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Interpret this antique Chinese please?


gewehr 98

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Can anyone identify the meaning of the cartouches in the enclosed images?

Item in question is a German-made Infatantrie Gewehr M71 Mauser rifle, as designed and produced by the Mauser firm in Oberndorf a/m Neckar. It was manufactured in 1880 and sold to China soon after.

Chinese arms of later eras (1930's to 1950's) often bear the cartouche of local home guard or militia units. This particular cartouche has stumped typical translations of such, seemingly due to the time period of its application.

Thank you in advance for any information. Any data will be used to advance the knowledge of early Chinese military arms.

1488_thumb.attach

1489_thumb.attach

1490_thumb.attach

1491_thumb.attach

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Thanks to all for your replies!

Some cursory research on the firm "Tait and Co." reveal that they were heavily involved in the buying and selling of Chinese male slaves, aka 'coolies', especially to plantations in Cuba and the guano mines in the Galopagos Islands. Apparently arms such as the one exhibited above were used to suppress revolts and mutinies. Interesting history.

Some links to information concerning the above data.

http://books.google.com/books?id=DUQFAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA152&lpg=PA152&dq=tait+and+co+amoy&source=web&ots=Z3TWS5NNYP&sig=pOyeFzkZI89Fe49xS0Ym9xsuLaw#PPA152,M1

http://www.rootsweb.com/~guycigtr/Samuel_Boddington.htm

http://www.takaoclub.com/bowne/index.htm

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