M1886 Kropatschek Infantry Rifle and Carbine

MauserMike

MauserMike

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I got a couple of rifles from an estate that I am looking for information on. Does anybody load and shoot for these rifles?

I have two: one is the quite common Infantry Rifle (P&S Militaria has some), but I also have the Carbine which I understand is quite a bit rarer. These are really outside my collecting interest, so I'm considering selling but I can't find much information about them.

Kropat4a.jpg


Mine are the ones like on the top and the bottom of this picture I found on the internet.

PS I have two LONG bayonets as well for them.
 
I just had one at the range yesterday testing some loads I developed for the owner.

Brass was formed from 348 Winchester brass, sized in 8mm Lebel dies and then annealed and fire formed.
The bases then had to be beveled with a file on the drill press at about 20 degrees to match the concave bolt face.

Bullets were cast 210 grain, .315" paper patched to .328".

Shot a 1.5" group at 50 yards, which I thought not too bad considering the approx 19 lb trigger pull.
 
I guess there's not much interest in these? Nice to see at least one person shooting them. They seem quite similar to my 71/84 mauser other than the much higher velocity 8mm
 
The lack of ammunition is the thing that makes them less desirable to many.
On the collector market, the prices are all over the place. $300 to $400 seems the normal asking price for the long rifle with a good possibility of picking one up for $150 to $200 if you watch for bargains. They are quite an interesting rifle with an even more interesting history.
Like almost all old military guns, I can only see them going up in value.
 
MauserMike said:
I guess there's not much interest in these? Nice to see at least one person shooting them. They seem quite similar to my 71/84 mauser other than the much higher velocity 8mm
Click to expand...

These are beautifull guns. Very well made as you would expect from Steyr.
The bolt actions are very slick and silky smooth. The heft and balance are very much like 71/84 Mausers.
I wonder why the carbine has a turned down bolt handle?
 
Hey Pete, the turned down bolt handle was for making them handier on horseback. Very common for carbines of that age. By mid WWI the Germans were bending the bolts on their Karabiners as well like my Kar98az
 
Well my small Kropatschek Family. They are extremely interesting weapons and quiet advanced the only sad thing for them is that some months after arrived the French Lebel 1886 and the first modern smokless cartrige of history the 8x50 Lebel

Colonial model without the barrel cover



Short Rifle Model 1886 for the Royal Treasure Guards ( 4.000 made)



Carbine Model 1886 ( about 4.800 made)



The 8x60R/56R Kropatschek is one of the funniest ammunition to rebuilt and shoot with :) The CH4D made the reloading dies, caliber .323 bullets with flat base are the best with cast ones and .348 Winchester Brass to modifie

regards
 
Very nice collection RussiaBerdan!
Exept for the smokeless powder was 8x60R not on par with the 8x50 Lebel as a cartridge?
Once smokeless powder became availiable, I would think the gun and cartridge (8x60/56R) would be equal to the Lebel.
 
Pete04 said:
Very nice collection RussiaBerdan!
Exept for the smokeless powder was 8x60R not on par with the 8x50 Lebel as a cartridge?
Once smokeless powder became availiable, I would think the gun and cartridge (8x60/56R) would be equal to the Lebel.
Click to expand...

The 8x60R Kropatschek was the best cartridge in the world for some months before the comming of the 8x50R Lebel. Only at the end of '800 the portoguese army had the possibility to reload the 8x60R, with a shortened case called 8x56R Kropatschek, with modern smokless powder but, like the french ammo, was already inferior and primitive. Remember a weapon/ammonition sitem made by Franch Army has more appeal that one rifle and ammo invented between Portugal and Austria ;)

regards
 
Yes, I guess you're right.
And by the time they got smokeless powder, tube magazines were out. Plus orders for 4 or so thousands of guns would not be in the same league as the French orders for hundreds of thousands of Lebels.
As in most things, it's not just timing but Location Location Location!
 
The funny thing is that not many knows that the Kropatschek were used by the Portoguese Colonial Troops against the German Troops of Colonell Lettow-Worbek in Afrika, doring the Japanese invasion of Timor in the II World War, Colonial Conflicts in the '60s and '70 s and, to finish, in the battle agains the Indian army in the last colony in Idia the land around the town of Goa.

regards
 
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