Kropatschek rifle

A Kropatschek is any variant of a rifle designed by Alfred von Kropatschek. Kropatschek's rifles used a tubular magazine (constructed of nickel-plated steel) of his design, of the same type used in the German Mauser Gewehr 1871/84 and the Japanese Type 22 Murata. While designed for black powder, the Kropatschek action proved to be strong enough to handle smokeless powder.

Kropatschek/Steyr-Kropatschek
Portuguese Kropatschek (Second from top)
Type	Rifle
Place of origin	Austria-Hungary
Service history
In service	1886–1898 (Portugal)
Used by	Kingdom of Portugal Austria-Hungary France
Wars	Second Boer War World War I Spanish Civil War World War II (Portuguese colonies) Annexation of Goa Portuguese Colonial War
Production history
Designed	1886
Produced	1886–ca. 1898
Variants	Long rifles, short rifle
Specifications
Mass	4.3 kg (9.5 lb)
Length	1320 mm (4 ft)
Barrel length	820 mm (32.3 in)
Cartridge	8×60mmR Guedes[1] 8×56mmR Kropatschek Corto[2]
Caliber	8mm (.329 in)
Action	Bolt action
Muzzle velocity	609 m/s (2,000 ft/s)
Effective firing range	2406 yd (2,200 m)
Feed system	8-round integral tubular magazine

The Kropatschek was the basis for the French Lebel Rifle.[3]

Variants

Austria-Hungary:

• Gendarmerie Repetier-Karabiner M1881: 11 mm Gendarmerie Carbine (also known as M1874/81);
• Kropatschek Torpedo Boats Gewehr M1893: 8 mm Navy Rifle for Torpedo boat crews.

France:

• Fusil de Marine Mle 1878: 11 mm Navy Rifle;
• Fusil d'Infanterie Mle 1884: 11 mm Infantry Rifle;
• Fusil d'Infanterie Mle 1885: 11 mm Infantry Rifle.

Portugal:

• Espingarda de Infantaria 8 mm m/1886: 8 mm Infantry Rifle;
• Carabina de Caçadores 8 mm m/1886: 8 mm Light Infantry Carbine;
• Carabina de Cavalaria 8 mm m/1886: 8 mm Cavalry Carbine;
• Carabina da Guarda Fiscal 8 mm m/1886/88: 8 mm Treasury Guard Carbine;
• Espingarda de Infantaria 8 mm m/1886/89: 8 mm Colonial Infantry Rifle;
• Carabina de Artilharia 8 mm m/1886/91: 8 mm Artillery Carbine.

See also

• Antique firearms

References

1. 8x60 R Guedes - Kropatschek - MUNICION.org (spanish)
2. 8x56 R Kropatschek Short - MUNICION.org (spanish)
3. http://www.forgottenweapons.com/french-rifle-ammunition-8mm-lebel-and-7-5mm-french/

External links

• French 1878 Marine Kropatschek Forgotten Weapons