1886 Austrian Steyer Rifle 8mm

Hey,

My uncle just died the other day & his son's gave us many of his rifles. Well among them was a 8mm Austrian Steyer Rifle! It came with a piece of paper on the stock & this is what it says.

" This is a copy of the GERMAN MODEL 1871-84 11mm rifle

Made for the PORTUGEES GOVT and used throughout the PORTUGEES EMPIRE untill after World War Two.

Used in Lorenzo Marques
Mozambique
Macao
"

Can you guys tell me any more? Could this gun have served in WWI?

Keith,

[mike_baram]

Logic would indicate that since Portugal didn't take part in hostilities, it's doubtful if the gun was used during the conflict. But who knows? Portugal might have sold some weapons to one or more of the combatants. Neutrality is not always clear-cut.

Portugal did fight in Africa & the towns(at least one) is in Africa, I think they also fought on the Western Front.

Keith,

This could be the model 88 Austrian Mannlicher or the slightly improved model 95. It used the 8X50R (rimmed) ctg., although some 95's were altered to accept the 8X57 Mauser round.
It has a straight pull bolt and a magazine hanging down in front of the trigger guard. The round uses .329" diameter bullets not available readily in this country. This kind of rifle was designed to take black powder loads and smokeless loads should be moderate, to say the least. Consider it a collector and not a shooter. These were dumped on the collector market in the late 1960's at very low prices. Today, in average condition, it is worth about $50 to $60.

I'm sorry if you misunderstood me but this is not a Mannlicher.... It's a Steyr!

Keith,

Kieth,
What you have is probably more commonly known as the Kropatschek and is cal. 8x60R Kropatschek and was made by Steyr for Portugal. This is patterned after the old 11 m/m 1871 Mauser. Later ones may have been chambered for 8x56R.
Never heard of the Austrian-Hungary Mannlicher M1895 (straight pull) as being a blackpowder gun. This was the main battle weapon of A-H. WW2 Nazi ammo for these weapons is on the market real heavy right now.
The A-H Marines used an 11m/m Kropatschek during WW1 which used the 11.15 x 58R. It was made by Steyr also.

Steve

Steyr is not the name of the rifle. Steyr is the name of the CITY in Austria where the rifle was made. Does it conform to the description I gave, i.e. straight pull bolt action with a magazine protruding downward in front of the trigger guard?

You are most likely right about it being a Kropatschek. Re the Mannlicher...
Look in Cartridges of the World under 8X50R for the warning about the EARLY model. The later one is often found in 7.92 Mauser loaded to 55M psi.
My other book I refered to was The Blue Book. The Kropat(whatever) is not mentioned, so it is not commonly found at gun shows. I only saw one in my life and I likta barfed. It HAS to be in a class with the Canadian Ross. Anyway, I have no great library on rifles, only handguns. Disregard what I said.

John,
You are totally correct on the 8x50r being designed as a blackpowder round. The M1888 and the M1895, though alike in appearance, were completely different in the way they locked up. The M1888 used a hinged block to lock up on closing. The M1895 used a rotating head with lugs on the forward end of the bolt and, indeed, would take the pressures of smokeless powders. A lot of M1895s were rechambered in the 1930s for the 8x56R and this is the nazi cartridge now available. My mistake.
Steve

Yes it has a straight pull bolt avtion but no clip magazine. Nothing on the gun says Kropasheck or whatever. Thats all I know.

Keith,