{"product_id":"original-portuguese-kropatschek-m-1886-8mm-cacadores-light-infantry-carbine-by-oe-w-f-g-steyr-dated-1886-serial-no-a364","title":"Original Portuguese Kropatschek M\/1886 8mm Caçadores Light Infantry Carbine by Œ.W.F.G. Steyr, Dated 1886, Serial No. A364","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal Item: Only One Available. This is a very attractive Portuguese \u003cstrong\u003eCarabina de Caçadores 8 mm m\/1886\u003c\/strong\u003e, or Model 1886 Light Infantry Carbine, manufactured under Portuguese contract by \u003cstrong\u003eÖsterreichische Waffenfabriks-Gesellschaft\u003c\/strong\u003e at Steyr in \u003cstrong\u003e1886\u003c\/strong\u003e, serial number \u003cstrong\u003eA364\u003c\/strong\u003e. Designed around Alfred von Kropatschek's tubular magazine system, this compact military carbine features an approximately \u003cstrong\u003e20 1\/2\" barrel\u003c\/strong\u003e, 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis example is best identified as the Portuguese \u003cstrong\u003eCarabina de Caçadores 8 mm m\/1886\u003c\/strong\u003e, the short carbine pattern intended for light infantry or \u003cem\u003eCaçadores\u003c\/em\u003e troops. Its approximately \u003cstrong\u003e20 1\/2\" barrel\u003c\/strong\u003e, 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe left side of the receiver is marked:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eM.1886\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eand nearer the barrel:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eŒ.W.F.G. STEYR\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e1886\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003efor \u003cem\u003eÖsterreichische Waffenfabriks-Gesellschaft\u003c\/em\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSerial number:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA364\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eis 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe butt stock retains an especially interesting Portuguese royal property mark consisting of a crown over the cypher associated with \u003cstrong\u003eKing Luís I\u003c\/strong\u003e, who reigned from 1861 until 1889. The opposite side carries a faint Steyr manufacturing roundel incorporating factory and date information:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eM * 1886\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eŒ.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eW. G.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSTEYR 1886\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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 \u003cem\u003eCaçadores\u003c\/em\u003e light infantry carbine rather than the longer cavalry pattern.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe bore is in \u003cstrong\u003egood service used condition\u003c\/strong\u003e, 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWith its \u003cstrong\u003e1886 Steyr\u003c\/strong\u003e manufacture, low serial number \u003cstrong\u003eA364\u003c\/strong\u003e, compact \u003cem\u003eCaçadores\u003c\/em\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecifications-\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eYears of Manufacture: 1886\u003cbr\u003eMaker: ŒWG Steyr\u003cbr\u003eModel: M.1886 Cavalry Carbine\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eSerial No.: A 364\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCaliber: Portuguese  8×60mmR\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCartridge Type: Centerfire Cartridge\u003cbr\u003eBarrel Length: 20 inches\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOverall Length: 40 Inches\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAction type: Bolt Action\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFeed System: Tube Magazine w\/ Cutoff\u003cbr\u003eFederal Classification: Pre-1899 Antique\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIn 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.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNOTE: 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.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46286513045573,"sku":"ONJR26OCAS073","price":1195.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/files\/78A5D8A3-1FBB-49A1-B003-BBE7E7DE7BB0.jpg?v=1793819455","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-portuguese-kropatschek-m-1886-8mm-cacadores-light-infantry-carbine-by-oe-w-f-g-steyr-dated-1886-serial-no-a364","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}