Dutch Farmers Against the Empire: ZAR Mausers of the Boer War

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When the intercepted Jameson Raid made it clear to the governments of the ZAR (Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek; South African Republic) and the Orange Free State that war with Britain was imminent, a hasty armaments program was undertaken by both countries. The ZAR went looking for small arms, and wound up buying a tiny number of Krag-Jorgensens, a lot of Steyr Guedes single shot rifles, and about 28,000 modern Mauser bolt action repeaters.
The Boer military system at that time (the Second Anglo-Boer War would run from 1899 to 1902) was based on a universal civilian militia. Every male citizen of the Republic was required to present himself for military service when needed, supplying his own horse, rifle, ammunition, and basic ration supply. These were farming nations, with neither the industrial infrastructure nor the wealth to maintain an arms industry or a standing army. While the kommandos
were sufficient for defending again minor border intrusions, they would be severely stressed by a real war.
Because there was no military standard for arms, the men constituting the ZAR's army were armed with a mixture of all the rifles types available at that time - really anything that a traveling salesman might have brought to the area in the past couple decades. Sniders, British muskets, Kropatscheks, early Mausers, Vetterlis, and more. When the ZAR government purchased its Mauser rifles and carbines form Loewe/DWM, they were then sold at cost to individual Boers as an opportunity to improve and standardize their arms. Men who could not afford to buy one of the Mausers were loaned one by the government. One interested consequence of this entirely private rifle ownership was that a great many Boer rifles were personalized with carvings of names, battles, and decorations. The usual military taboo on modifying Army property did not apply to a Boer's personal weapon.
ZAR Mausers have no specific crest nor any mention of the country's name marked on their stocks or receivers, making them difficult to identify by the casual historical firearms enthusiast. Today we will explain the characteristic features of these scarce artifacts of a mostly-forgotten war.
If you enjoy Forgotten Weapons, check out its sister channel, InRangeTV! / inrangetvshow
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[@12201185234]

"However, the Boers didn't use bayonets. They didn't let you get close enough for a bayonet to be relevant." I love this quote.

[@forty4forty1]

That said there where bayonets for Boer rifles, very hard to find now.

[@omartorres5688]

That is Becuase they were crack shots

[@seamonster936]

Omar Torres Too bad the foreign volunteers couldn’t shoot straight, especially the vile and useless Dutch swamprats. They got cut down by French’s Cavalry at Elandslaagte.

[@seamonster936]

Joeri Leeuwen Yes that is sad, more swamprats should have been killed. They retreated because the British Army’s commanders at the start of the war were idiots. No I wasn’t there so don’t take my word for it, the Frenchman who held command over the remnants of the Hollanderkorps in Natal and the Orange Free State after their incorporation, George de Villebois-Mareuil called the Dutch volunteers useless drunkards.

[@tiaan2760]

@@seamonster936 poes

[@josuabotha3852]

As a South African who has gone through the trouble of studying this history I am truly impressed by the accuracy in this video. This greatly increases my confidence in the accuracy of the info in all your other videos.

[@janviljoen7001]

True, both my grandfathers were in the war and he gave the history accurately. His pronunciation is the best he could muster, I forgive him. Brits died 22 000, with about 16 000 of disease, dysentry etc. ( It was called Piet Cronje's revenge when thousands drank contaminated water from the Modder River after he surrendered.) Women and children 30 000. Blacks (few records) about 12 000.

[@mogabriel5238]

@@janviljoen7001 I heard you afrikaners are an endangered species dont there I pray for your safety

[@gidi3250]

@@mogabriel5238 We aren't as endangered as some might believe their are roughly 5 to 6 million of us (the largest white group in Africa) and a lot of us Boers are in other countries like Angola, Namibia, Madagascar, Morocco, Tunisia, Mozambique, Botswana, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Zambia, Mauritius, Zimbabwe, Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, Gabon, Ivory Coast, Tanzania some have gone back to their ancestral countries and recently some guys round where I live have been going to the USA to find work on farms there All in all there are people groups with way fewer than us out there like some native tribes in Africa and the Americas

[@weirdscience8341]

we still won tho c😂😂😂

[@omartorres5688]

@@gidi3250 question have you Boers heard of the white and blonde blue eyed berbers as I read they have been in Africa long before you guys also where can I find these white berbers? Also will I need a Muaser or an AK and supplies for the Trek as I picture the berbers living in harsh and hard to reach areas

[@hanjohanssen2530]

As a South African hearing Ian speak Afrikaans Is simply great.

[@joshuasmit5137]

:D I know right... Yohannasburg

[@hanjohanssen2530]

feel like there is some new cities I didn't know about But you got to love it.

[@joshuasmit5137]

Yup, he does a lot better than most Americans :D

[@hanjohanssen2530]

True

[@trekaddict]

His German isn't that great, to be honest, but I don't speak Afrikaans, so no judgement there.

[@0448mickey]

As a South African Boer, I'm very impressed with your historic accuracy. Unfortunately we are often referred to as "Dutch farmers", due to the Cape Colony being started by the Dutch, and Afrikaans being fairly similar to Dutch.

[@yuppieNL]

You practically were at the time. Afrikaans only standardised in the 1920s although most people still preferred to write in Dutch then. Afrikaans is just a way of dividing the Afrikaners from the Dutch by the English to sow disunity

[@derkbuiter6828]

And your dutch surname 😄

[@pred7949]

@@yuppieNL are you tripping bro? the 1920's was the peak of modern afrikaans. the last dutchies faded by the end of the 1700's. lol you out here in this comment section talking kak

[@Jacquesclt]

No denying the huge Dutch influence but alot of us are of German , Scottish, Irish or even french decent. Also don't let surnames fool you either mine was derived from German and can be traced all the way back to the 1652 landing. and although I'm a descendant of the huguenots from my mom's side it isn't french like alot of people think. Alot was changed and adopted as the Afrikaner and Boer cultures developed

[@RaferJeffersonIII]

@@yuppieNLit was our F ing colony so we can sow as much disunity as we like. At least we didn’t create apartheid like you did.

