Description
This can be purchased without a F/A license, as it is pre-1900 & ammunition is not commercially available according to the QPS website.
Offered for sale is this nice example of a rarely seen service rifle often simply called the Kropatschek.
In 1886 Alfred Von Kropatschek designed an 8mm rimmed cartridge rifle that became the predecessor to the French LEBEL. Known as the 1886 Kropatschek Rifle, it’s main user was Portugal who had a thing for German rifles. Production lasted from 1886 until 1898, however many saw service in the First World War & later in the Spanish Civil War of the 1930’s.
One of the most obvious features of Kropatschek’s rifles is the tubular magazine (constructed of nickel-plated steel), giving it a major advantage over other rifles of its time which had a capacity of 5 rounds usually & is the same type used in the German Mauser Gewehr 1871/84 & the Japanese Type 22 Murata. While designed for black powder, the Kropatschek action proved to be strong enough to handle smokeless powder.
This rifle comes from an Australian collection & is on consignment. It is an very good example of the long rifle version officially designated the Espingarda de Infantaria 8 mm m/1886: 8 mm Infantry Rifle. It is fitted with a 32.3″ barrel & a full length 8 round tube magazine under the barrel. Ours is marked on the receiver with 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 & at the time was the home of the entire Austrian arms production. They made Kropatschek rifles under contract for shipment to Portugal.
It is mostly matching numbers including the stock with CC529 is marked on the barrel, receiver & the stock. The bolt is an arsenal replacement with mismatched numbers.
Do your own research & you will know if this is for you. Please view the photos carefully & make your decision based on what you see as they form the main description & override all written information. Ask for more if desired.
We are offering this rifle as a collectable piece of military history & think we have described it accurately & correctly but do not claim to be infallible so if we have got anything wrong, it is unintentional & are happy for feedback from people who know more than we do.
Whilst we check these out for serviceability, the warranty has expired & this is sold on an ‘as is’ basis. As with all used guns, we recommend you have this checked by a suitably qualified person prior to shooting.
Call for shipping cost to your dealer.
