militaria Archives - Eisel Armory

German G.29(ö) Mauser Rifle

admin — Sun, 23 Aug 2026 00:26:49 +0000

In the final years before World War II, Austria’s Steyr arms works supplied Germany’s Luftwaffe with a stopgap rifle known today as the G.29(ö) — chambered in 7.92×57mm Mauser and built between roughly 1938 and 1939, just before Steyr’s own production shifted to the newly standardized Karabiner 98k. Also referred to by collectors as the Gewehr 12/34, it armed Luftwaffe ground and airfield-security personnel during a brief window when the Wehrmacht’s own rifle demand was consuming most new German production.

A Rare Luftwaffe Contract: Steyr's Secret ‘660’ Code

Steyr manufactured the G.29(ö) at its Austrian works, stamping rifles with the concealed wartime code “660” rather than the company’s name — standard practice across German-contract arms production meant to keep factory identities out of Allied intelligence hands. Records from this narrow production run are incomplete, and commonly cited totals for the G.29(ö) vary; most estimates put overall output in the tens of thousands, concentrated almost entirely within the 1938–1939 window before Steyr transitioned fully to K98k production.

Service and Acceptance: Marked for the German Luftwaffe

Issue of the G.29(ö) was narrow by design. It served German Luftwaffe ground and security troops in the early war years, arming a branch whose small-arms needs sat outside the Wehrmacht’s main supply chain. Surviving rifles typically carry Waffenamt inspection stamps — an eagle above an inspector’s code, commonly “623” on Steyr-made examples — along with a Luftwaffe Eagle/L acceptance mark in the stock. Documentation of the rifle’s service life much beyond this initial issue is thin, so claims of extensive frontline combat use should be treated as general rather than well-established.

From Export Short-Mauser to Wartime Rifle: The G.29(ö)'s Design Roots

The G.29(ö)’s design root is Steyr’s interwar M12/34 short-Mauser export carbine — the pattern Steyr had most recently built for Chilean and other South American contracts — put back into production for the Luftwaffe and rechambered from the export 7mm class to German 7.92×57mm. Collectors and period documentation also know the type as the Gewehr 12/34; "G.29(ö)" is largely a later collector designation rather than a marking found on every rifle. Rather than tool up a full K98k line overnight, Steyr reused this existing short-Mauser configuration, which explains features — like its full-length wooden handguard, barrel bands, and exposed cleaning rod — that were already being phased out of the K98k pattern taking shape at the same Steyr factory.

The G.29(ö) Among Its Mauser Cousins

At a glance the G.29(ö) is easy to mistake for the K98k that followed it, and the resemblance is no accident — both share the same Mauser 98 lineage and 7.92×57mm chambering. It should not be confused with Czechoslovakia’s standard interwar Mauser, the Brno VZ-24, which is a separate Czech service design rather than a Steyr "Standard Modell" cousin of this Luftwaffe contract rifle. Because silhouette alone can be deceiving, collectors lean on smaller details — stock furniture, cleaning-rod placement, and especially manufacturer and acceptance markings like the ones stamped into this rifle’s wood and receiver — to tell the variants apart with confidence.

A Scarce Piece of Mauser History

No dedicated identification guide exists yet for the G.29(ö) specifically, but its scarcity is exactly why Mauser collectors seek it out: a narrow production window, a specific and lesser-documented branch of German service, and a design bridge between Steyr’s prewar export rifles and the K98k that would go on to define German infantry small arms for the rest of the war. A verified, 660-coded example from 1939 with intact Luftwaffe stock markings remains a genuinely uncommon find.

eBay Store
GunBroker Store
Facebook
𝕏 @EiselArmory
@EiselArmory

Follow @EiselArmory for more rare finds, military history and relics from the past.

The post German G.29(ö) Mauser Rifle appeared first on Eisel Armory.

