Howth Mauser

Howth Mauser, Model 71 (M1871), one of 1,500 German military-issue Mausers landed by Erskine Childers from the Asgard yacht at Howth and Kelpie at Kilcoole in July 1914, in response to the rival Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF). Obsolete and cheap, they were single-shot rifles bought from Hamburg arms dealer Moritz Magnus. Their memorable recoil, smoke, and a tendency to overheat with constant use meant they were known as ‘elephant guns’. Subsequently they became known as ‘Howth Mausers’.