Item Description
Original Item: Only One Available. 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.
Our example is a a very good condition example of the cavalry carbine version, officially called the Carabina de Cavalaria 8 mm m/1886 (8 mm Cavalry Carbine). It has the correct "down-turned" bolt handle, which would avoid getting tangled in the tack of the horse. While there were 46,000 or so made of the Infantry rifle, there were far fewer carbines made. Total production for the different types is not known, but we have seen mention that only 4000 to 4600 carbines of all types were made.
It is fitted with a 20" barrel and a full tube magazine under the barrel. Ours is marked M.1886 and :- Œ.W.F.G. STEYR / 1886 for Österreichische Waffenfabriksgesellschaft, (ŒWG, Austrian Arms-Manufacturing Company), also commonly referred to as Steyr Werke. Steyr is an Austrian City just outside Vienna and at the time was the home of the entire Austrian arms production. They made Kropatschek rifles under contract for shipment to Portugal.
Serial number B866 is marked on the barrel and receiver, while the bolt is an arsenal replacement with mismatched numbers. There is a faint serial number on the stock, but it also is unmatched. The receiver bears Portuguese Crown over L.I., for King LUIS 1st who reigned 1838 until 1889.
Offered in very good condition with sling swivels and original side mounted cleaning rod present. Bore is in good condition, with clear lands and grooves, and an overall hazed finish. There is a bit of fouling on the lands, but no pitting or major oxidation. The stock is also in good condition, and shows the expected wear from long service. There is a crack running forward from the trigger guard on the bottom of the carbine. The cartouches on the sides of the stock are faint, so it does look like the carbine was arsenal serviced in the past. The metalwork still has a lot of the original blue present, with a bright steel bolt. The rifle cycles correctly, and the magazine cutoff functions as designed.
Hard to find in any condition, this carbine is ready to display!
Specifications-
Years of Manufacture: 1886
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
MUST be shipped using UPS WW Services (courier). USPS Priority Mail international will not accept these.
- This product is not available for shipping in US state(s): New Jersey
This product is available for international shipping.
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 all US States and most nations around the world.
These antique guns are not sold in "live" condition. They are sold as collector's items or as "wall hangers". 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.
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