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Bolt-action Rifle

Mauser Model 1893

This German-designed bolt-action rifle was the backbone weapon for Ottoman soldiers fighting across multiple fronts.

Ottoman Empire Introduced 1893 MauserRole: Standard infantry service rifle

Specifications

Caliber
7.65x53mm
Weight
8.8 pounds
Length
48.6 inches
Feed System
5-round internal magazine
The Mauser Model 1893 of Ottoman Empire

History

In the 1890s, the Ottoman Empire wanted to modernize its armed forces. It ordered over 200,000 Model 1893 rifles from the famous German gunmaker Mauser. These rifles were built to fire a brand-new smokeless powder cartridge, which kept soldiers from revealing their hidden positions with clouds of thick smoke.

When World War I broke out, the Model 1893 was one of the most common rifles in the Ottoman arsenal. Soldiers carried it through tough desert heat and frozen mountain snow during intense fighting in Gallipoli, Mesopotamia, and the Caucasus.

Although newer rifle models arrived later, the Model 1893 remained in heavy combat use until the end of the conflict. Its rugged design proved extremely reliable, and thousands were later kept in service long after the Ottoman Empire came to an end.

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