汉阳造步枪

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The original prototype of this gun was the German 1888 Model Committee Rifle, also known as the Gewehr 88 or G-88. Due to its issues with loading and unloading, reliability problems with ejecting shells, and a tendency to explode, it was replaced by the Mauser 98 rifle in 1898. This type of rifle was then sold to Turkey, some African countries, and China's Qing government. The Qing government's "Mauser" brand prejudice led German businessmen to lie that this rifle was made by Mauser. They successfully sold design data and production equipment to the Qing government. From 1896 on, the Hanyang Arsenal began producing this type of rifle, naming it the Eight-eight Model. The Jiangnan Arsenal also started producing this type in 1899 and continued until 1944, with almost 50 years of production, making it China's longest-produced light weapon at that time. It was the main firearm equipment for various armed forces from the Qing government's new army to the anti-Japanese war period. Because its primary producer was located in Hanyang, Hankou, this rifle is commonly known as "Hanyang-made." Due to early imports of German-made G-88 rifles using a full-length barrel shroud, and domestic early copies also using a full-length barrel shroud, it's often referred to as the "Old Shroud" earlier on. In 1904, Hanyang Arsenal improved this rifle by removing the barrel shroud and replacing it with a wooden forearm. The bayonet was mounted under the front stock band, while other improvements were based on Germany's 98 model rifle, such as changing the sight and moving the charging handle to inside the forearm. Due to its long production run, Han Yang rifles played a role in almost every war in China during that period, including the Xinhai Revolution. According to recollections from a soldier of the New Army's Eighth Corps (Division), all their rifles were produced by Hanyang Arsenal. Therefore, on October 10th, 1911 night, the first shot fired by Cheng Ting Guo was likely from an Han Yang-made rifle, which started the Xinhai Revolution that overthrew a thousand-year imperial system.