[@kisho3746]

My great grandfather was a British settler working in the mines In Johannesburg at the time the war broke out, he opted to fight on the side of the boers saying that " we might not speak the same language but we share this land as equals".Since then my family has always answered the call to Arms, my Old man himself serving in the border war. I hope one day I can honour them all if or when the time comes to take our country back. Awesome video, God bless the Boer nation.

[@lovefamilies9521]

@Ricco Matthews .....we arrived in 1820 and by 1835 every generation has been required to bear arms against the Krimineeeeeele there. Our blood has soaked into the African soil and it remains OURS

[@GeraltofRivia22]

He's lucky he didn't get captured. He would've been seen as a traitor by the British.

[@thirty-twobits]

@@lovefamilies9521 Uhm...where does the people who inhabited prior to 1820 fit in? Just asking.

[@basedcrocodile3477]

@@thirty-twobits Nonexistent, because South Africa south of the major rivers was unoccupied land when Dutch arrived, and the native Afro-Asian Khoisan tribes were mostly wiped out by Zulu/Xhosa or became the cape people.

[@Saartje05]

My great grandfather also fought against the British. We're Dutch. He was captured and almost lost his Dutch nationality. Had to pay a lot of money.

[@pierreabrie9445]

Take a community of Dutchmen of the type of those who defended themselves for fifty years against all the power of Spain at a time when Spain was the greatest power in the world. Intermix with them a strain of those inflexible French Huguenots, who gave up their name and left their country forever at the time of the revocation of the Edict of Nantes . The product must obviously be one of the most rugged, virile, unconquerable races ever seen upon the face of the earth. Take these formidable people and train them for seven generations in constant warfare against savage men and ferocious beasts, in circumstances in which no weakling could survive; place them so that they acquire skill with weapons and in horsemanship, give them a country which is eminently suited to the tactics of the huntsman, the marksman and the rider. Then, finally, put a fine temper upon their military qualities by a dour fatalistic Old Testament religion and an ardent and consuming patriotism. Combine all these qualities and all these impulses in one individual and you have the modern White Boer." Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

[@garynew9637]

Brilliant, thanks for the quote

[@drpepper3838]

80 years*

[@MikeOchtman]

That blood still runs deep in our veins, and it's looking increasingly that we're going to need to tap that old fighting spirit again as we're increasingly being hunted in the 'new' South Africa.

[@gpj6321]

@@MikeOchtman Jip it seems unavoidable.

[@omgpickle]

@@MikeOchtman God zij met u.

[@robert-trading-as-Bob69]

Thank you, Ian, for a good video on my country. The Boers could muster less than 60 000 troops, all told throughout the 2nd Boer War, compared to the British forces of over 450 000. Johannesburg is pronounced with a hard J, and often simplified to Joburg (Joe-berg) today. My family fought against the English in stopping the Jameson Raid and through the Boer War. The Boers were joined by small numbers of foreigners from around the world as well, such as American, Irish, Dutch, German, Norwegian, Russian, and even some English and Scotsmen.

[@rifles_up2263]

“Every man had a rifle,it’s just how it was” that warmed my little heart😊lmao

[@dimitrioslykissas7981]

Every man HAD TO HAVE a rifle. Even better now?

[@rifles_up2263]

Dimitrios Lykissas HAD to..yup lol you weren’t even allowed to be anti-gun!🤟🏽

[@samuelsmith6776]

when us boers finally get some sovereinity with a mars colony, we will have this law once more. mandatory mod mausers!

[@vercingetorix3839]

The Boer militia system is surprisingly similar to the 13 colonies.

[@MonkeyHerder3]

When lions, elephants, buffalo, rhino, leopard, etc and the rest of the usual African suspects are bedtime buddies, you have a gun. The End.

[@Baddy187]

Boers are the type of people I aspire to be. Self-sufficiant, not taking any shit from anyone, creative and one with the land.

[@kimmikkelsen9601]

Got to admit, that I love the historical background more than the guns themselves. History is cool!

[@liongod1000]

*_ Kim, now go watch how those Boers gave the Brits a Hellava Kick up the butt that they nearly lost their war in South Africa: **kzbin.info/www/bejne/eqPThWmXhpmqbck** _*

[@tamlandipper29]

Not sure I agree. The guns are the history, written in their code, but written in steel.

[@rob5944]

@@liongod1000 You don't like the British, do you?

[@liongod1000]

@@rob5944 *_ Not a matter of like or dislike but did you know that it was the British that 'invented' concentration camps that killed/starved to death 26000 WOMEN & CHILDREN.... YES! WOMEN & KIDS!! _* en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Boer_War_concentration_camps

[@timothyodeyale6565]

@@liongod1000 😅 ok..

[@henrykeyter53]

19:50 The Boers themselves ran out of ammunition before the end of the war and started using the Lee-Metfords of the British. When they surrendered a lot of Boers actually destroyed their own rifles

[@gabrielfraser2109]

Thank you for addressing a common misconception - the Boers, after a few early skirmishes, managed to get along just fine with the Zulus. Both groups respected each other as formidable warriors, and that kept them living quite peacefully. Neither of these groups, however, had much love for the Xhosa, and the distrust between Zulu and Xhosa is still something that is enormously prevalent in our politics, and frequently overlooked by people who think the ethnic tension of the region is simply white vs black.

[@barthoving2053]

An often forgotten story is that both sides pulled the local african tribes and kingdom into the conflict. Put that's probably forgotten as both sides used such employment by the other as an example how barbaric the other was in the propaganda war. But clearly there was diplomacy between the states. But it was a diplomacy based on strength. A racial different person on his own would be treated totally differently in these states, be it Boer, Zulu, Xhosa, or British Empire.

[@Gummo2020]

Such a pitty the Boer Wars are greatly overlooked by many, the British truly treated the Afrikaners horribly both during and after the war. The British went as far as not giving out rations to the captivated women and children of the men who were fighting on the frontlines. This was done to shatter morale among the Boer soldiers fighting at the front. The British also used scorched earth tactics, killing off lifestock and burning down all farms on the land they conquered. After the Treaty of Vereeniging was signed the British forbade Afrikaners to teach their children Afrikaans at schools. President Paul Kruger of the ZAR once spoke wise words: "The people rejoiced when they found the gold at the Witwatersrand, they instead should have wept, for the gold will bring a massive amount of bloodshed to our country"

[@vryheidvirdieboervolk973]

Icicle Fledglings that is a fact

[@seamonster936]

When you slaughter 35 million people You again, Dutchman? Sort of like how your ANC brothers is trying to eradicate Afrikaans in tertiary education (the universities we built). Our Boer/Afrikaner history is none of your concern. Why don't we talk about you people bankrolling the Marxist terrorist ANC to plant bombs that killed babies and burn black 'collaborators' alive?

