The Ulster Volunteer Force was a Loyalist organization dedicated to keeping Ireland in the United Kingdom, in reaction to the Home Rule bills being considered by the UK parliament. In 1914 they purchased nearly 25,000 surplus rifles and 3 million rounds of ammunition in Hamburg and arranged to have them smuggled into Ireland. The gun consisted of Vetterli-Vitalis, 1904 Steyr Mannlichers, and Gewehr 88s like this one. The operation was pulled off successfully, and many of the guns were stamped with the mark of the UVF upon their arrival in Ireland - including this one.