Carbine owned by Able Seaman Bevis circa 1900. Fully stocked to muzzle and fitted with two sling loops. It has a bolt action lock. The barrel is rifled and fitted with blade foresight protected by wings and leaf rear sight. There are a number of inscriptions on this firearm: 'FV', 'Dreyse', 'Sommerda' (the place of manufacture), 'Soz'. There are also Chinese characters on the tang of the trigger guard. This rifle was acquired by A.B. Bevis during the Boxer Rebellion 1900. According to the family of Mr Bevis: "my father served on HMS 'Centurion' and was wounded in the head resulting in him being blind. Earl Jellicoe (Flag Captain of HMS 'Centurion' during the Boxer Rebellion) served too and I have some letters of his written to my father in hospital, he also gave him this rifle and a sword". The sword is also in the collection (reference WPN1467). Considerable quantities of this model rifle were manufactured by Mauser and sold to China, Japan, Honduras and the Transvaal.