[@seamonster936]

augnkn93043 Yes that Paul Kruger, and he was right. Can you give us figures of how many black African women and children died in British concentration camps?

[@Gummo2020]

Callie As if I support the actions of our Government, i've read the book "Minderheid in eigen land" by Martin Bosma, a Fantastic book about the rise to power of the ANC and how corrupt the party really is. Sadly, the average European believes everything they see, read or hear in the media, extremely easy to manipulate by saying "look at how racist (insert country) is! Apartheid!" Israel is the biggest apartheid state to date but unfortunately we never hear about that, must be coincidence right?

[@seamonster936]

When you slaughter 35 million people I read a review of Minderheid in eigen land in a few years ago, in which the Dutch reviewer laments the fact that Bosma does not place ANC violence in context. This is the prevailing view among you people. I wonder if he can place burning black people suspected of collaboration alive or Winnie Mandela's thug squad repressing already oppressed Soweto residents 'in context'. It was a democratically elected and mandated Dutch government that funded this. Israel is not an Apartheid state.

[@roeng1368]

The 7x57 is still a very good round, very sweet shooting and accurate, everyone should have at least one.

[@kellyreim6627]

I have two a Mexican and a Belgium sporter.

[@xzqzq]

Hearing the Brits destroyed these rifles after the treaty is crazy, considering how good the 7 x 57 round is ...... almost as nuts as the Brits dumping most of their small arms into the ocean after WWI. I feel sorry for American troops, armed with single-shot black- powder Trapdoor Springfield during the Spanish American war, going up against Spanish troops using 7 x 57 Mausers.... I've bought 7x57 brass, loaded .32 ball over 7 grains of Red Dot, as a plinking round for my K98....works great.

[@roeng1368]

@@xzqzq The treaty of versaille was behind that, and it wasn't small arms really, but battleships, artillery, tanks, arms factories etc.

[@robbiemcgowan3670]

I got my first one, a brno 7x57 when 1 was 10, it's a beautiful gun

[@FirstnameLastname-do1px]

@@xzqzq The Americans actually used the 30-40 Krag-Jorgenson bolt action rifle, but Muaser’s where definitely better.

[@tituspullo9210]

Thanks for showing this video Ian, much appreciated. My great grandfather and my grandfather (he was a young boy) rode kommando against the British in the 2nd Boer War (my great grandfather fought in both). Interesting point - my older brother inherited my grandfather's Maurer and on the butt was scratched 42 lines. When we asked my father what they were, he told us that it was the number of British soldiers he had shot. My grandfather was an exceptional shot, and never missed when we went out hunting.

[@smeggerssmeghead3100]

lekker.

[@Loreman72]

I can not Believe the level of detail in this! Dude, you're not just a gun nut, you're a history nerd! And it's all really accurate, too!

[@Loreman72]

@Angie H. Relax, Karen, there was no way I was being disparaging. Go sit down with a nice cup of tea!

[@Loreman72]

@Angie H. Madam, If you displayed a slightly less hysterical attitude to someone making idle banter, I might consider I'd gone too far. However, since you seem so eager to take such umbrage for so little reason, I am quite confident that your diatribe has its roots deeper than I can reach. I would wish you a good day, but I rather think you find them in short supply. Sincerely, Me

[@Loreman72]

@Angie H. [snoring]

[@salokin3087]

Mausers really are loved by all

[@thomas316]

Not so much by the British on the other end. ☹️

[@dak4465]

My grandad has a kar98 sniper from world war two, we did trace back the serial numbers and the scope, sling, and bayonet match the gun as well as the bayonet sheath and frog. Its has an elm stock which im told is rare especially for a sniper. My great grandfather was a ww2 veteran who fought in the battle of the bulge. He picked up the rifle from one of his confirmed kills and would use it to take out individual enemys because the germans would hear the gun and not think anything of it. His nickname was shorty because he was barely 5 feet tall and he got 3 purple hearts. The joke was always that he couldnt be killed because when he stood up the germans always shoot over his head

[@musFuzZ]

Davis Tuck that is a great story, and a great historical gun!

[@dak4465]

MusFuzZ why thank you

[@MeowMeowDeathRay]

Thomas the P14 was a mauser system. So even the Brits came around to Mausers.

[@janniemeyer9951]

Thank you Ian. I am Boer descendent. Nice to see a bit of our History. Badly needed inspiration today.

[@OdessaBill]

“The Boers didn’t really let you get close enough for bayonets to be relevant.” ✅😂

[@MuZeSiCk77]

IT"S NOT BOERS..... ITS BOER-EN. YOU CAN NOT TAKE A DUTCH WORD FOR FARMER, AND MAKE IT PLURAL IN THE ENGLISH WAY. BOER > BOERS IS FRIKKING INSULTING!!!!! DISGUSTING!!! 1 BOER 2 BOEREN!!!!! NOT BOERSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!! FFS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@Skaffa_Duck]

@@MuZeSiCk77 doe rustig Mattie ben je twaalf?

[@zajagter2888]

As an Afrikaans person it was amazing to hear Ian pronounce Dutch and Afrikaans words

[@williebrort]

Also very correct information. I'm Dutch and don't think this was part of our history classes. How unfortunate, because apparently it must have played a big part in history.

[@zajagter2888]

@@williebrort Do you Nederlander guys learn about Afrikaans history in school?

[@Paul0000]

Not much to be honest :( “De gouden eeuw” or golden century is discussed but focused on Indonesia and the conflicts with the Spaniards. Afrika is mentioned as a trade post but we all know what’s meant with that. I only had the most elemental history lessons though.

[@williebrort]

@@zajagter2888 yes. However, most focus is on European wars and conflicts, like the 80 years war. But Zuid Afrika is absolutely not forgotten. I think just as much lectures about Indonesia as about Afrika.

