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Austro-Hungarian Mannlicher M1890 Short Rifles and Carbines |
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Made by Osterreichische Waffenfabriks-Gesellschaft, Steyr, 1891-96 105,000 Carbines and Stutzens were made combined An additional 6000 was made for Bulgaria Caliber: 8x50mm rimmed Muzzle velocity 545 m/sec with M1888 ball cartridge Integral clip-loaded box magazine, 5 rounds Straight-pull bolt action, with two lugs on a detachable bolt head engaging the receiver 1005mm [39.6"] overall, 3.3kg [7.3 lbs] 498mm [19.6"] barrel, 4-groove rifling, RH, concentric Several photos courtesy of John Wall from Gunboards |
Perfection of the Mannlicher M1888 rifle turned thoughts toward a carbine. In 1889 the experimental guns were simply cut-down rifles, with the weak dropping bar lock, but only a few were made. This weapon introduced the straight-pull bolt with rotating head to the Austro-Hungarian Service in 1890. Although Ferdinand Ritter von Mannlicher had introduced a rotating straight pull bolt in 1884 it was not very successful, and it was never made in quantity previously.
The bolt is of two-piece design with the bolt handle and bolt body are one
piece; mounted within the bolt body is the bolt shaft or bolt cylinder. The
locking lugs are mounted on the head of the bolt cylinder and the bolt cylinder
rotates within the bolt body during the locking and unlocking process. This bolt
is used with all the later Austrian straight-pull bolt-action Mannlichers and,
since it provides for frontal locking, is considered to be a stronger system
than that of the Models 84, 86, and 88. The magazine system adopted with the
M1886 is used in the M1890 carbine and the later rifles.
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Original quadrant sight graduated 500-2100 schritt |
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Altered quadrant sight graduated 500-1800 schritt? |
The receivers were marked with 'OE WG STEYR' and the Austrian Eagle as
shown. Acceptance dates can be found as late as 1912
The new action reverted to the helically-grooved bolt head system of
Mannlicher's first straight-pull action, patented in 1884, as this had proved
much stronger than the bar-lock. The M1890 cavalry carbine embodied a much
shorter action than its predecessors, allowing the trigger guard to flow
straight into the magazine casing and the cocking piece lay almost directly
above the trigger.
The original cocking piece shown on the
left is round. Later models have a thumb-shaped cocking piece, similar to the
M.95's. The older cocking pieces were gradually replaced with the newer ones in
the armories when the M90's went in for repair.
The M1890 carbine had a one-piece walnut stock with a simple nose cap
without a bayonet lug or stacking hook. The gun has no handguard and the sling
swivels are mounted on the left side of the fore-end and stock-wrist.
The buttstock had a cleaning
equipment compartment with a sliding cover in the buttplate.
During WW1 socket type Ersatz bayonets were used
Some carbines were converted to the M95 pattern and to the 8x56R caliber during the 1930's. The weapons converted in Hungary carry an 'H' mark on the top of the chamber (M90/31). Austrian converted guns were stamped with an 'S' (M90/30). An original unconverted M1890 is a relatively rare piece.
105,000 carbines and Stutzens were made combined
The Gendarmerie [Csendorsegi] (Country Police) Carbine, a variant of the cavalry
gun was introduced in 1892. It accepted the standard M1888 type knife bayonet.
It had the bayonet lug on the right side. It did not have a stacking hook.
The gun had its sling swivels on the bottom.
Some carbines were converted to the M95 pattern and to the 8x56R caliber during the 1930's. The weapons converted in Hungary carry an 'H' mark on the top of the chamber (M90/31). Austrian converted guns were stamped with an 'S' (M90/30). An original unconverted M1890 is a relatively rare piece.
Another variant of the cavalry carbine was introduced in 1894 and was adopted by
the Navy. It accepted the standard M1888 type knife bayonet. The bayonet lug was
on the left side of the nosecap and had a stacking hook on the nose cap under
the barrel. The gun had its sling swivels on the bottom. 105,000 Carbines and
Stutzens were made combined.