Infanterij-Geweer M.71-88 (AKA ‘’De Beaumont-Vitali’’)
Made by P. Stevens in Maastricht
SN# H799
1877
Modified to M.71/88 in 1890; 60,000 existing M.71 rifles was modified.
11x52mmR (11,3mm Patroon Scherp R v.) – Black Powder
4 rd. Integral Box magazine Vitali (Non-removable)
Bolt Action (#### on open)
Designed by Edouard De Beaumont.
Almost all of the 138,668 M1871 De Beaumonts produced were subsequently converted to the Vitali magazine system between 1888 and 1895. The M1871/88 De Beaumont-Vitali rifle was introduced in 1888 following developments in firearms design. In the 1880s, the adoption of repeating rifles and the invention of smokeless gunpowder made the De Beaumont M1871 obsolete. Tests involving magazine systems from Krnka, Kropatchek, Lee, Mannlicher, Vitali and Werndl were conducted between 1879 and 1888. On 23 February 1886, the Dutch Minister of War appointed a "commission for the purpose of evaluating the rifle question", which was tasked with gathering information on the new system of repeating rifles. As the matter of finding a new rifle was regarded a long-term goal, the immediate adoption of a magazine rifle was also considered. The Dutch military approved the M1871/88 in 1889, adding a 4-round Vitali magazine to around 60,000 existing rifles. Other modifications included updated sights and ejector, and vent holes in the event of case rupture. Due to its use of a clip-fed magazine, the rifle has a firing rate of up to 14.5 rounds per minute. The brass cartridge fires a 385-grain hardened lead round nose projectile with 77 grains of black powder at a velocity of 1,444 feet per second at the muzzle. The rifle is sighted up to 1,968 yards. A stopgap measure, the upgraded rifles were made obsolete as the main service rifle in 1895 by the Steyr Geweer M.95 using a smokeless cartridge. Beaumont rifles were then sent to militia units and remained in service until 1907. The rifles, many of which were shortened, were sent to the Dutch East Indies and remained in use until World War II. Others were converted to smoothbore shotguns for civilian use. The KSO rifles and fencing rifles remained in use until May 1940.
Made by P. Stevens in Maastricht
SN# H799
1877
Modified to M.71/88 in 1890; 60,000 existing M.71 rifles was modified.
11x52mmR (11,3mm Patroon Scherp R v.) – Black Powder
4 rd. Integral Box magazine Vitali (Non-removable)
Bolt Action (#### on open)
Designed by Edouard De Beaumont.
Almost all of the 138,668 M1871 De Beaumonts produced were subsequently converted to the Vitali magazine system between 1888 and 1895. The M1871/88 De Beaumont-Vitali rifle was introduced in 1888 following developments in firearms design. In the 1880s, the adoption of repeating rifles and the invention of smokeless gunpowder made the De Beaumont M1871 obsolete. Tests involving magazine systems from Krnka, Kropatchek, Lee, Mannlicher, Vitali and Werndl were conducted between 1879 and 1888. On 23 February 1886, the Dutch Minister of War appointed a "commission for the purpose of evaluating the rifle question", which was tasked with gathering information on the new system of repeating rifles. As the matter of finding a new rifle was regarded a long-term goal, the immediate adoption of a magazine rifle was also considered. The Dutch military approved the M1871/88 in 1889, adding a 4-round Vitali magazine to around 60,000 existing rifles. Other modifications included updated sights and ejector, and vent holes in the event of case rupture. Due to its use of a clip-fed magazine, the rifle has a firing rate of up to 14.5 rounds per minute. The brass cartridge fires a 385-grain hardened lead round nose projectile with 77 grains of black powder at a velocity of 1,444 feet per second at the muzzle. The rifle is sighted up to 1,968 yards. A stopgap measure, the upgraded rifles were made obsolete as the main service rifle in 1895 by the Steyr Geweer M.95 using a smokeless cartridge. Beaumont rifles were then sent to militia units and remained in service until 1907. The rifles, many of which were shortened, were sent to the Dutch East Indies and remained in use until World War II. Others were converted to smoothbore shotguns for civilian use. The KSO rifles and fencing rifles remained in use until May 1940.
