Erfurt Imperial Arsenal Gewehr 88

The Gewehr 88 (or Model 1888 Commission Rifle) was a German rotary bolt action rifle adopted in 1888. Its bolt has dual locking lugs at the front, and a detachable bolt head, which does not rotate along with the bolt body when it is locked or unlocked. The Gewehr 88 was the first military rifle that takes a rimless cartridge. It was manufactured by several manufacturers like Ludwig Loewe, Haenel, Steyr-Mannlicher, Imperial Arsenals of Amberg, Danzig, Erfurt, Spandau, Hanyang Arsenal. Mauser was never on of the Gewehr 88 manufacturers. The Gewehr 88 was one of many weapons in the arms race between the German states and France, and with Europe in general. It was made until 1915 with total production of approximatelly 1 million rifles.