Geweer M. 95

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Geweer M. 95
The Geweer Model 1895
Type	Service rifle, Bolt-action rifle
Place of origin	Netherlands
Service history
In service	1895–1949
Used by	Netherlands Republic of Indonesia Empire of Japan[1] Nazi Germany[1]
Wars	Aceh War Dutch intervention in Bali (1906) Dutch intervention in Bali (1908) World War I World War II Indonesian National Revolution
Production history
Designer	Otto Schönauer and Ferdinand Mannlicher
Designed	1895
Manufacturer	ŒWG, Artillerie Inrichtingen
Produced	1895–1940
No. built	approx. 470,000
Variants	See Variants
Specifications
Mass	M95 Rifle: 4.35 kg (9.6 lb) Carbine.No 4: 3.37 kg (7.4 lb)
Length	M95 Rifle: 1,287 mm (50.7 in) Carbine.No 4: 951 mm (37.4 in)
Barrel length	M95 Rifle: 790 mm (31 in) Carbine.No 4: 450 mm (18 in)
Cartridge	6.5×53mmR .303 British[1] 7.7×58mm Arisaka[1]
Action	Bolt-action
Muzzle velocity	742 m/s (2,430 ft/s)
Effective firing range	up to 400 m (440 yd)
Feed system	5-round en-bloc clip
Sights	Iron sights

The Geweer M. 95, also known to collectors as the Dutch Mannlicher, was the service rifle of the armed forces of the Netherlands between 1895 and 1940 which replaced the obsolete Beaumont-Vitali M1871/88.^[2][3] At first it was produced by Steyr for the Dutch, but after 1904, production took place under license at a Dutch state weapon factory in Zaandam known by the name of close by Hembrug bridge.^[4][5] Although often regarded as being based on the earlier Mannlicher 1893 Model, the rifle is in fact a modification of the Mannlicher rifle by August Schriever and the Dutch rifle commission.^[6][7] The Dutch issued about 470,000 M.95s.

Both Dutch and Romanian rifles fired the same rimmed cartridge often referred to as "Romanian" 6.5x53.5mmR or "Dutch 6.5" 6.5×53 mmR. It was also known as the .256 Mannlicher.^[8] In military service, Dutch M.95 rifles (6.5×53 mmR) cartridges are loaded primarily through the use of an en-bloc clip, similar in concept to the clip used later by the US Army's M1 Garand. With the Ferdinand Mannlicher designed trigger guard / magazine housing assembly, when the bolt is open and fully retracted to the rear the full en-bloc clip is loaded into the magazine from the top through the open receiver. The empty clip will fall out through a hole in the base of the magazine housing when out of cartridges. This enabled quick reloading of the rifles during combat. When the bolt is in the fully open and retracted position, full clips can be vigorously ejected upwards from the magazine housing by means of a spring loaded latch at the rear of the magazine. This is operated by a recessed button in the front of the trigger guard portion of the assembly. The clips were essentially disposable as ammunition would be issued already loaded into clips from the factory.