Here's one to test the experts, calling Smellie!

[mkrnel]

Can anybody tell what this rifle is? it is rare and only a small number were built! only hints are the calibre is 6.5mm and it was a popular with the user's, and was a trial rifle that competed in a number of army and navy trials at the turn of the 20th century and almost was adopted by a major army and navy.

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[Caleb314]

A Krag and Johnson automatic hybrid?

 

[polaris]

Nice rifle, and great pictures (you know your stuff )

What rifle it is you ask?

No clue.

 

[smellie]

This one has me beat, I will admit. It is nothing that has come within many miles of my rack (more's the pity!).

The stocking is very Lee-Metford, right down to the clearing rod through the bayonet-lug.

The bolt looks rather Krag-ish.

The magazine looks as if it could be a more vertical version of a Krag mag or possibly an early Schoenauer.

I will say that although I have never seen a rifle such as this, I would most certainly welcome the opportunity to play with one for a few days.

Are there any photos of the action open?

 

[ciphery]

6.5 dutch?

 

[5THBATT]

Blake?

 

[tootall]

Smellie got stumped on a Milsurp question?

Never thought I would see the day...

 

[Andy]

Lee Navy variation?

 

[polkey]

Durst?

 

[Tinman204]

Smellie got stumped on a Milsurp question?

Never thought I would see the day...

Me either!! Never once in all the coffee we've slurped back, or during our range sessions or for that fact the hundreds of pm's have I ever had Smellie say "I'm stumped"

The world is indeed a scarier place now!! He he

 

[Desert_Fox]

Scuzzlebutt?
















I just figured, everyone else is throwing out random names..... LOL!

 

[buffdog]

It has some similarities to the Burton "Double Magazine" rifle, but I am not going to bet any money on that.

 

[samsplacci71]

Great thread. I've heard that Smellie is an Oracle when it comes to milsurps. This rifle must be a rare beast. Of course, I have no idea what rifle this is....

 

[mrbeil]

Looks almost like an Arisaka to me

 

[polkey]

what do i win?

 

[Tinman204]

Think I've got it!!

That rifle looks very similar to a Blake Infrantry Rifle of 1892. It was an invention of John Henry Blake and competed in US trials against the Krag. Caliber is the 30 cal Blake which was a rimless design.

Here's a shot of the rotary mag which appears to open from the bottom:

Here's some other shots although this rifle has a few different pieces on the action but looks very similar

I'm still not 100% sure though.

 

[Pblatzz]

Looks like a blake trials rifle?

Durst

Dam to slow

 

[Tinman204]

Now that I look, polkey got it.

 

[buffdog]

what do i win?

YOU WIN THE "CGN GOAT." It will be delivered to your house within a week.

The original poster's pictures were taken from "images of the Durst rifle" when "googled" on the internet. Good Thread of a pre-1900 era interesting rifle.

 

[mkrnel]

Durst?

Ding, ding, ding, we have a winner. Here is a picture that I was holding back on and clearly shows the maker -

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This rifle shares some features of the Krag and Lee Navy rifles which it competed against in the two mentioned trials. The US military and government really wanted a US rifle to win rather than one of the foreign competition.

The maker was a native of California and his rifle was doing very well in the trials until one had a receiver blow up, which was probably caused by a obstruction. One thing for sure was that the users and observers were amazed at the little 6.5mm cartridges performance during testing. They commented upon it's accuracy and amazing long range penetration ability compared to the larger calibre trial rifles, where have we heard this before!

Another little known fact from the first round of Navy trials was the rifle with the best performance and one that the Navy wanted was the German Luger rifle. Anyhow they managed to piss the Luger people off, because they asked them to make a couple small modifications for the final round of tests and they not only refused, but also pulled their rifles from the trials and went home. So the Lee Navy rifle then ended up winning.