The 9.3x62mm was originally developed in Berlin by Otto Bock in 1905, as he intended to develop a hunting cartridge for the Model 1898 Mauser rifle. Although those in Africa preferred to use military calibres (which were larger and more deadly than those for civillian use) governments banned people from purchasing military cartridges in overseas territories. Bock's cartridge avoided this issue, as no military organisation adopted it, meaning that the peoples of Africa could purchase the 9.3x62mm cartridge for the purpose of hunting.