The Gewehr 88 (commonly called the Model 1888 commission rifle) was a late 19th-century German bolt action rifle, adopted in 1888.

The invention of smokeless powder in the late 19th century immediately rendered all of the large-bore black powder rifles then in use obsolete. To keep pace with the French (who had adopted smokeless powder "small bore" ammunition for their Lebel Model 1886 rifle) the Germans adopted the Gewehr 88 using its own new M/88 cartridge, which was also designed by the German Rifle Commission. The rifle was one of many weapons in the arms race between the Germanic states and France, and with Europe in general. There were also two carbine versions, the Karabiner 88 for mounted troops and the Gewehr 91 for artillery. Later models provided for loading with stripper clips (Gewehr 88/05s and Gewehr 88/14s) and went on to serve in World War I to a limited degree. Unlike many German service rifles before and after, it was not developed by Mauser but the arms commission, and Mauser was one of the few major arms manufacturers in Germany that did not produce Gewehr 88s.

This particular rifle was made in 1890 in Amberg. Originally chambered in the 7x57 Patrone 88 round nose cartridge, this rifle was modified sometime near the turn of the century to accept the more modern Spitzer cartridge that would become known as the 8mm Mauser. This is determined by the half moon cut out on the front of the receiver by the breach opening to accomodate the new pointed Spitzer bullet, as well as by the "S" stamp above the crown on the receiver. The bolt handle and safety carry crescent moon stamps, indicating use by the Ottoman Empire while the receiver and rear rifle sight appear to be left relatively unaltered by Turkish proofs.

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