[@zajagter2888]

@@Paul0000 What's more sad is the fact that ZA's own government (ANC) won't teach Afrikaans or Boer history in school, since they're pretty anti-Afrikaans after Apartheid ended in '94. We Afrikaaners are supposed to learn important historical events and people on our own either by reading books (a lot of these were banned too) or learning it by our parents

[@gruttepier2165]

Definitely not boering

[@sockgoblinamazingwtf6511]

Grutte Pier theres a brixk flying at your head...for that pun...

[@hilltop4847]

*boring*

[@memaw3610]

Hill Top I think you missed the joke lole

[@dylantherandomperson.3903]

Good one

[@luketheunderdog9040]

Haha

[@stephanboshoff3636]

I'm a afrikaans speaking south african, also a farmer in the karoo I like ur afrikaans my friend and ur knowledge about our history Laat dit met jou goed gaan

[@xandrohattingh8679]

🇿🇦❤

[@jorisvanr1281]

Mooi om afrikaans te lezen. In het Nederlands is het dan. Laat het goed met je gaan.

[@stephanboshoff3636]

nederlands is ń mooi taal die voorvader van afrikaans ons herkoms is duits

[@irgendeintyp3120]

That musst be the most badass "state motto" that I ever heard.

[@somedaysoon3784]

Irgend ein Typ ,I most heartily agree. It could go on clothing.

[@seamonster936]

Irgend ein Typ What motto is that?

[@pieroleroux]

@@seamonster936 "Met God en die Mauser..."

[@dewetmaartens359]

"God and the mauser" and "bible in the one hand and mauser in the other" and such variants are still said even today. Boers love God and guns

[@Mizzle420420]

Irgend ein Typ Isnt the new state motto “kill the boer” or something along those lines? I’m American so I only know what I’ve found in online videos and such, they didn’t teach us any of this in school.

[@rupertmcnaughtdavis7302]

Extremely well documented ,Ian! From South Africa.

[@matthewspencer5086]

The effectiveness of Boer Kommandos brought about a huge transformation in the training and equipment of British and Australian soldiers, which proved invaluable in 1914. Even the British 9.2" howitzer was developed on the basis of experience in the Boer War, and that was quite instrumental in the Great War. I struggle to think of the circumstances in which this ordnance would have been useful in the Boer war itself, though. "Citizenship" didn't just mean "voting rights" BTW. It included the right to give evidence in court, and no British immigrant, or African native, could.

[@51WCDodge]

Don't forhet the Breacker Morant episode as well. That's why Commonwealth Trops did not have to face British Courtsmartial in the Great War See the film , the book is called Scapegoats of Empire.

[@51WCDodge]

Don't forget the Navy! Dragging guns across the Veldt, and leading to the Royal Navy tradition of the 'Gun Running' competion. Now scrapped due the Helath & Saftey.

[@matthewspencer5086]

51WCDodge: I don't think you would have got a 9.2" howitzer across the Veldt by hand, but it did split into three parts, and it coped with recoil by having a sort of trough that was filled with soil when it was emplaced. So, although it needed tractors of some kind to move it, it was a lot more handy than a railway gun! So some kind of realistic thinking was in place by 1911. The one thing about Ian's video that jars with me, is his idea that the British had an enormous standing army. They had a very large floating navy, but the British army mostly relied on county militias and then "territorials" and there weren't that many regular troops in peacetime. The number of British troops that went to France in 1914 and 1939-40 wasn't very large -and the million men who retook Burma in 1945 were drawn, not just from all over the Commonwealth, but Senegal and Nepal as well! (Serving as mercenaries in both cases. The Senegalese changed sides a few years earlier when they were ordered, by Vichy France, to defend Madagascar against Britain and South Africa so that the island could be a Japanese naval base from which South and East Africa could be harassed, then invaded and then colonised.) Anyway, as in the Great War, nearly all the British troops that served in the second Boer war were recruited during that war and the memorial in Bedford to the men who fell, just from Bedfordshire, lists a huge miscellany of different units, most of which were raised in African colonies, if not always the Cape Colony.

[@51WCDodge]

They pulled naval 4.1 inch guns across. Most guns were moved by Oxen anything up to 16 pairs though there were Armoured Steam Tractors, traction engines, used as prime movers. I agree that Britian had a very small standing army, the Navy was always the most beloved. Bear in mind with one exception (Dear Old Jersey Channel Islands) there was no conscription into the army. It wa sthe riff raf muach like Wellington's day. The Yeomanary and as a result of reform after the war the Territoral Army encouraged Part Time soldering, often seen as extra pay and a holiday from work.

[@alandela6330]

Matthew Spencer - Before attempting to justify Britain’s reasons for engaging in a war with two sovereign states, which they had earlier recognized, I would suggest you read the following, from which I quote a couple of paragraphs; J. A. Hobson, The War in South Africa (James Nisbet, 1900). We are fighting in order to place a small international oligarchy of mine-owners and speculators in power in Pretoria. Englishmen will do well to recognize that the economic and political destinies of South Africa are, and seem likely to remain, in the hands of men, most of whom are foreigners by origin, whose trade is finance and whose trade interests are not British. See also, L. March Phillips, With Rimington in South Africa. L. March Phillips, was an officer in Rimington's Scouts, who had worked in the Transvaal for several years before the war. This is what he wrote: As for the uitlanders (immigrants) and their grievances, I would not ride a yard or fire a shot to right all the grievances that were ever invented. Most of the uitlanders (that is, miners and working men on the Rand) had no grievances. I know what I am talking about for I have lived and worked among them. I have seen English newspapers passed from one to another and laughter raised by the Times telegrams about those precious grievances ... We used to read the London papers to find out what our grievances were, and very frequently they would be due to causes of which we had never heard. I never met one miner or working man who would have walked a mile to pick a vote off the road and I have known and talked with scores of hundred

[@kellyreim6627]

We’ve got boers in Oklahoma there good workers great people .

[@petermilsom1109]

there is a martini-style rifle marked ZAR at St Michael's Mount, Cornwall, UK. It is in one of the rooms just inside the castle. it is one of a display of 4 firearms mounted on the wall display.

