There is no hunting like the hunting of man, and those who have hunted armed men long enough and liked it, never care for anything else thereafter.
-Ernest Hemingway
What was the Rifle?
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Following the development of the breech-loading rifle first implemented in 14th century Burgundy, the bolt-action rifle was first developed by Johann Nicolaus Von Dreyse in 1824. His "Nadelgewehr" was first utilized by the Prussian army in 1841, seeing combat for the first time in 1861. While military technology progressed in the mid-nineteenth century, the United States developed their own rifle, The Springfield. Designed by Spring Field Armory, this rifle was designed to supplant the useless Greene Rifle initially adopted by the US armed forces.
Amidst the later half of the nineteenth century, the dominant powers of Europe tremendously furthered the advancement of the rifle with the addition of a smother bolt-action movement and utilizing multiple cartridges with box magazines and clips. One of the earliest models to administer this technology was the French Lebel Model 1886. This model bolstered a ten-round capacity magazine, proving itself dangerously effective due its cartridge capacity larger than any other rifle of its time.
Amidst the later half of the nineteenth century, the dominant powers of Europe tremendously furthered the advancement of the rifle with the addition of a smother bolt-action movement and utilizing multiple cartridges with box magazines and clips. One of the earliest models to administer this technology was the French Lebel Model 1886. This model bolstered a ten-round capacity magazine, proving itself dangerously effective due its cartridge capacity larger than any other rifle of its time.
During the Great War and the conflicts leading up to it, there were three effective, yet different rifle models of the time. The Mauser, Mosin-Nagant, and the Lee-Enfield system. Each system of operation was developed for a specific style of combat, and the varying theaters of warfare of its time.
Out with the old; In with the new:
The rifle made a profound effect on the Great War, changing the course of battle and effectively turning the tides of war on several occasions. With the surrounding competition for military technological advancement, Europe was entangled in a pseudo-arms race for the best military technology. One advancement led to another, the French developed the repeating-firing chamber, the Germans developed more efficient ammunition, while the British introduced the first tank. Without the advancements of the rifle, the Entente nor the central powers would never have forced each other to make the progressions they made.
The Three Types of Rifles:
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The Mauser Gewehr 98
The Gewehr 1898 (Abbreviated G98, M98, etc.) was a bolt-action produced by Mauser in the German empire. This rifle fired a 7.92x57mm five-round internal clip firing mechanism. The Gewehr 98 was the rifle implemented by the Second Reich during the great war.
The Gewehr 1898 (Abbreviated G98, M98, etc.) was a bolt-action produced by Mauser in the German empire. This rifle fired a 7.92x57mm five-round internal clip firing mechanism. The Gewehr 98 was the rifle implemented by the Second Reich during the great war.
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Lee-Enfield mk 1
The Lee-Enfield Mark 1 was a bolt-action repeating rifle issued by the British Empire from 1895-1926. This particular rifle featured a ten-round double-column magazine, giving it an edge experienced such as that of the French Lebel 1886.
The Lee-Enfield Mark 1 was a bolt-action repeating rifle issued by the British Empire from 1895-1926. This particular rifle featured a ten-round double-column magazine, giving it an edge experienced such as that of the French Lebel 1886.
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Mosin-Nagant 91
Винтовка Мосина (Vintovka Mos'ina) 1891 was the rifle deployed among the troops of the Imperial Russian Army in the Great War. Its features were comparable to the Mauser rifle, but featured a dual-locking chamber mechanism not featured by the mauser.
Винтовка Мосина (Vintovka Mos'ina) 1891 was the rifle deployed among the troops of the Imperial Russian Army in the Great War. Its features were comparable to the Mauser rifle, but featured a dual-locking chamber mechanism not featured by the mauser.