Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very attractive Portuguese Carabina de Caçadores 8 mm m/1886, or Model 1886 Light Infantry Carbine, manufactured under Portuguese contract by Österreichische Waffenfabriks-Gesellschaft at Steyr in 1886, serial number A364. Designed around Alfred von Kropatschek's tubular magazine system, this compact military carbine features an approximately 20 1/2" barrel, sharply downturned bolt handle, full length tubular magazine, side mounted cleaning rod, magazine cutoff, and a distinctive bayonet lug screwed to the right side of the nose band. It also retains Portuguese royal markings dating from the reign of King Luís I.

This is an antique black powder firearm manufactured before 1899. Under federal law, it may generally be owned within the United States without a special license or permit and does not require transfer through a Federal Firearms Licensee. However, state and local laws may vary. This firearm is sold solely as a historical collector’s item and has not been test fired or inspected for firing safety by a professional gunsmith. Any mechanical or bore observations provided below describe only its present condition and should not be interpreted as confirmation that the firearm is safe to load or fire. The purchaser is solely responsible for complying with all applicable federal, state, and local laws.

The Kropatschek system represented an important stage in the development of European repeating military rifles during the late 19th century. Alfred von Kropatschek developed a tubular magazine arrangement in which cartridges were stored beneath the barrel and fed rearward into the action. Portugal became the most important military user of the system, adopting a family of 8mm Kropatschek arms for infantry and specialized troops during the 1880s.

This example is best identified as the Portuguese Carabina de Caçadores 8 mm m/1886, the short carbine pattern intended for light infantry or Caçadores troops. Its approximately 20 1/2" barrel, compact proportions, and bayonet lug mounted by screws to the right side of the nose band distinguish it from the longer cavalry carbine. The rifle also retains a sharply downturned bolt handle, giving the arm a compact profile well suited to mobile troops.

The left side of the receiver is marked:

M.1886

and nearer the barrel:

Œ.W.F.G. STEYR
1886

for Österreichische Waffenfabriks-Gesellschaft of Steyr, Austria, one of the foremost military arms manufacturers of the late 19th century. Steyr produced the Portuguese Kropatschek family under contract for shipment to Portugal. The Portuguese royal cypher that would normally appear on the receiver is now largely worn away.

Serial number:

A364

is present on the barrel and receiver. The bolt is a mismatched arsenal replacement bearing different numbers, showing that the carbine underwent repair or parts replacement during its long service history. No readable matching serial number was located on the stock.

The butt stock retains an especially interesting Portuguese royal property mark consisting of a crown over the cypher associated with King Luís I, who reigned from 1861 until 1889. The opposite side carries a faint Steyr manufacturing roundel incorporating factory and date information:

M * 1886
Œ.
W. G.
STEYR 1886

The stock remains in good service used condition and shows the expected dents, dings, scratches, gouges, and handling wear accumulated through military use. A substantial gouge is present on the lower right side of the butt adjacent to the former sling swivel mounting. There is also an unexplained wood plug passing through the butt immediately below the wrist. We do not see a major structural crack or large wood graft repair.

The sling arrangement has been altered from its original configuration. The original lower mounted sling swivels have been removed, and the carbine now carries a sling swivel on the left side of the butt together with a corresponding sling slot or attachment on the left side of the barrel band. This appears to represent a later service modification rather than the original 1886 arrangement.

The bayonet lug is mounted to the right side of the nose band by screws and is one of the more useful identifying features on this example. Combined with the short approximately 20 1/2" barrel, this supports identification as the Caçadores light infantry carbine rather than the longer cavalry pattern.

The metalwork has developed an attractive mottled gray and brown patina with scattered areas of old rust peppering. Some original blue remains in protected locations, while the exposed surfaces show the wear expected from long military service. The original side mounted cleaning rod remains present and still threads correctly into its retaining block within the stock, an especially nice surviving feature. The rear sight is present as well, flipping up correctly, though the slider is loose on the sight leaf.

The action cycles correctly during careful manual inspection and gives a strong dry fire. The firing pin is present and moves properly, the bolt extractor remains intact, and the bolt mounted safety functions correctly. The magazine cutoff is also operational. The tubular magazine appears complete, although we have not tested it with cartridges and therefore cannot confirm actual feeding.

The bore is in good service used condition, with clearly visible lands and grooves. There is overall wear together with evidence of old fouling and oxidation that has since been cleaned. The land edges show noticeable rounding, consistent with a carbine that saw substantial use during its working life.

With its 1886 Steyr manufacture, low serial number A364, compact Caçadores configuration, approximately 20 1/2" barrel, screw mounted bayonet lug, downturned bolt handle, surviving King Luís I stock cypher, tubular magazine, original side mounted cleaning rod, and honest service wear, this is a particularly appealing example of Portugal's first generation of repeating military arms. It would make an excellent addition to a collection of Portuguese military firearms, Kropatschek rifles, Steyr contract arms, light infantry carbines, or late 19th century European repeating rifles.

Specifications-

Years of Manufacture: 1886
Maker: ŒWG Steyr
Model: M.1886 Cavalry Carbine
Serial No.: A 364
Caliber: Portuguese  8×60mmR
Cartridge Type: Centerfire Cartridge
Barrel Length: 20 inches
Overall Length: 40 Inches
Action type: Bolt Action
Feed System: Tube Magazine w/ Cutoff
Federal Classification: Pre-1899 Antique

In 1886 ALFRED VON KROPATSCHEK designed an 8mm rimmed cartridge rifle that became the fore runner to the French LEBEL. Known as the 1886 Kropatschek Rifle it's big customer was PORTUGAL. Production lasted from 1886 until 1898, however many saw service in the First World War and later in the Spanish Civil War of the 1930's. 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.

NOTE: International orders of antique firearms MUST be shipped using UPS WW Services (courier). USPS Priority Mail international will not accept these. International customers should always consult their country's antique gun laws prior to ordering.

IMA considers all of our antique guns as non-firing, inoperable and/or inert. Title 18, U.S. Code, Section 921(a)(16) defines antique firearms as all guns made prior to 1899. This law exempts antique firearms from any form of gun control or special engineering because they are not legally considered firearms. No FFL, C&R or any license is required to possess, transport, sell or trade Antique guns. All rifles and muskets sold by IMA that were manufactured prior to 1899 are considered Antiques by the US BATF (United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms). Therefore, all of IMA's Antique guns may be shipped to most US States and most nations around the world.

These antique guns are not sold in "live" condition, and are not tested for the ability to feed or load any type of cartridge. They are sold as collector's items or as "wall hangers" not for use, and we make no guarantees regarding functionality aside from what is stated in the description. Any attempt at restoring an antique gun to be operational is strongly discouraged and is done so at the risk of the customer. By purchasing an antique gun from IMA you thereby release IMA, its employees and corporate officers from any and all liability associated with use of our Antique guns.

Pre-1899 Manufacture, no licenses required, allowed to ship to almost any deliverable address across the globe. Please note that for international shipping, these MUST be shipped using UPS WW Services. International customers should always consult their country's antique gun laws prior to ordering.