[@54Dogstar]

I'm impressed by your knowledge of SA. Thank you.

[@Drrolfski]

For those who don't know or couldn't have guessed it: Boer = Dutch/Afrikaans for farmer. So it's basically the Farmer Wars. This conflict did a lot for the development of the famous British Short Magazine Lee-Enfield (SMLE) btw.

[@IceWolfLoki]

It's more responsible for the Enfield Pattern 14 than the SMLE as after being at the wrong end of the boer mausers and their long range marksmanship the British wanted something to compete remember military's frequently build the weapon to fight the last war not the next. Luckily (well not lucky in the sense that it was the bloodiest conflict yet) for the British of WW1 the next war started before what eventually became the Pattern 14 was ready and they were stuck with the slightly more suitable to trench warfare SMLE rather than the more marksman Pattern 14.

[@youdouche6805]

Ian and Karl consider the m1917 enfield to be the best bolt action rifle of both world wars

[@Drrolfski]

The SMLE was a direct result of the Boer wars, as was the Pattern 14. The shortcomings of the Long Lees against the Mauser is what made them develop that weapon in what would become the SMLE.

[@dbmail545]

rolf ski the Americans would have their own epiphany when they went up against the Spanish with Springfield single shots and Krag-Jorgensens to come under fire from 7x57 Mausers. That experience would lead to the development of the 1903 and the 30-06 cartridge

[@genghiskhan6809]

Luckily, we had fucking gatling guns.

[@stiaandejager672]

*6000 Boers died *20000 Brittish died *26000 women and children died in concentration camps

[@daniedupreez6678]

The 26 000 figure is only for Boer civilians rounded up by the British in concentration camps. What is not widely known is that over 20 000 native black people also died in separate concentration camps, mostly in the Free State Republic. They stayed mostly loyal to the Boers, hence the British action against them as well.

[@natrevill2763]

F

[@sonofdog1]

+ augnkn93043 Might want to mention Lord Kitchener's scorched earth policy where the British burned the crops and dwellings of any farms that couldn't account for the whereabouts of male family members.. and they poisoned the wells in a semi-arid environment. The civilians were "forcibly removed" and resettled into camps. but yeah, they were free to leave.... and die within a few days.

[@augnkn93043]

sonofdog1 Why would they “die within a few days”? You are correct about the scorched earth policy and (I assume) that people were forced into the camps. My point is they could leave after that. (Money and friends required or else how would they live? ) If your point is that many people were too poor to leave the camps then I agree. But the camps were usually near a town where people could find work. And of course there was paid work in the camps if they could not find a job outside.

[@augnkn93043]

Danie du Preez Ha ha. The blacks stayed loyal to their slave masters? No the British gave them guns and they maned the forts along the railway lines.

[@martinbeukes5438]

As a Boer, I thank you for a brilliant video. Dankie my vriend. So many lies were told about us over the years, that it became almost strange to hear the truth! Yes, that was a Great War, the so called "last gentleman's war", tragically fought among Christians though... I recall my grandfather, who fought as a young man af 20 in that war, telling us how difficult it was to fire that first shot, knowing that you might be killing a fellow Christian. But as soon as the British bullets started to cry little tunes past your head, it became a lot easier! He said most of the British soldiers were very brave, but too slow to adapt to strange circumstances. The Boere officers didn't carry a military rule book in their breast pockets, they were farmers who had to take action as required by circumstances, based on facts and experience. But I want to throw a theory in the 'works': I think many of the casualty lists as drawn up by the British, were tampered with. Fake news started there. I think many more British soldiers were killed in the Second Boer War than officially declared or reported by the British press. The Boere were excellent marksmen, always fighting against superior numbers and when a fight carried on for the whole day, or biggest part of it, one can't except a casualty figure of less than a thousand on British side. Or at least 500. But these figures were never reached - according to official records. Fake. It was done toe prevent panic among troops and the electoral public at home. This was done in other wars among other nations as well. Nevertheless, thank you Ian, I am looking forward to your other videos.

[@henrykeyter53]

Es Tut Mir leid... So viele Frauen und Kinder hatten im Krieg gestorben... Und für was? The greed of a few causes millions to suffer... Respek uit Suid-Afrika meneer. Saluut!

[@xzqzq]

Despite being a history buff, I was only vaguely aware of the Boer wars with the Brits, mainly because of Churchill.... bit less ignorant now...

[@xhoixhoiclan2089]

Commited genocide slaughtering the native African population

[@lovefamilies9521]

@@xhoixhoiclan2089 what genocide ?

[@scotttyson8661]

The U. 's. A also faked the casualty numbers in ww2 .I Know that for a fact.

[@dmitrykarkov4747]

Small arms in the hands of the oppressed are a cure for tyranny.

[@andylaw2542]

Certainly worked for the Vietnamese and the Afghans and the Cubans against their tyrants!

[@barthoving2053]

@@andylaw2542 Not so much for the Boers though. Although of course they could be tyrannical against anyone not their kind. Then again you find enough examples of tyranny in Afghan, Cuban and Vietnam governments after they ousted their 'tyrants'.

[@biffa_bacon3879]

Great vid, don't listen to these people complaining about how you pronounced Afrikaans, at least you took the time to give it a try so for that baie dankie boet.

[@suidwes6784]

Jip, the Brits thought they would 'quickly' come and finish off the boers 😂, so instead of 2 weeks it took them 2 years. Proud of my forefathers, proud to be a 'boer'

[@mikemanners1069]

Damn the British....

[@johann.9271]

Just over 3 years, actually. There was still fighting going on even after peace was signed.

[@johann.9271]

@maciverandy1 Oh, another internet Einstein! Pray, do enlighten us with your (totally not) propagandised knowledge!

[@shooterblaze1]

@@mikemanners1069 wise up you’ve got an English surname ya fkn clampet

[@davidmcintyre998]

Britain was edged into the war by Milner and Buller in truth a very good soldier was well aware of how capable the Boer soldier was.

[@jakkalsfuche4580]

Been doing some research on the war recently.. fricking great timing and video Ian.

[@riaanvisagie4050]

Thank you for this highly informative video. I have watched your video on the R4/R5 as well and as South African it really meant a lot to me. I am impressed by the vast amount of information and history you incorporate in your videos. Well done sir !

