Great War Rifles

[AndyBsk]

very nice rifle, with the 3 bands i would think is a normal long rifle,but i dont have the dimmensions i will check the Hintermeier article. 8 rounds is long rifle 6 rounds is short rifle, so it could be short rifle as You mentioned. The bayonet is a depot piece, never serialed with a rifle probably in excellent condition.

I believe M1886 Kropatchek was used prior 1904 Mauser Verqueiro system was adopted, the M1896 Mannlicher based on M93 romanian was only delivered for Cavalry and special troops in small numbers.

M1886 i believe denoting the modell not the year of production.

Edited 18 October , 2021 by AndyBsk

[Steve1871]

Andy, I skipped a photo, will try find, on Receiver, the M1886 is the model year, yes, but on rear area receiver has stamped Steyr with 1886 underneath, that why I believe it first year production. Will try get the photo today

[AndyBsk]

I believe there is year of production on lower part of round cartuche of buttstock, upper part is model lower part is maker year, the Short rifles Hintermeier wrote were ordered later. other problem is there exist short rifles shortened from long rifles so the buttstock and metall parts could be marked as long rifle but the configuration would be short.

Long rifle should be 1320mm long

Short rifle 1165mm long. Sight from 200 - 1500 so this should be the short rifle certainly.

Edited 18 October , 2021 by AndyBsk

[Steve1871]

Reason I think produced 1886, first year production is the markings, the M1886 stamping is the model year, but the other marking Steyr. 1886 is year produced

[AndyBsk]

Hintermeier wrote that the short rifles were ordered 1888. So one explanation could be the 1886 is a model designation? Question remains its a old long rifle converted later to short rifle by Portuguese or its started life as a short rifle? Sights are C64 serialed? other parts should be similar serialed, i assume the only C is for control mark. The sights has different color as the barell near it, the buttstock was sandpapered and repainted with noncolor lack? He wrote the short rifle was destined for Custom and Gendarmerie declared by austrian sources as Finanzgewehr. C64 would be as serial correct for Short rifle.

Edited 20 October , 2021 by AndyBsk

[AndyBsk]

Here is link to short rifle in B range the side rail marking is 1886 but the cartuche on buttstock has a Steyr 1889 on lower part, which is the real timeframe for the short rifles.

https://www.catawiki.com/en/l/44702747-austria-osterreichische-waffen-gesellschaft-kropatschek-m1886-short-infantry-rifle-centerfire-rifle-8x60r

[Steve1871]

Sorry I been quiet lately, was told I have bronchitis. The politics want to label it as covid. Been kicking me right hand in the Ol bum for 2 weeks. Still fighting it

[4thGordons]

Hoping you are recovering @Steve1871

Best wishes,

Chris

[Steve1871]

Hey Everyone, I finally back, got sick, told it was bronchitis, may have also been covid? Took 3.5 weeks to get over and month for lingering bad cough. 
Trying to get back into my posts, 

[Steve1871]

Here in America, most of the Kropacheck rifles were imported back in the 1970’s, story goes that they were shipped without bolts to qualify as parts ( tax loophole) and bolts shipped separately but same time. Not much effort was given to matching them back up.others made there way over here. I have two short rifles, both matching, this is my second one here, and a carbine with mismatched bolt

[Steve1871]

Rifle #24.      
12/9/21

 M1886 Kropacheck short rifle

SN:  B431.   Matching.   
mfg.  Steyr

very good condition, gave some background with my first rifle.   Rifle#23. , no rust in very good condition, with cleaning rod, most I see for sale usually have them, with bayonet

 

Edited 9 December , 2021 by Steve1871

[AndyBsk]

Looks like a nice piece,the frog i assume is romanian.any details of Steyr cartuche on butt?

Edited 9 December , 2021 by AndyBsk

[Steve1871]

Thanks Andy, looks like this rifle was sanded, no Cartuche, wish it did. Just to find rifle with matching bolt was why I bought it years ago

 

[Mickster]

Beautiful rifle Steve. Ive never seen one.

I love the extension to the trigger guard. It acts like a pistol style grip and would also protect an area of the stock that gets damaged

Mickster

 

[Steve1871]

Thanks Mickster,

Ifyou go back to last rifle, #23,  I try give a little history and #23 is better condition.   
glad you like

P.S.,  read AndyBsk responses on Austrain and Baltic items I post for more accurate info

[trajan]

10 hours ago, Steve1871 said:

Hey Everyone, I finally back, got sick, told it was bronchitis, may have also been covid? Took 3.5 weeks to get over and month for lingering bad cough. 
Trying to get back into my posts, 

That's really bad luck mate - I knew from your PM that you were not well but didn't realise it was that bad! As we say in Turkish, Gechmish olsun! And welcome back!

Julian

 

[Mickster]

16 hours ago, Steve1871 said:

Thanks Mickster,

Ifyou go back to last rifle, #23,  I try give a little history and #23 is better condition.   
glad you like

P.S.,  read AndyBsk responses on Austrain and Baltic items I post for more accurate info

Thanks Steve,

I already read your post. Very interesting. So was AndyBsk's info.

Mickster

[Steve1871]

Think of us as one big, motley family🤪

[Steve1871]

Rifle -#25.        
12/19/21.    
 

Kropatschek Carbine. 
 

Carbine , stock a little dark but very good condition, has roundel but Kind of faint, I did not get a clear photo of it, bolt is mismatched and has original cleaning rod. 
 

The magazine pouch, was told is right, there are many in that style, I hope it is correct 

[AndyBsk]

Carbine looks good condition, from Hintermeier information they were delivered wout bayonet adapter, so in early 90ies the adapter was added already in Lisbon, question is how large is the barell out diameter and all Kropatchek bayonets are corect for this as exist bayonets with 17mm MRD for police short rifles probably. 

From the mixed parts of bolt, i assume all major series were used her, receiver and barell A range, bolt body B, parts C range, so 3500 or more carbines were reported.

[Steve1871]

Andy

The mismatched bolt, think that was simply from the importer to U.S., back in the 1970’s when he shipped the bolts separately in a bid to save money on import fee’s. Claim guns were “parts only”. A very common story

What do you think about the ammo pouch?? There are many similar style pouches like this

[AndyBsk]

Sorry Steve i am not expert on portugal pouches, so when there is good place for 8mm Kropatschek it should be ok.

[shippingsteel]

16 hours ago, Steve1871 said:

The magazine pouch, was told is right, there are many in that style, I hope it is correct 

The F. A. could be for Fabrica de Armas which was a Portuguese government arsenal prior to 1902.

Cheers, SS 

[Steve1871]

Thanks SS😊😊😊

[AndyBsk]

C1A? could be a unit stamp teoretically.