What is gewehr 88?

The Gewehr 88, also known as the Model 1888 Commission Rifle, was a bolt-action rifle adopted by the German Empire in 1888. It was the first rifle to be adopted following the unification of Germany in 1871, hence the name "Commission Rifle". The Gewehr 88 was intended to replace the outdated single-shot rifles then in service.

The Gewehr 88 was designed by a commission of German gunsmiths and officers led by Mauser. It utilized a bolt-action mechanism based on the Mauser Model 1871/84 rifle, but incorporated some unique features such as an internal magazine and a tubular magazine cutoff system.

The Gewehr 88 was chambered in the 8mm Mauser cartridge and had a barrel length of 29 inches. It was fed by a 5-round internal magazine and had a stacking hook on the barrel for use during drills.

While the Gewehr 88 was considered an improvement over the rifles it replaced, it had some drawbacks such as a complicated and finicky bolt system, poor sights, and inadequate ergonomics. As a result, it was eventually replaced by the Gewehr 98 in 1898.

Despite its shortcomings, the Gewehr 88 saw widespread use during World War I as the German Army faced a shortage of the newer Gewehr 98 rifles. Many Gewehr 88 rifles were also converted to serve as secondary weapons by various other countries.