These rifles varied in stock style, barrel, sight lines and ornamentation. At the time, an Afrikaans farmer (Also known as a Boer) could purchase a Mauser Model 1895 at a price of £3, another variant known in Afrikaans as Plezier Mauser was sold slightly above cost by the respective governments and private dealers for sport and private use. Because of this issue, a misunderstanding occurred regarding the identification between the Model 1896 and Model 1897. The Model 1895 brought to the “Transvaal” was also known as 'Boer Model' Mauser and were marked “O.V.S” ( Oranje Vrij Staat) just above the serial number accompanied by MOD.MAUSER and the date of the manufacturer. Due to many rifles being diverted to Chile, many of the rifles in that country bore the inscription “O.V.S” ( Oranje Vrij Staat), Orange Free State.

Roughly 50,000 Mauser rifles were ordered but only 37,000 were delivered because DWM diverted them to fulfill their contract with the Chilean army. The Model 1895 was also deployed to republic of the Orange Free State and the South African Republic (more commonly known as “Transvaal”) by DWM shortly after the Jameson Raid in December 1895 to deal with the shortage of modern magazine fed rifles for the state army. Mauser 1895, used by the Boers in South Africa (at the Auckland Museum) It is the first major modification of the Mauser Model 1893 and was produced by Deutsche Waffen und Munitionsfabriken, known as DWM, and Ludwig Loewe Company from 1895 to 1900. It was exported to many overseas powers, including the Chilean forces which adopted as the Fusil Mauser Chileno Mo 1895. The Mauser Model 1895 is a bolt operated magazine fed rifle using the 7×57mm Mauser cartridge. Deutsche Waffen und Munitionsfabriken 1897–1909

1895 mauser serial numbers