Read more at Eisel Armory

Rare Military History & Collectibles | Eisel Armory

admin — Mon, 17 Aug 2026 05:11:00 +0000

Portugal’s Pre-War Mauser: The M/937

Fine condition WWII Portuguese M/937 (Model 1937) Mauser rifle in 8mm Mauser (7.92 x 57) caliber that has a sharp clear Portuguese crest on the receiver ring and Oberndorf manufacturer markings on the side rail. This rifle was manufactured under contract in Third Reich Germany and was essentially a K98k with the addition of bottom band and buttstock sling swivels. Rifle is import marked on the barrel and has all matching serial numbers right down to the cleaning rod. Metal finish is nice original blue showing very little wear. Buttplate is original “in the white”. Bore is bright and excellent with strong rifling. Stock has original finish and shows some normal handling marks and dings. Right side buttstock and undersides of wrist and buttstock have sharp clear German Waffenamt cartouches. Underside of buttstock also has a matching serial number. Complete with original matching numbered cleaning rod. A nice Portuguese M/937 Mauser rifle that will make a fine addition to a collection.

In 1937, Portugal turned to Germany’s Mauser-Werke at Oberndorf for a new military rifle based on the famed Kar98k. The resulting Model 1937 (M/937) was part of Portugal’s major pre-WWII modernization program and was chambered in 7.92mm Mauser.

These early Portuguese-contract rifles are especially interesting because they preserve many features of pre-war German Mauser production while carrying distinctive Portuguese markings. Matching examples with a strong crest and attractive original stock make particularly impressive pieces of military history.

Check out this historic Portuguese Mauser and see all the photos on GunBroker!

Civil War Icon: U.S. Army-Issued Colt Model 1860

Good condition original Civil War US Army issue Colt Model 1860 Army Revolver in .44 percussion blackpowder caliber that is serial number 82xxx, which dates it to manufacture in 1862. Gun mechanically functions fine and has all matching serial numbers. The cylinder number is illegible. Various parts have government inspector letter proof marks. Three frame screws are new-made replacements. Metal has mostly brown patina. Barrel has some pitting. Bore is good with strong rifling and some pitting. Wood grip has original finish and shows some wear and handling marks. Has chips at the butt. Both sides have faint inspector cartouches. A good original Civil War US Army issue Colt 1860 Army Revolver for your collection.
Manufactured in 1862, this Colt Model 1860 Army represents one of the defining sidearms of the American Civil War. The Model 1860 was a six-shot, .44-caliber percussion revolver and became the primary handgun used by Union troops. More than 200,000 were produced between 1860 and 1873, with well over 120,000 acquired by the U.S. government.

Issued examples saw service with cavalry, infantry, artillery and other Union forces. This example’s 1862 manufacture date places it squarely in the Civil War era, when the Model 1860 was being supplied to U.S. troops in large numbers.

Explore this Civil War survivor and see the complete listing on GunBroker!
View the Colt Model 1860 Army

Old West Legend Reborn: The New Original Henry

New in box Henry Model H011C lever action rifle in .45 Colt caliber. Mechanically perfect and unfired. New metal and wood finishes and new unfired bore. 24 ½” barrel. Nice classic reproduction Civil War-Old West era Henry lever action rifle that will make a great addition to a collection, a fun shooter, and work well for a reenactor!

The Henry Model H011C “New Original Henry” is a modern tribute to Benjamin Tyler Henry’s groundbreaking 1860 lever-action rifle. The original Henry gained fame during the Civil War and helped establish the lever-action design that would later become synonymous with the American West.

Chambered in .45 Colt, the H011C pairs classic styling with modern manufacture. It features a polished hardened-brass receiver, 24.5-inch octagonal barrel, fancy American walnut stock, folding ladder rear sight, and 13-round capacity.

A beautiful modern recreation of one of America’s most legendary rifle designs—check out more items on GunBroker!

