Mauser in China: FN-China 1894 contract and 7.65 mm Mauser rifle

FN-China 1894 contract and 7.65 mm Mauser rifle

(1) FN-China 1894 Rifle Contract

FN company documented a contract with China in October 1894, which alleged were delivered but the details had lost to time. In October 1896, Chinese Embassy to London attaché Wu Zonglian and official Fengling visited FN company. In Fengling’s later report filed for the Ministry of War that besides Brazilian contract, FN totally produced 100 thousands rifles for China, Colombia and Uruguay.

Through research, this 1894 China contract now confirmed it was sold to Liu Kun’yi, Governors-General of Liang’Jiang, through Gong Zhao’ai, Chinese minister in London.

The Sino-Japanese war broke out on July 25 1894, the Governors General issued a large amount of firearms and ammunitions to imperial army which were fighting against Japanese in northeastern China. After the defeat of Yellow Sea Battle, China coastal was under the threat of Japanese Navy invasion. To meet Nanyang’s desperately need of firearms, at Liu Kunyi’s behest, Chinese minister in London ordered 10400 Martini Henry rifles and 1000 carbines followed by 10000 Belgium repeating rifles and 5 million rounds ammunition in October. Each Belgian rifle costs 46.5 shillings and 95 shillings per 1000 rounds. Plus commissions fees, insurance and transportation, Chinese contract valued in 49350 British pounds.

Liu briefed purchase of rifle to General Kui Lekui in the letter dated November 26 that he had ordered respectively 10000 rifles of Martini and Belgian model. Liu’s Belgian rifles initial agreement was to deliver to Guangdong, however due to it’s urgency, Liu requested the expeditor to deliver rifles in Shanghai which was rejected. Governor of Guangdong sent Yan Xifan to Hongkong on January 21, 1895 to settle a deal of delivering 10000 Belgian rifles to Shanghai with Gilman Bowman＆Co, which worth of 4250 pounds. The consignments of 10000 Belgian rifles and 3 million rounds arrived Hongkong on January 23, setting sail to Shanghai on February 2. The cargo ship Haikou conveyed 10000 rifles contained in 625 crates, 3000 crates of ammunition and 52 crates of slings and 52 crates of ammo pouch and slings. The consignments embarked in Shanghai on February 8. The rest of 2 million rounds of ammunition were delivered in Zhenjiang on April 13.

After October 1894 Zhang Zhidong assumed Liu’s duty as Governors General of Liangjiang. Zhang was responsible of firearms purchase and transportation. On March 5, 1895, Zhang cabled the minister in London to order further 5 million rounds of ammunition for the Belgian rifles he had bought last year which had only 500 rounds per rifle, half of normal criteria of 1000 rounds per rifle. Zhang’s subordinate Liu Qixiang advised him to buy ammunition could either from the dealer in Shanghai or from FN through Minister in London. On April 1, Liu Qixiang received Zhang Zhidong’s instruction of purchasing 5 million rounds of ammunition. Afterwards, Liu made an agreement of 5 million rounds of ammunition chambered in 7.65m/m caliber Belgian rifle with Diers&Co, which were delivered on August 16 1895.

(2) Buchheister & Co sold  7.65 mm Mauser rifle to China in 1894

In October 1894, both Telge & Co. and Buchheister & Co sent letters to Sheng Xuanhuai marketing Belgian rifle suggested in these letters. In Buchheister & Co’s letter to Sheng dated October 17, 10000 pieces of Model 1889 rifles in 7.65m/m caliber, which was the same model tested by Belgian government, were available. No evidence confirms Sheng bought these rifles.

As soon as Zhang Zhidong became the acting Governors General of Liangjiang, he requested Emperor’s approval of purchasing additional firearms, which he had on Oct 25 1894. At the same day, Liu Qixiang was dictated to approach several foreign dealers in Shanghai. On Nov 20, he reported that 8000 Austrian repeating rifles were available from Carlowitz&Co and 10000 Belgian repeating rifles were available from Buchhcister & Co. Each Belgian rifle costs 20 Tael (58.8 Marks) and 47 Tael (138 Marks) for 1000 cartridges. The next day, he was informed that half of Buchhcister & Co's Belgian rifles had been sold but they could provide 20000 Mannlicher rifles and 5000 German five-shot repeating rifles from Diers & Co. Liu made agreement with Buchhcister & Co and Diers & Co on December 7. The contract of 10000 Mannlciehr rifles and 5000 Belgian rifles was signed on December 10.

On April 4, a cargo ship hired by Buchhcister & Co and Diers & Co conveyed 5000 Belgian rifles and 10000 Mannlicher rifles as well as 11.5 million rounds of ammunition to Zhenjiang. Among the ammnuiiton 1.5 million rounds are of Zhang’s Belgian rifle contract. On August 16, Diers & Co delivered 8.5 million rounds of ammunition which consisted of 5 million rounds for Diers & Co ammunition contract and 350 millions for Zhang’s rifle contract. 

(3) Use of Belgian Rifles

Zhang Zhidong and Liu Kunyi made an agreement to divide any further consignments of firearms to half, so did Liu’s Belgian rifles.

On February 20, Zhang Zhidong instructed Admiral Peng Chuhan, who garrisoned in Jiangyin, to accept 1100 Belgian rifles and 330,000 rounds of ammunition in Zhenjiang. Then he issued 5000 rifles to Liu’s army in Northern China, which ensued by 2500 Belgian rifles alongside 750,000 rounds of ammunition on May 8 which never made its destination and finally returned to Zhang’s depot. On July 25, Liu complained to Zhang that his army received so scarce rifles that only 5000 Belgian rifles were delivered to him.

After Liu reassuming his duty in Liangjiang, he issued more rifles and ammunition to several troops between 1897 and 1900. In 1897, 3000 Belgian rifles alongside 1.5 million rounds of smokeless powder ammunition were issued to Guangxi Province, then 1000 Belgian rifles issued in 1899. In 1900, 3500 Belgian rifles and 250,000 rounds of ammunition were issued to General Chen Zelin’s army.

(4) What’s this Belgian Rifle?

It’s doubtless that China imported Mauser rifle in 7.65 caliber in 1894. Jiangnan Arsenal product catalogue lists two types of Belgian rifle cartridge, one of which is smokeless powder and another one is black powder since China then had inadequate smokeless powder for rifle cartridge production.

The delegates from trading company and Chinese officials commend the Belgian rifle having better magazine than Gew 88.

In Buchheistcr&Co’s letter to Shen Xuanhuai dated October 15, it stated that the Belgian rifle was Model 1889 in 7.65m/m caliber which Belgium government had tested. The most advantageous feature of Belgian rifle was closed magazine bottom comparing to Mannlicher’s magazine, which can reload at any time instead of reloading the magazine unless it’s empty. Trading company’s Belgian rifle were manufactured by Ludwig Loewe as it stated in the letter.

Chinese official Liu Qixiang in his letter to Zhang Zhidong dated April 15 stated that he had sent two crates of Belgian rifle and Mannlicher rifle ordered from Buchhcister & Co to Zhang. The small caliber Belgian Mauser was one kind of German Mauser. In contrast to Mannlicher, Mauser rifle had shrouded barrel. 

My speculation of Belgian rifle is either Belgian M1889 or Model1890/91 made by Loewe. The Belgian rifle is in 7.65 caliber which was designed and used only by Mauser. Second, its magazine is fully closed which can reload at anytime, not a Mannlicher style magazine. The shrouded barrel Belgian Mauser sent by Liu Qixiang to Zhang Zhidong indicated that it's more likely Model 1889.