[@blueband8114]

I saw a couple of Embellished Boer Mausers at the Royal armoury's. Also my Great great grandfather fought in the Imperial Yeomanry during this conflict he was injured and never returned back to the UK, instead choosing to move to Australia. My Great Great grandmother never saw him again. He is not much talked about on my mothers side for this reason.

[@musFuzZ]

My great grandfather's brother was lost on a boat in south africa. I can barely remember my grandmother telling be this before she died.

[@51WCDodge]

Yeomanry were County volunteer regiments, often Cavalary or mounted infantary. They did not have to serve overseas but could volunteer to do so, in which case they wore a brass badge on the left breast with a crown above the words Imperial Volunteer.

[@jamesblakebrough6442]

Imperial yeomanry was a territorial unit called up to bulk numbers during the boer war. My great grandfather was also in the imperial yeomanry 2 co and 102 5 btn

[@51WCDodge]

Thanks for conformation James. There were also Irish yeomanary, no Eirie at the time, and Australian and New Zealand detachments. And Spaecial detachments, the most famous or infamous being the Bushveldt Carbinners' .

[@blueband8114]

James Blakebrough Thank you. As i do have my great great grandfathers details and pictures in his uniform. And thanks to an earlier comment, i thought hmm i must have dreamt the whole thing!

[@BradBrassman]

I saw one for sale in the UK in 1998 that had a Boer name carved in it and the darkened remains of a bloody handprint on it. It surprised me in its lightness and was less heavy than my BSA air rifle!

[@Acin75]

Beautiful review! I especially love the historical context you put these rifles into. Splendid!

[@m92quad55]

We need more reminders of these militia vs empire type conflicts. Awesome video as always 👍

[@dwsteyl]

Very precise! I love it! Proudly South African Boer

[@trekaddict]

The war that ended the British Readcoat.

[@davidnicholls7532]

trekaddict The was no use of Red Coat uniforms by the British in the 2nd Anglo-Boer war!

[@trekaddict]

To be fair, that is not exactly my specialty. My knowledge of the British Army begins with the adoption of the Short, Magazine, Lee Enfield No.3.

[@MonkeyHerder3]

That's because they got a hiding in the first one. Beautiful red targets for sharpshooting farmers to pick off for miles away.

[@daniellastuart3145]

it was the Afghan wars that end the British use of the redcoat . the lost conflict the redcoat was worn was the 1879 Zulu war but by the 1880's the redcoat was just a dress uniforms only

[@woodland5325]

It was the first war boer that ended the redcoats

[@AustrianJager]

You are a very well informed young man! This was very impressive. And you are absolute right in your point, that the Boers love their Mauser rifles.

[@db2110]

I'm amazed at your knowledge of our history. The Mausers were surely loved, very informative thank you!

[@sp1nnak3r]

I loved this video for both the weapons and the history. Eendragt maakt magt.

[@axolotl-guy9801]

Eendracht maakt macht.

[@bergerbroer1]

Thanks for a great video. The Boers did pretty well, 40,000 farmers against 500,000 trained soldiers against the strongest army in the world at the time. The war lasted more than 3 years and the boers eventually surrendered after the British murdered, raped and killed their wives and children in the concentration camps.

[@charlesarmstrong5292]

An excellently presented and enlightening presentation. Also, historically correct which is pleasing. Thank you.

[@SentinelSDK]

Very well presented, well researched and I enjoyed watching this video. Thank you

[@pierreabrie9445]

Think about it. This should have been called the first world war. Britian, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, India all against a few Boers. "Give me 20 divisions of American soldiers and I will breach Europe . Give me 15 consisting of Englishmen, and I will advance to the borders of Berlin . Give me two divisions of those marvelous fighting Boers and I will remove Germany from the face of the earth." Field Marshal Bernard L. Montgomery, Commander of the Allied forces during WWII.

[@bussm09]

GREAT

[@suidwes6784]

Never been more proud to be called a 'Boer'!!!

[@officialluckyturn]

@F. Friedrich Kling this is about boers not the wehrmacht wrong place for this Discussion

[@hanoitripper1809]

Rommel said “ if i had to take hell, i’d get the Australians to take it and the New Zealanders to hold it”

[@warriors4god587]

@F. Friedrich Kling Hauss the Germans/ Prussians have always had an effective fighting machine, but it appears they weren't very good at diplomacy. If they had won Britain over things might have been different.

[@vincentviola669]

A first- hand account of his experience in the Boer War is titled " Commando" by Deneys Reitz. It is a very good book.

[@thomastopping9625]

Brilliant Book!

[@corlia4gmailcom]

Thanks for the video! Loved it! My grandfather had a Mauser that he kept in his safe untill he passed away. It was still in very good working condition. This video reminded me of him. He was a real boer in every single way! A good man ,who was a good shot and didn't take nonsense from no one...

[@charliepots4734]

This is a fantastic video and historic summary of the ZAR Boer Mauser Rifle and it's use during the Anglo-Boer War (1899-1902). As a student of the subject, this is one of the best video summaries I have seen. Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge with this community.

[@charliepots4734]

@Stephen Carran thanks Stephen... it's a bit embarrassing -- corrected it

[@jacopieterse4325]

Hey man. This was amazing! As a South African i approve of this video! Might want to mention that our forefather’s were forced to surrender.

[@stefanhodgman]

Always warms my heart to hear these stories, makes me sad to see what became of the once strong fighting Boers.

[@allanmoneron7754]

We are still here, time is coming.

[@revcanon5744]

We waiting for the day we can start a sovereign state, where no one will bother us and we can finally farm in peace.

[@Space_and_Polar]

Thanks for the great video, Ian! It's really interesting and valuable to see an hear the historical context of the firearms that had such an impact on history!

[@oncall21]

Fascinating Ian. Thanks for sharing!

[@hendrickotto103]

Thanks a lot, Ian. Boers were also of German and French origin, btw. I hope you would also cover the South African Mauser variant nick named "kortnek" Mauser" (short neck) !

[@ForgottenWeapons]

That deserves it's own separate video.