Only About 2,000 Made: The Rare Miller Conversion

Very good condition original antique Miller metallic cartridge conversion of a Civil War US Model 1861 Springfield Rifle Musket, in .58 rimfire caliber. Lock has Parkers’ Snow manufacturer markings and dated 1863. Mechanically complete and functions fine. Breech block has nice Miller’s patent markings. Metal finish is original “in the white” with some brown patina. Bore is good with strong rifling and some pitting. Stock has nice even finish and was probably light buffed. Shows some normal handling marks. Left side of stock has a repaired crack below the breech. There is a small repaired chip in front of the triggerguard. Complete with correct original ramrod. Only 2,000 Miller Conversions were produced. A nice, better than average example that will make an excellent addition to a collection!

This fascinating antique began life as a Civil War-era U.S. Model 1861 rifle-musket before being transformed by the Miller cartridge conversion system. From roughly 1865–1867, about 2,000 Model 1861 muskets were converted by the Meriden Manufacturing Company into breechloaders chambered for the .58 rimfire cartridge.

The conversion used a hinged breechblock fitted into the original barrel, allowing the old muzzleloader to accept metallic cartridges. Although the U.S. Army ultimately rejected the Miller system, records indicate that small numbers were used by New York and Maryland militia units—making surviving examples an unusual piece of the transition from Civil War muzzleloaders to cartridge rifles.

See this scarce piece of post-Civil War firearms history and check out the complete listing on GunBroker!

Not Your Typical H&R: The Model 85 “Bridger”

Very good condition Harrington & Richardson Model 85 Bridger line throwing gun. Uses .45-70 Government blanks and mechanically functions fine. Receiver case colors are worn to brown patina. 14 ¼” barrel has original blue finish showing some wear. Smooth bore is good, mostly bright, with some pitting. Stock has original finish and shows some normal handling marks. Original rubber recoil pad is present. A hard to find, unique line throwing gun that will make a fine addition to a collection.

The Harrington & Richardson Model 85 Bridger belongs to the fascinating family of line-throwing guns designed to launch a lightweight line across distances where throwing it by hand was impossible. H&R became an important producer of these specialized guns, with line throwers serving maritime, rescue and military roles. U.S. Navy line-throwing guns were used for tasks such as passing lines between ships during underway replenishment and sending rescue or towing lines.

Rather than being developed as a conventional sporting arm, the line thrower was a working rescue and utility tool—making surviving examples an unusual part of American maritime and industrial history.

See the complete listing on GunBroker!

The M39 That Came Decades After WWII**

Very good condition Finnish Model 1939 Mosin Nagant Rifle in 7.62 x 54r caliber that is a rare late date example, dated 1967 on the barrel. Reference indicates these late production rifles were made for officer shooting matches. Rifle was assembled using a repurposed receiver from a Russian M1891 rifle that was manufactured by Izhevsk Arsenal in 1898, and so qualifies as an antique, no FFL required to purchase. Rifle is import marked on the barrel and has matching serial numbers on the barrel and bolt. Floorplate does not match and buttplate is unnumbered. This is common and correct for Finnish Mosin Nagant rifles. Metal finish is original blue showing some normal wear. Bore is bright and excellent with strong rifling. Stock has original finish and shows some normal handling marks. Complete with correct original cleaning rod. A hard to find 1967-dated Finn M39 Mosin Nagant Rifle with a desirable antique receiver that will make a fine addition to a collection!

The Finnish Model 1939 (M39) was Finland’s final major refinement of the Mosin-Nagant system and earned a reputation for excellent accuracy and rugged construction. While most M39s date to the WWII era, small numbers were assembled again from existing parts during the late 1960s and early 1970s, including rifles dated 1967.

That makes this example especially interesting: it carries a late 1967 date but an antique receiver, reflecting the Finnish practice of building M39s around older receivers rather than manufacturing new ones. These late-production rifles were associated with military training and precision/target shooting rather than Finland’s WWII combat production.

Love military history and rare historic pieces? Follow us on social media @EiselArmory for more!

