Kropatschek identification help

[louthepou]

Hi folks,

Anyone knows anything about Kropatschek rifles?

A friend of mine brought me this rifle, not knowing much about it.

He told me: "This .410 shotgun belonged to my grandfather".

I can find almost nothing as far as marks or stampings go. I didn't take the action out of the stock; there seems to be a cross-pin at the front of the shortened forend that would need to be punched out. The rear sight is not present. It has been turned into a .410 single loader (looks like that anyways).

Anyone can tell me a bit more about what it may have been in its previous life? And, any remote chance of finding a replacement stock, even sporterized? (I know that's probably dreaming by quite a margin)

Am I right to assume that it should be considered a parts gun, with basically a good bolt?

Thanks,

Lou

 

[JP]

Badly butchered Mauser 1871 Cavalry carbine originally in .43 Mauser. No chance of finding parts to restore it.

 

[louthepou]

Thanks JP, you know your pre-1900 rifles, that's for sure!

So essentially Kropatschek used Mauser's design for his rifles?

I think I will suggest to my friend to use duct tape as an appropriate method of strengthening the forend...

Lou

 

[smellie]

Alfred Kropatschek was mainly concerned with magazines and developed one of the nicest tube magazines for military rifles.

The 1885 that Portugal bought was Steyr-built and had a bolt action very like an early Mauser, right to the safety. The Lebel essentially was a final-version Kropatschek with a 2-piece stock, but they threw away the safety.

French Marines used a Krop in .43 calibre for some years; one of those would be really nice. That's what I was HOPING you had found, Lou.

But this is nice, too. Should be fun to take out and play with.

Check the bore carefully after you clean it; there just could still be 'threads' (rifling) in it. Originally the Mauser used an 11.15x60R cartridge, last-heard-of as the .43 Mauser.... which used a .446" bullet. Maybe you could stuff a short .410 into one... suppose I should try it sometime. Pattern would be doughnut-shaped.

Whatever: be sure to have fun!

 

[Dryzen]

How does the remainder of the rifle look like?