Mauser

Mauser, often referred to by the company name Mauser-Werke, is a German firearms manufacturer formed in 1871 by brothers Paul and Wilhelm Mauser in Oberndorf am Neckar. The company rose to prominence for developing bolt-action systems and for producing the Gewehr 98 rifle, adopted by the German Empire in 1898, which established the Mauser 98 action as a durable and influential design. In addition to rifles, Mauser produced pistols, notably the Mauser C96 semiautomatic pistol, introduced in 1896 and widely used in the first half of the 20th century.

Throughout the first half of the 20th century, Mauser supplied guns to many nations and helped standardize bolt-action and semi-automatic weapons. The 98 action, in particular, became a blueprint for many later rifles, with numerous national variants and commercial sporting rifles derived from its design. After World War I and subsequent restrictions, Mauser reorganized and focused on sporting rifles and commercial firearms for domestic and export markets, while licensing and brand use spread globally.

In the contemporary era, the Mauser name persists as a brand associated with high-quality sporting firearms. The original Oberndorf works and related entities have undergone corporate changes, and today the Mauser name appears under licensed manufacturers in Germany and elsewhere. The legacy of Mauser rests on its bolt-action heritage and the widespread influence of its rifle and pistol designs.

See also: Mauser 98, Mauser C96, Gewehr 98, Bolt-action rifle, Mauser action.