Model 1889 Belgian Mauser: One of the Earliest Smokeless-Powder Military Rifles
The Model 1889 Belgian Malinois, one of the earliest military rifles to use smokeless powder, was adopted by the Belgian government in 1889. This rifle, inspired by the German Model 1888 Commission Rifle, featured a barrel jacket and used a 7.65x53 mm cartridge that remained in service until the 20th century.
The Model 1889 Belgian Malinois was produced by a consortium consisting of Ludwig Loewe & Company (later Deutsche Waffen und Munitionsfabriken) of Germany and Fabrique Nationale of Belgium. This rifle was equipped with a cock-on-close action and a box magazine extending below the action. It is now relatively rare and elusive among World War I firearms.
During World War I, Belgian troops armed with the Model 1889 Malinois faced German soldiers equipped with the more modern Model 1898 Mauser. The 1889 model's design was licensed to Belgian manufacturers, leading to the formation of Fabrique Nationale (FN).
The Model 1889 Belgian Malinois, though now scarce, holds historical significance as one of the earliest smokeless-powder military rifles. Its design influenced later models and led to the establishment of Fabrique Nationale. Despite facing more modern rifles in World War I, it served the Belgian army well.
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