, etc. This one is marked "Soemmerda". I have found that it is a rare maker. Do any experts have any info on these rifles made there? Thanks.

Information

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[Hwdavis]

Pictures

[Patrick Chadwick]

That is certainly a rare bird. Made by the same factory that made the famous Dreyse needle-gun. Please take some trouble to make the very best photos you can of ALL the markings on the barrel knoxform and the receiver - numbers, stamps etc. I have a book that may, just possibly, permit identification of the inspectors who passed that rifle.

After the death of Nikolaus Dreyse, the founder of the Soemmerda factory, the Prussian War Ministry had tried to purchase the factory and turn it into a state-run operation. The inheritor, Franz von Dreyse, rejected this idea, and as a consequence the state factory in Erfurt was established after the 1870/71 Franco-Prussian war, and Dreyse received fewer and fewer government contracts.

In the end, the government arms inspectors office in Soemmerda was abolished in 1876. leaving Dreyse with a purely commercial/private manufacture of hunting rifles etc and the slow decline of the business.

Your rifle is thus one of the very last military rifles made by Dreyse in Soemmerda, and I am sure it would bring a substantial price from a serious Mauser collector. Treat it very, very carefully, and don't forget the photos!

[Hwdavis]

Your info is the most extensive I have gotten so far. I had no idea how rare it was until I completed the sale. Much thanks. Also, I sent you a message.

[mike webb]

Mr. Chadwick has more info than I but they are very uncommon(I had never even heard of the maker as far as M1871 rifles go). I think a Soemmerda built 1871 would command an large amount more than the usual makers that one sees. How much I have no idea because I have never seen one sold. I have seen mention of them in European websites perhaps there are a few more there. Better pics would be interesting to those of us who will probably never see one.

[Hwdavis]

Here is another forum where i posted alot of HD pictures. Took forever

Soemmerda Mauser M1871 Info? HD PICS ADDED. PIC HEAVY

[Hwdavis]

Any info on a possible value?

[Calif-Steve]

Patrick could jump in on this value issue. But I suspect there are many more Mauser collectors in Europe then you think. Exporting an antique isn't too hard. It may well command real money in a Europen auction.

[Hwdavis]

Are the pictures showing up on the link?

[Patrick Chadwick]

Can't say anything about the stamps at the moment. The photos on Gunboards are just not clear enough to be indentified. What I have discovered, is that the few inspectors who where recorded as being at Soemmerda were all transferred to Erfurt with effect from 21. May 1876. This suggests that the the last batch of rifles had already passed through at Soemmerda, and so the inspectors were simply no longer required at that location.

As to value, there are plenty of IG 71 rifles around, and quite a few of those with later dates in much better condition. Over here, the value might be around 400-500 euros, so any higher value depends entirely on the rarity value of the Soemmerda production, and I have no auction info on which to base even a vague guess.