[@nutyyyy]

With smaller numbers of Danish, Swedish, Swiss and even a very small amount of Portuguese added in, but culturally they were mostly Dutch due to the VOC and that many of those who originated as French Huguenots or Germans had already migrated to the Netherlands before traveling to the Cape Colony

[@koosbos1114]

Afrikaner were mostly Cape Dutch origin. The Boers mostly German, French , Flemish origin. Even up to this day some of the Boer people realy dislike the Afrikaner. We share the same language and culture.

[@boarzwid1002]

The kortneck was a 7.65 case reconfigured to headspace like a 7x57 , however! It had to be crimped to the bullet extremely tight and the necks would separate and get caught in the throat . When the next round would be chamberd , it would be equivalent of a barrel obstruction and catastrophic rifle breech failure would be the result, on a side note the 1895 Chilean Mauser has a lug forged just behind the bolt for safety because of lessons learned from the boor 1893 short neck problems,

[@amokmedia2795]

BOER - The Original Sharpshooter

[@kobusg7460]

Wow, amazingly detailed. Respect Sir!

[@senioraces]

great historical video man thanks very much! Historical wars have a lot to teach us all

[@vive6500]

I love the videos. Keep it up.

[@brettvanrooyen3661]

I have my great grandfathers boer war mauser from the natal front

[@Mies78]

wow

[@peetsnort]

And now they have a new tyrant government which also wants the mauser

[@jacquesduplessis723]

I enjoyed your retake of events and your knowledge of the subject.

[@robbieirlam414]

Most informative. Many thanks @Forgotten Weapons.

[@Nick051967]

Thanks for this terrific video particularly taking the trouble to explain the historic context. My paternal grandfather served in the 2nd Battallion (I think) Scots Guards and received a gun shot wound to the leg at the battle of Slap Krantz on 28 July - probably from one of these weapons. As unfortunate as that must have been at the time it may have been to his (and subsequently to my benefit), as he re-enlisted (into the the Irish Guards) for WWI, but was not fit for active duty and remained with one of the home battalions for the duration - which given the casualties suffered during the conflict and this regiment in particular- probably saved his life. So maybe I wouldn’t be here but for a Boer bullet. Interesting thought

[@koosdreck]

Nick Garrity. Thats cool in other words my great grandfather might be the one that saved your great grandfather's live by shooting him in the leg. Cool story man.

[@Nick051967]

J.P Dreckmeier - it is a funny old world, and if it was your Great Grandfather - bless him for the leg shot. Keep well JP

[@Nick051967]

J.P Dreckmeier - and to add a little more background - my father joined the RAF in WWII and did his flight training in South Africa, then served in a squadron in the Western Desert which has a broad commonwealth composition, including South Africans. Someone who seems to have disappeared from the current narrative on WWII (and before) is the extraordinary Jan Smuts. Don’t know how well remembered he is in South Africa, but I guess that sadly less than 1 in 100 Britons would have the first idea of his contribution to the Allied effort, let alone having been a Boer commander

[@bokke77]

Loving these SA themed videos Ian. Very interesting.

[@richardrobertson1331]

I am quite impressed by your knowledge of these weapons as well as the history behind them. You have a wonderful following, so the comments made are just as interesting. Keep up the good work, you obviously enjoy your subject, and so do I.

[@WikusdeLange]

I am a South African. Usually referred to as a "Boer". Combrenk is the one of the ways we spell that surname in our language "Afrikaans". (There are several ways the surname is being spelled today) Just love your comment of "They didn't let you get close enough for a bayonet to be relevant". Up until today you hear stories from our grandparents and parents of how great "shots" our forefathers were at that time. The love of guns has passed down generations in many of our bloodlines where as we still write songs about how we grew up with guns sitting next to fires in hunting fields with our fathers. The accuracy of the video is impressive and MUCH RESPECTED. Well done Ian.

[@gabber88ful]

That is one magnificent collection

[@gbusrt6592]

during my national service in thr SADF, there was stories of Mausers in stock still in their original packing, member of the army, not call up service men could request to buy them. I was in Far North HQ (pietersburg) and our base komadant had one I am willing to bet they still got stock of these weapons

[@EdKidgell]

Probably looted by the incumbents by now.

[@stephenshallcross7832]

In the mid eighties some entrepreneurs got hold of Lee Enfields and possibly the Mausers from the SADF and butchered them to make them inoperable wall mounts, Sold thousands for about R60.00 each,( about $20.00) all useless and destroyed. I still cry over them

[@stephenshallcross7832]

@John Smith I actually bought one as a wall hanging, the guy had them in his lounge in a pile on the floor all cut and welded.

[@paultunnell1191]

Highly descriptive. Thank you, well done!

[@llen6970]

Thank you Ian I enjoyed the culmination of history and rifles, top notch.

[@jwc00789]

Excellent Historical perspective! I so love the 7mm Mauser Cartridge and have two Rifles, so chambered.

[@xzqzq]

I have two K98s, a P17, and am working on acquiring a SMLE, but would love to have something in 7x57, and 7.62 x 25 Tokarov.

[@martinprinsloo5393]

Thanks Ian for the great Video on my proud Boer heritage.

[@aethelstanaegen36]

Great video, Ian! I have a ZAR Mauser: DWM c-prefix serial long rifle that somewhere along the way picked up a b-prefix serial straight-handled bolt. I'm not sure if that's evidence that some of the c-serial series made it into Boer hands or just happenstance over the years. Thank you for putting out such awesome content.

[@deanriphagen4607]

Your videos are really very good. Exceptional actually. I am a South African and just watched the "Boer Mauser" video. It was well presented (as always) but just as importantly, well- and accurately researched.

[@philipriekert8711]

Greetings from South Africa, thanks for your great videos.

[@fuzzy9294]

Thanks for the great documentary. You mention that the MOD. Mauser was called Moed Mauser by the Boers. Moed is an Afrkaans word that is difficult to translate directly to English, can mean boldness, courage, gallantry, morale etc.

[@ottomeyer6928]

in german it means"tapfer" or mutig.

[@barthoving2053]

Of course if you write that pronunciation it with a 't' ,'moet', it means compulsory which of course is also fitting.

