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Austro-Hungarian Werndl Infantry Rifles and Carbines |
Made by Österreichische Waffenfabriks-Gesellschaft, Steyr, 1878-85
Caliber: 11x58mm rimmed
Quantity: 300,000
Rotary-block breech, with an external hammer
1265mm [49.8"] overall, 4.20kg [9.2 lbs]
840mm [33.1"] barrel, 6-groove rifling, RH, concentric
Ramp-and-leaf sight graduated to 2100 paces
Muzzle velocity 455m/sec with M1877 rifle cartridge
M1873 saber bayonet
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Trials of improved cartridges in 1875-77 led to a better rifle, adopted in December, 1877. The principal differences between the M1873 and M1877 rifles - and the assorted conversions - lay in the sights; rifles chambering the new long-case 11x58mm M1877 cartridge would not fire the short-case 1867 pattern, though unconverted guns were deliberately left in the Austrian Landwehr and the Hungarian Honvédség to expend existing supplies. |
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The 11x58mm cartridge was issued from December 25, 1878. It seems that no 1877-type rifles had been issued by this time, and thus that there was no need
to re-graduate sights. Adoption of a relined propellant in 1881 raised velocity slightly (apparently to about 465 m/sec) and allowed the back sight graduations to be increased to 2200 paces. |
After the introduction of Mannlichers, starting in 1888, Werndls were passed down through second-line and lines-of-communication troops to the Landwehr and
then into storage. Survivors were reissued during WW1. A WW1 Ersatz bayonet shown.
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Made by Österreichische Waffenfabriks-Gesellschaft, Steyr, 1878-85. Caliber: 11x42mm, rimmed. Rotary-block breech, with an external hammer. 1004mm [39.5"] overall, 3.25kg [7.2 lbs]. 580mm [22.8"] barrel, 6-groove rifling, RH, concentric. Ramp-and-leaf sight graduated to 1600 paces. Muzzle velocity 307 m/sec with M1877 ball cartridge. M1873 saber bayonet This carbine was approved to replace the 1867 and 1873-pattern carbines in 1878. The new cartridge was interchangeable with its predecessors, but much more powerful. Consequently, the 1877-pattern Kropatschek-designed sight was graduated to 1600 paces compared with only 600 for the original carbine round. |