MAUSER IN CHINA

The article Model Xicheng Rifle is published on ISSUE 485 November 2022 of BANZAI . Model Xicheng is a Chinese copy of Mauser M1907 rifle made by Chishui Arsenal in 1930s. The rifle was named after General Zhou Xicheng (周西成), the warlord who establsied Chishui Arsneal. Below is selected pages of the article. For more info please subscribe to BANZAI (http://www.banzaionline.com/).

 Publications English Publications (1) Original Manchu Arisaka  research appearing in Francis Allan's gorgeous collection book  The Early Arisakas, Revised edition 2022 . (2)  Stanley Zielinski, Aaron Zou, Chinese Model Xicheng Rifle (西成式) . BANZAI, November 2022. (3)  Stanley Zielinski, Aaron Zou, Mauser in China: Model 1904 . BANZAI, June 2023. (4) Aaron Zou, Delin Model (德林式) Rifle A Chinese Copy of the Japanese Model 38 .  BANZAI, July 2023. (5)  Stanley Zielinski,  Aaron Zou,  Chinese Lan Model (蘭式) .  BANZAI, October 2023. (6)  Stanley Zielinski, Aaron Zou, A China Purchased Model 1871 Dreyse Made Carbine .   BANZAI, November 2023. (7)  Stanley Zielinski, Aaron Zou,  The 32nd Year Made Manchu Arisaka .   BANZAI, January 2024. Chinese Publications (1)Aaron Zou，日本订购的毛瑟标准型步枪和K98k步枪，轻兵器，2021年5月 Aaron Zou, Japanese Standard Modell and K98k, Small Arms, May 2022. (2) Aaron Zou, 团龙三零，轻兵器，2021，12月 Aaron Zou, Manchu Arisaka,  Small Arms, December 2021. (3) Aaron Zou, 开始与终结：从M1871到K9

Hanyang Type 23 Rifle The first proposal for altering Hanyang rifle to fire 7.9S cartridge was submitted by the Superintendent Zheng Jiajun in 1934, Nationalist Year 23. Into 1930s China imported a substantial quantity of FN24&30, Vz24 and SM which fire S cartridge. Hanyang Arsenal planed to move onto the new cartridge as well through enabling Hanyang rifle to accommodate both M88 patron and newer 7.9 S cartridge. The arsenal prepared three types of improved rifle. The prototype one is a Model 98 rifle which I speculate likely being a modified Type 1 rifle, a Chinese copy of Model 1907, the most common domestic made M1898 system rifle. The arsenal also improved two types of Hanyang rifle, one is called Type 88 I (八八式甲) and another one is Type 88 II  (八八式乙). The two rifles are almost exact same except Type 88 I accommodates 7.9 S cartridge only while Type 88 II is compatible with both round and spitzer cartridge.  In the Nationalist Government  Annual Rereport of Ordnance Department

 ZB established business connection with China dating back to 1924. Several agency made offers to ZB on behalf of Chinese buyers until 1926. ZB directly offering rifles to China happened in 1927 when General Zhang Zuo-ling’s delegate’s visit to Czech. At first. General Zhang would prefer to buy used rifles. The search for used rifles, however, was fruitless in the end. ZB made several offers to the General’s delegate who finally accepted an offer of 40000 rifles in June 1927. 20000 rifles were borrowed from MNO deposit. ZB gained 4.8 million Kc profits from this first direct contract which value amounts to 31 million Kc. Though the transportation was hard owing to embargo and Chinese volatile situation, the consignment arrived in China intact in February 1928 as reported by ZB management.  Following the first contract, in March 1928, ZB immediately secured a second contract of 30000 rifles which were dispatched from ZB on August 12 1928 and arrived in China on October 13. The last majo

Chinese Sailors marching in New York. Imperial Chinese Navy cruiser “Hai Chi” visited New York City in September 1911. These sailors were carrying Mauser system Model 1893/95 rifle. The Mauser Archive does not show any records of selling 1893/95 rifle to China. But China must obtain a number of such models from other sources.  From Qing government archives, I am able to find several documents related to purchasing Mauser Model 1893/95.  In 1900, Fujian Province signed a contract with Mandl & Co., H for 600 pieces of Chilean 1895 Mauser rifle. However the contract was not realized since China was banned from importing weapons according to the articles of Boxer Protocol. Two years later, Fujian Province renewed the contract with Mandl & Co., H for 400 pieces of Mauser 1895 rifle in 7m/m caliber, each rifles with 500 rounds of ammunition alongside fees costs 145 German Marks. Mauser Company did not make Chilean Mod.1895 which were manufactured by DWM. Another Model 1893/95 con

In early 1885, Mauser sold 6000 Serbia Mod.80 to China. The backstory of 1885 contract is straightforward, the Sino-French war broke out in December 1883. Chinese forces lost substantive man power and equipment. China’s then capability of arm manufacturing was too weak to supply its own troops use. They had to buy any rifles and ammunition they could find in the global market. Main ground battles took place in North Vietnam abreast to Guangxi Province and Taiwan. Guangxi Province was one of two provinces that under the jurisdiction of Governors-General of Liang’guang who is accounted to raise and equip forces to defend French invasion. To meet desperate needs of firearms, then Governors-General of Liang’guang, Zhang Zhidong, filed a report to the Emperor on November 13, 1884 asking for purchasing 20000 rifles and 10 million rounds of ammunition. The Emperor authorized Li Hongzhang, Governor-General of Zhili, to buy these weapons per Zhang’s request.     Chinese Minister in Berlin, Xv J

The Second Sino-Japanese War outbroke on July 7 1937. At this point, China domestic rifle production amounted to 80000 pieces a year. Huge loss of weapons and machinery forced China to acquire extra small arms from Europe. Within 6 months after outbreak of the war more than 150000 rifles having been ordered from FN and ZB. 1938 Chinese K98k Contract Although China did not award first order to Mauser until February 1938, Chinese government requested German government to provide 100000 rifles right after Japanese full scale invasion in July 1937. In early 1938, the quantity further increased to 300000 rifles which request had never being fulfilled. German government’s reluctant to provide rifles to China compelling Nationalist government to seek a commercial contract. Chinese official Tan Boyu ( 商務專員處專員譚伯羽 ), the Representative of Chinese Commercial Office in Berlin, was deputed by Central Military Committee of Nationalist Government to negotiate a rifle contract with Mauser Company. Th