[4] The action was not based on its predecessor, the Dreyse needle gun which had seen service during the Franco-Prussian War of 1870–71, and which was found to have a number of weaknesses.
Designated M1887, it differed from the M71/84 in that it had a side-mounted cleaning rod, a second locking lug on the rear of the bolt and that it was in 9.5×60mmR,[10] which Paul Mauser touted as the most efficient (black powder) cartridge.
[citation needed] A short version, the M1871 Jägerbüchse was developed for the Jäger or light infantry[8] and served with engineers, fortress and navy units.
It had unique additions in that it had a bolt guide (much like the M1870 Italian Vetterli) and the "progressive rifling" (rifling which increases in twist rate as the bullet travels up the bore, to more gradually impart spin) developed by the Serbian Major Kosta "Koka" Milovanović (Коста "Кока" Миловановић), and it is commonly known as "Mauser-Koka", "Mauser-Milovanović", or "Kokinka" ("Кокинка").
Starting 1907, about half of these were converted in Kragujevac to shoot the 7×57mm from a 5-shot box magazine; the new barrels were purchased from Steyr.
[15] In 1894, Uruguay had their stockpile of M71 rifles converted to smokeless 6.5×53.5mm SR (Daudeteau system) by Société Française d'Armes Portatives Saint Denis in France.
[citation needed] From 1876, the Chinese Qing dynasty bought M71 rifles and carbines from Mauser, Steyr and Spangenberg & Sauer.
[13][18] After the Germans adopted the Gewehr 1888, over 1,000,000 discarded[citation needed] Model 1871 and 1871/84 were put into Chinese service.
[11] At the same time, the Gewehr 71 with incendiary bullets were used to shoot down observation balloons[2] and German home-guard units were still equipped with M71/84 rifles.
They were used in action by the Volunteers in the Easter Rising of 1916, the rebellion aimed at ending British rule in Ireland which began the Irish War of Independence.
In the film The Last Samurai, the Japanese Imperial Army carries German bolt-action Mauser M1871/84 rifles.