Mauser

Mauser is one of the most storied names in the history of firearms, a German manufacturer whose designs have profoundly influenced the development of both military and sporting arms over more than 150 years. Founded in Oberndorf am Neckar, Germany in 1871 by Peter Paul Mauser and his brother Wilhelm, the company rose to prominence through the development of the Model 1871, the first German military rifle to use a metallic cartridge, followed by a succession of increasingly refined bolt-action rifle designs that culminated in the Gewehr 98.

The Mauser Model 98 action, introduced in 1898, represents perhaps the single most influential bolt-action design in history. Its controlled-round feeding, dual opposing locking lugs, integral magazine, and crisp trigger are the foundations upon which virtually every serious bolt-action sporting and military rifle of the 20th century was built. The Model 98 served as the German military’s standard infantry rifle through both World Wars and has been copied, adapted, and licensed by manufacturers on every continent. Premium bolt-action rifles from manufacturers as diverse as Winchester, Remington, Ruger, CZ, and FN Mauser continue to draw on the Model 98’s fundamental architecture.

Beyond bolt-action rifles, Mauser produced the C96 “Broomhandle” semi-automatic pistol, one of the earliest and most recognizable semi-automatic handguns ever made, chambered for the potent 7.63mm Mauser cartridge. The C96 was widely used in both World Wars and became an iconic object of 20th-century history through its association with figures ranging from Winston Churchill to Han Solo.

Today, Mauser continues as a German manufacturer of premium hunting and sporting rifles, producing modern interpretations of classic designs that honor the company’s engineering heritage while incorporating contemporary materials and manufacturing techniques. The Mauser name remains one of the most recognized and respected in the global firearms industry.