The Rifle That Began the Ottoman–Mauser Era

Good condition antique Ottoman (Turkish) Model 1887 Mauser Rifle in 9.5 x 60R caliber that has Oberndorf manufacturer markings (in Arabic) on the receiver and the Sultan Tughra crest on the barrel. Rifle is NOT import marked and has matching serial numbers on the receiver, barrel, and bolt body. Other bolt parts do not match. Mechanically functions fine including working magazine cutoff. Metal has been cleaned to the white with some pitting. Bore is good and bright with strong rifling and a little pitting. Stock has been refinished and shows some handling marks. Complete with a replaced cleaning rod. 270,000 Model 1887 Mauser Rifles were delivered to the Ottoman Empire, but very few survive today due to heavy use in the Balkan conflicts and WWI. A rare Mauser model that will make a fine addition to a collection!

The Ottoman Model 1887 Mauser marked the beginning of a major relationship between the Ottoman Empire and Germany’s Mauser firm. In 1887, the Ottoman government contracted for 500,000 rifles and 50,000 carbines, making this one of the most significant early Mauser military contracts.

Based closely on the German Model 1871/84 system, the M1887 used a tubular magazine and was chambered for the 9.5×60R black-powder cartridge. Surviving examples are especially recognizable by their distinctive Ottoman inscriptions, inspection markings and the tughra of Sultan Abdülhamid II.

Love rare military history? Check out Eisel Armory on eBay for even more rare relics and historic finds!

America’s Krag Era: An 1894 U.S. Model 1892/96

Very good condition antique US Model 1892/96 Krag Jorgensen Rifle in .30-40 Krag caliber that is marked “U.S. / 1894. SPRINGFIELD ARMORY. 218” on the receiver. Rifle was updated from Model 1892 configuration to Model 1896 configuration. Metal finish is original blue showing some normal wear. Buttplate has some pitting. Bore is good with strong rifling and a little dark. Stock has original finish and shows some normal handling marks. Left side of wrist has a sharp clear 1896 dated “JSA” inspector cartouche. Underside of wrist has a sharp clear “circle P” cartouche and a few scratches letters. A nice antique American Krag rifle for your collection.

The Krag-Jørgensen represented a major leap forward for the U.S. military, becoming America’s first standard-issue smokeless-powder, small-bore repeating rifle. Adopted in the 1890s, its distinctive side-loading magazine made the Krag instantly recognizable and set it apart from other military rifles of the era.

This example is dated 1894, placing it among the early years of U.S. Krag production at Springfield Armory. Krag rifles would soon become closely associated with the Spanish-American War, seeing service in Cuba and other campaigns at the end of the 19th century.

Want a closer look at this early American military rifle? Click the link and check out the complete listing!

Brazil’s First Mauser Era: The Model 1894

Very good condition, as refinished antique Brazilian Model 1894 Mauser Rifle in 7mm Mauser (7 x 57) caliber that has a nice Brazilian crest on the receiver ring and Fabrique Nationale manufacturer markings on the receiver side rail. Rifle is NOT import marked and has all matching serial numbers. Metal finish is nice looking reblue showing a little normal wear. Bore is dark gray with strong rifling and some pitting. Stock has been lightly refinished and has attractive color with a few normal handling marks. Left side of stock has a matching serial number below the receiver. Complete with correct original cleaning rod. A nice example of a hard to find Brazilian FN Model 1894 Mauser Rifle with matching numbers!

Brazil adopted the Model 1894 Mauser as an early step toward modernizing its military rifles. Chambered in 7×57mm Mauser, the design was closely based on the highly influential Spanish Model 1893. Some Brazilian-contract rifles were manufactured in Belgium by Fabrique Nationale (FN) at Herstal, including examples bearing the Brazilian national crest.

These rifles became an important part of Brazil’s military history and were used during turbulent conflicts of the early Brazilian Republic. The M1894 eventually gave way to later Mauser designs, particularly the Brazilian Model 1908.