[@barry2521]

Thank you for the awesome video ! My family served in the Boer War ... fought for the Orange Free State.

[@brunovolk7462]

Absolutely brilliant videos, well done 👍 thanks !

[@1hillbilly]

The Boer were the finest people. God fearing and fearsome warriors .

[@EscanV]

God Fearing? and confederate and racist? yup!!! from their struggle a man was molded and his name was Herzog and he was an ASSHOLE!!! his hatred created the NP and Apartheid! soooooo.... Racism was ripe within their NGK (dutch reformist) ranks!

[@reecedreyer2362]

The boers were very much god fearing. The battle of blood river was dedicated to god. Before the boer nations existed do u have any idea how many hundreds of innocent boer families were brutally murdered by zulus. The british were more responsible for the racism in the country as well.

[@janposthumus8735]

Exion Studios... ignoramus.

[@candidodacquisto7930]

Reece Dreyer They were killed because they moved into native territory, the whole reason they left the cape colonies was because the British came and started enforcing their laws on the including that they couldn't own slaves.

[@reecedreyer2362]

you are wrong, the land they moved in was not the natives land. The boers trading a lot of cattle and bartered for the land that the zulus "gave them". The boers didnt just take any land like the british did. Any way the zulu didnt honour the agrement with the boers because the zulus at the time had no honor. they were blood thirsty. They started murdering boers. They kept on murdering them until the boers fought back in the battle of blood river. The boers were not really slave owners well at least the majority were not. The british on the other hand....well they had plenty of slaves.

[@ThatGamerGuyNL]

As a dutch person i find it so interesting to hear someone speak Afrikaans. It sounds like very old Dutch to me.

[@mornevanjaarsveld9623]

😂😂Wow that's crazy, because older Afrikaans is more Dutch

[@izakbarnard8859]

Impressive info and well researched Ian.I enjoy all your videos. The Boers are considered to be the first guarilla fighters in the world due to being outnumbered by the Khakis (Brits). My ancestors took on the mighty British Empire and gave it a good run for its money!

[@sakabula1285]

I am Afrikaans speaking and have no problem understanding modern Dutch.Unless they talk very fast.Its very similar...can even understand a bit of German but only up to a point.

[@TombeMan]

Thank you for preserving the history of our people, this was a beautiful video!

[@JHBVDS]

Wow! You explained my country's history better than I can do it myself!! Keep up the good work ;-) The other day at the shooting range the range officer approached me, highlighted some features on my "hunting rifle" and asked me if I know the purpose of those features. It turns out my rifle started out as one of the Mausers possibly dating from the boerwar. Over time it was re-barreld with a Musgrave 270 Win barrel and also got a new stock, the way which I received it.

[@dustinbuckley8577]

There is a neat Australian/New Zealand film called “Tracker” that uses the 2nd Boer war as a contextual background for all the characters. It really is an interesting and entertaining movie to watch. Now I’m going to have to rewatch it to see what gun the main character (a Boer) actually carries.

[@51WCDodge]

Don't forget Breacker Morant as well!

[@51WCDodge]

@Ingungumbane Well it's the Australian's who claim him as thiers.

[@stage4901]

My great grandfather fought the English during the second Anglo-Boer war.

[@augnkn93043]

SloppyStock Animation To his eternal shame.

[@janniemeyer9951]

Thank you for this post. For many of us it has a special meaning.

[@js-wy6vd]

Thank you for an amazing video love from the RZA

[@thelonerider5644]

The history is almost cooler than the guns....

[@colinrichards2590]

So wait... small government, leave you alone to farm, hunt, generally get on with your life the way you want. The only condition is that you serve in a militia bringing your own equipment. I was born too late for this paradise.

[@dimitrioslykissas7981]

You also get to hang out with the actual Zulus.

[@axelpatrickb.pingol3228]

Unless you're Asian, you can't. Unless you convert to any of their state religion, you can't.

[@Clay3613]

You really want to live in South Africa prior to electricity and eradication of major diseases due to political beliefs?

[@jenkinsonian]

You were also born too Anglo for them. Dutch only and don’t bring any ideas like all men are created equal

[@McMonkeyful]

Interestingly the British were sending immigrants who then demanded the same rights as the Boer's who insisted the original inhabitants were tied to the land & resisted the unsolicited influx. Does this make the British the good guys & the Boers the evil xenophobic baddies? That would be the narrative in todays poliitics. However todays politics also states that British Imperialism was evil. Quite a conundrum for the progressive types to ponder lol

[@rooijak]

Wow, great job in explaining all those background events factual - unbiased and informative for younger generations keen to learn about these things.

[@andrewvisser7972]

Another excellent installment! Well researched and wonderfully presented. Baie dankie Ian, ons waardeur dit opted.

[@andrewvisser7972]

Opreg

[@exundfluriba]

The British are always up to shenanigans 😂

[@firstpersonballistics5783]

This is a inspirational piece of History.

[@guineapigzed]

One of your best shows!

[@shaneengelberts120]

Thank you sir. As always top notch

[@lukaszpokoju]

Wooow ! Skirmishing in the arid African wasteland to save your small country and ambushing overwhelming British invaders with this top notch rifles...What a thrill!

[@51WCDodge]

They lost in the end.

[@roberthackney7385]

Łukasz pokoju And the Boer War started with the Boers invading British territory, not the other way around.

[@samuelsmith6776]

we might have lost the second war against the queen's men, but our legacy lived through many more wars together, and love of bolt actions still continues

[@SamuraiAkechi]

Well, no wonder that Capitaine Casse-Cou about Boer War was one of most popular adventure novels back in the day.

[@pic7062]

Not only that, you (well your ancestors) helped Churchill get famous by capturing him. And he is one big reason we don't all have to learn German today.

[@rizaradri316]

Very interesting rifle and carbine looking forward for Oranje Vrijstaat version of the Mauser

[@richardgill3530]

Good job on the brief history of the war.

[@R3dp055um]

I agree that 7x57 is a truly epic cartridge. I used to have an 1895 Mauser in that caliber, and I loved it. It was in shootable condition, and I reloaded for it some, but I was always careful to keep the loads very mild. Considering how badly the bore was eroded by the old corrosive primers, it was amazingly accurate, despite being 100 years old.