Paul Mauser

Paul Mauser was born in Oberndorf am Neckar in 1838. Like his older brother Wilhelm, he learned firearms production at the Royal Württemberg gun factory, where their father worked as a master gunsmith. The brothers later developed breech-loading mechanisms together and were named with Samuel Norris on an 1868 United States patent.

Paul concentrated on the mechanical side of the partnership while Wilhelm represented their designs and built the business. Their work produced the single-shot Model 1871 bolt-action rifle. The brothers registered their Mauser partnership in 1872 and formed Gebr. Mauser & Cie. after buying the Oberndorf factory in 1874.

After Wilhelm died in 1882, Paul remained the company’s technical leader. He developed smaller-caliber rifles for the new smokeless-powder era and refined the bolt, magazine, cartridge-loading clip, extractor, and gas-safety features. Mauser-pattern rifles were adopted by several countries beginning in the late 1880s.

The Gewehr 98, adopted by Germany in 1898, became the most influential expression of Paul’s rifle work. Its controlled cartridge feed, two forward locking lugs, third safety lug, and provisions for directing escaping gas away from the shooter helped make the action strong, dependable, and adaptable. Later military and sporting rifles around the world drew from this system.

Paul became the company’s general director in 1907 and remained closely identified with its rifle designs until his death in Oberndorf in 1914. His importance rests not on one gun alone, but on a series of practical improvements that shaped the modern bolt-action rifle.

Photos of Paul Mauser with Guns

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