Love rare military history? Check out Eisel Armory on Gunbroker for even more rare relics and historic finds!

Battlefield Survivor: The WWI German M16 Camo Helmet

Good condition original WWI Imperial German Model 1916 helmet. Shell has original period camo paint showing some normal wear, no dents. Has part of the original leather liner band present. No pads or chinstrap. Has one chinstrap bail present. Marked “Bell L 64” under the left ear for manufacture by Richard Lindenberg A.G., Remscheid-Haste in size 64. A nice original WWI German camo helmet for your collection.

Introduced during World War I, the German Model 1916 (M16) Stahlhelm replaced the traditional Pickelhaube and became one of the most recognizable helmet designs of the war. Its deep sides and extended neck guard offered soldiers greater protection from battlefield fragments.

This surviving example is especially striking with its period-style multicolor camouflage, giving it the unmistakable appearance associated with the final years of the Great War.

BIDS ARE CLIMBING ON DAY ONE! This one is getting attention fast—BID NOW before the competition heats up even more!

Follow & Shop Eisel Armory

𝕏 X

The post Rare Military History & Collectibles | Eisel Armory appeared first on Eisel Armory.

Read more at Eisel Armory

German MP 40 Submachine Gun

admin — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 18:31:33 +0000

Germany’s Wartime Standard Submachine Gun

Adopted by the German Wehrmacht beginning in 1940, the MP 40 became the standard submachine gun issued to squad leaders, NCOs, paratroopers, and armored vehicle crews throughout World War II. Chambered in 9mm Parabellum and fed from a 32-round box magazine, it offered close-range firepower in a compact package well suited to mechanized and airborne warfare.

Its distinctive underfolding stock and all-metal construction made it instantly recognizable, and it remains one of the most iconic small arms of the war.

From the MP 38 to a Wartime Standard

The MP 40 was designed by Heinrich Vollmer at Erma Werke as a refinement of his earlier MP 38, itself an evolution of Vollmer’s MP 36 and the influential Erma EMP. Where the MP 38 still relied on machined steel components, the MP 40 was engineered around stamped sheet-metal parts and a folding stock with no wood furniture at all.

The redesign cut production time and cost while keeping the same general layout and reliable open-bolt blowback action that had proven itself in the MP 38.

Erma, Steyr, and Haenel Kept the Line Running

Steyr-Daimler-Puch in Austria built the largest share of wartime MP 40 production, with Erma Werke in Erfurt — the design house and an important early maker — and C.G. Haenel also contracted to keep pace with demand. Estimates of total wartime output vary, though a commonly cited figure runs to roughly 1.1 million units produced between 1940 and 1945 — records from the period are incomplete, so any precise count should be treated as an approximation.

Inspection and acceptance stamps, like the one pictured here, were applied at each factory to mark parts as passed for service.

From German Service to American Collections

The MP 38 family saw combat from the invasion of Poland in 1939; the MP 40 itself entered service in 1940 and became the Wehrmacht’s mass-production stamped SMG from the campaigns in France onward, then through North Africa and the Eastern Front, generally issued to squad leaders and specialists rather than every rifleman. Captured examples were also prized and reused by Allied troops and partisan forces when they could be found, valued for their reliability and volume of fire.

At war’s end, many were brought home as trophies by returning American servicemen. Because the design is capable of automatic fire, surviving examples properly registered before the relevant federal cutoffs remain legally transferable machine guns today, while undocumented guns were typically demilitarized — which is why parts kits like this one circulate widely among collectors.

The MP 38 and MP 41 Family

The MP 40 is easy to confuse with its direct predecessor, the MP 38, which shares the same general profile but uses machined rather than stamped major components and commands a premium among collectors as the rarer of the two.

The MP 41 was a distinct variant built by Haenel that paired the MP 40’s internals with a wooden stock and pistol grip more reminiscent of earlier designs; it saw limited German use and was produced mainly for export, including to Romania.

