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)
TypeRifle
Place of originAustria-Hungary
Service history
In service1886–1898 (Portugal)
Used byKingdom of Portugal
Austria-Hungary
France
WarsSecond Boer War
World War I
Spanish Civil War
World War II (Portuguese colonies)
Annexation of Goa
Portuguese Colonial War
Production history
Designed1886
Produced1886–ca. 1898
VariantsLong rifles, short rifle
Specifications
Mass4.3 kg (9.5 lb)
Length1320 mm (4 ft)
Barrel length820 mm (32.3 in)
Cartridge8×60mmR Guedes[1] 8×56mmR Kropatschek Corto[2]
Caliber8mm (.329 in)
ActionBolt action
Muzzle velocity609 m/s (2,000 ft/s)
Effective firing range2406 yd (2,200 m)
Feed system8-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

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/
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