Belgian 1889 Questions

[Aragorn243]

I've had the rifle for about a week and know almost nothing about it. Seems like everyone hates the Belgians or something as there is almost nothing about them that I can find. Maybe I'm looking in the wrong place.

What I've found is it and it's variants were the primary Belgian rifle of WWI. What I can't find is their usage in WWII. I know they were used but as primary or secondary rifles?

Bayonet information also seems sparse although I have two which are appropriate for it, the US made which is in the photos on the other thread and one of the semi-triangular versions. It's like the bayonet books talk about the bayonets but no which rifles they were used on.

It's the Rodney Dangerfield of rifles, no respect. Even the cartridge is named after the Argentines, not the Belgians.

Final question and perhaps the most important to me is the cleaning rod. Length, any other types fit? Unlikely I'll find a replacement. Argentine appears to be too thick, starts but won't go further than the first 3 inches.

Information

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[Eaglelord17]

The 1889 is a odd rifle to try and research. You would think since it was the first smokeless powder Mauser ever adopted there would be much more information out there, especially considering the amount of people who specialize in Mausers. However there was only 275,000 ever produced, which when you add in the amount consumed by two world wars it somewhat makes sense there isn't many of them around (for example there was about 195,000 Romanian M1893 Mannlichers ever made, and they are the same way when it comes to finding the rifles and information on them).

They were used in the Second World War, though I imagine they would have tried to keep the original condition 1889s in the rear, as the M1935 Mausers would have been the new standard arm, and things like the 1889/36 (a weird conversion to cock on opening, which rebarreled the rifles to a new shorter barrel, basically making them like the M1935 Mausers they had) or 1889/16 conversions likely would be prioritized for issue to the front after those M1935 Mausers.

[cipherk98]

The author of the FN Browning pistol book has a new FN Mauser book out - "FN Mausers Arming the World" that goes into detail about everything sounding FN's creation and presumably that rifle, which is apparently the first third or so of the book. Ton of other great info too from what I understand. I plan to order a copy here in the next few weeks. It may have the information you're looking for on these.

[Aragorn243]

I looked it up. Looks good and only 2000 copies. Expensive but with that short a run probably a good investment. Went ahead and ordered it on Gunbroker because they offer it with free shipping there. $5.95 if you order from their website. Not sure why but worth looking into.

[Anzac15]

The Belgian 1889s always held a special place with me. I once owned one that had been captured by the Germans, more than likely in those early days of the Great War during the drive through Belgium. Their people put up plenty of stiff resistance. I'm always on the lookout for one.

[Aragorn243]

I got my copy of the Belgian Mauser book today and while I can't give a complete review as I've only had a few minutes to look it over, I'm pretty impressed. The first third of the book appears to be a history of both FN and the Belgian military. WWI is fairly well represented but WWII is only about a page or two as they surrendered so fast but it does go into further detail of Belgium during the occupation. The latter two thirds then primarily deal with the rifles, the bayonets, the accessories, the proofs, advertisements, foreign use, etc. Plenty of photos both of the equipment and of the men using them. Not much color but a series of color plates in the center show most of the major rifles at least. Looks to be an excellent book.

[jmoore]

Thanks for the info on the book! Ordered one just now.

[mtoms]

The Belgian 1889s always held a special place with me. I once owned one that had been captured by the Germans, more than likely in those early days of the Great War during the drive through Belgium. Their people put up plenty of stiff resistance. I'm always on the lookout for one.

Did yours look like this one I found mis identified on GunBroker last year as a Turked commission rifle? This one had also been converted to 8x57 by the Germans.


Aragon, I put a swede 96 cleaning rod on mine. Fits and looks close to the originals. Unlike most rifles the rod on this is held on only by the bracket on the muzzle

Regards
Marty

[Aragorn243]

Thanks for the heads up on the Swede cleaning rod. I'll check mine out to see if it fits and get another if it does. I tried an extra Argentine rod I have and it did not fit. Too thick in diameter.

[Aragorn243]

Swede cleaning rod is at least 2 inches too short. I went through my accessible rifles and couldn't find any that would fit. Most are too thick, the others too short.