Why the MP 40 Still Matters

Few small arms carry the visual shorthand for World War II that the MP 40 does, and that instant recognizability keeps demand for original parts and components strong among militaria collectors.

Even a disassembled kit like this one preserves genuine wartime manufacture and markings, offering a tangible piece of the weapon’s history for collectors who may never have the opportunity to own a fully transferable, live example.

The post German MP 40 Submachine Gun appeared first on Eisel Armory.

Read more at Eisel Armory

Ottoman Turkish Model 1903 Mauser Rifle

admin — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 05:23:52 +0000

Germany's Rifle for an Empire at War

Adopted by the Ottoman Empire in 1903, this Mauser bolt-action rifle brought the stronger, more modern Gewehr 98 action into Ottoman service while keeping the empire’s existing 7.65×53mm cartridge already in the field. It became the standard Ottoman infantry rifle through the Balkan Wars and into World War I, arming troops from the Gallipoli trenches to the deserts of Mesopotamia.

From the M1890 to a German-Pattern Action

The Model 1903 grew out of the Ottoman Empire’s earlier Mauser rifles, the M1890 and M1893, both of which used simpler actions without a third locking lug. Rather than adopt an entirely new cartridge, Ottoman officials had German makers fit their proven Gewehr 98 action — with its stronger receiver and improved claw extractor — around the existing 7.65mm round, giving troops a more reliable rifle without disrupting ammunition supply.

Who Built It: DWM and Mauser Oberndorf

Production of the Model 1903 was carried out at Mauser’s factory in Oberndorf under contract to the Ottoman government before the outbreak of World War I. Specialist accounts and surviving receiver-roll markings point to Oberndorf as the primary maker of this type — not Deutsche Waffen- und Munitionsfabriken (DWM) as a co-primary builder of the 1903 contract (DWM appears in other Ottoman and later Turkish Mauser contexts). Estimates of total deliveries commonly fall in the range of roughly 200,000 rifles, though exact wartime and postwar tallies leave some uncertainty. Each receiver carried the ornate Tughra, the Ottoman Sultan’s imperial seal, often alongside Arabic-script Oberndorf factory wording rather than a Western maker trademark.

From the Balkans to the Trenches of World War I

Ottoman troops carried the Model 1903 through the Balkan Wars of 1912–1913 and then across the far-flung fronts of World War I, including Gallipoli, the Caucasus, and the Sinai and Mesopotamian campaigns. After the empire’s collapse, the newly founded Turkish Republic kept the rifle in service for decades, and many surviving examples were later arsenal-refurbished with Republic-era markings replacing the old imperial Tughra.

Coming to the US: Turkish Surplus

Unlike some European military rifles that reached American shores mainly as wartime bring-backs, most Ottoman and later Turkish Mausers entered US collections through large surplus sales beginning in the 1970s, as Turkey modernized its military and released decades of older Mauser stock through commercial importers. That steady surplus pipeline is why Turkish Model 1903s are relatively affordable and available today compared to many other World War I-era service rifles.

Lookalikes and Cousins

The Model 1903 is easy to confuse with its own predecessors, the M1890 and M1893 Ottoman Mausers, which lack the third locking lug and use a slightly different bolt design. It’s also closely related to the German Gewehr 98 itself, sharing the same basic action under different markings and chambering, and to the later Turkish Model 1938, a shortened, updated version of the same basic rifle.

Why It Still Matters to Collectors

Because so many Model 1903s were rebuilt and re-marked during decades of Turkish Republic service, original examples with a clear, unaltered Ottoman Tughra and intact Arabic-script markings are genuinely scarce and highly prized. For collectors, the rifle offers a rare physical link between the last years of the Ottoman Empire and the early Turkish Republic — a single design that served two very different governments through some of the 20th century’s most consequential conflicts.

Facebook

TIK TOK

The post Ottoman Turkish Model 1903 Mauser Rifle appeared first on Eisel Armory.

Read more at Eisel Armory