A Kropatschek is any variant of a rifle designed by
Alfred von Kropatschek
Alfred Ritter von Kropatschek (Bielitz, January 30, 1838 – Lovran, May 2, 1911) was a general in the Austrian Army and a weapons designer of the late 19th century, who was responsible for several rifle and revolver designs in affiliation with ...
. Kropatschek's rifles used a
tubular magazine (constructed of
nickel
Nickel is a chemical element with symbol Ni and atomic number 28. It is a silvery-white lustrous metal with a slight golden tinge. Nickel is a hard and ductile transition metal. Pure nickel is chemically reactive but large pieces are slow to ...
-plated steel) of his design, of the same type used in the Japanese
Murata Type 22 and the German
Mauser Gewehr 1871/84. While designed for
black powder
Gunpowder, also commonly known as black powder to distinguish it from modern smokeless powder, is the earliest known chemical explosive. It consists of a mixture of sulfur, carbon (in the form of charcoal) and potassium nitrate (saltpeter). Th ...
, the Kropatschek action proved to be strong enough to handle
smokeless powder
Finnish smokeless powderSmokeless powder is a type of propellant used in firearms and artillery that produces less smoke and less fouling when fired compared to gunpowder ("black powder"). The combustion products are mainly gaseous, compared to a ...
.
The Kropatschek was the basis for the French
Lebel M1886 Lebel (also Le Bel or LeBel) is a surname, and may refer to:
* Denis Lebel, Canadian politician
* Dominique Guillaume Lebel, Louis XV's valet-de-chambres and pimp who brought him a selection of young women in the Parc-aux-Cerfs
* Firmin Lebel, Fren ...
.
Variants
Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary, often referred to as the Austro-Hungarian Empire,, the Dual Monarchy, or Austria, was a constitutional monarchy and great power in Central Europe between 1867 and 1918. It was formed with the Austro-Hungarian Compromise of ...
:
* ''Gendarmerie Repetier-Karabiner M1881'': 11 mm Gendarmerie Carbine (also known as M1874/81);
*''Kropatschek Torpedo Boats Gewehr M1893'': 8 mm Navy Rifle for Torpedo boat crews.
France:
* ''Fusil de Marine Mle 1878'': 11 mm Navy Rifle;
* ''Fusil d'Infanterie Mle 1884'': 11 mm Infantry Rifle;
* ''Fusil d'Infanterie Mle 1885'': 11 mm Infantry Rifle.
Portugal:
* ''Espingarda de Infantaria 8 mm m/1886'': 8 mm Infantry Rifle;
* ''Carabina de Caçadores 8 mm m/1886'': 8 mm Light Infantry Carbine;
* ''Carabina de Cavalaria 8 mm m/1886'': 8 mm Cavalry Carbine;
* ''Carabina da Guarda Fiscal 8 mm m/1886/88'': 8 mm Treasury Guard Carbine;
* ''Espingarda de Infantaria 8 mm m/1886/89'': 8 mm Colonial Infantry Rifle;
* ''Carabina de Artilharia 8 mm m/1886/91'': 8 mm Artillery Carbine.
See also
*
Antique firearms
References
External links
French 1878 Marine KropatschekForgotten Weapons
{{WWIAus-HunInfWeaponsEquipment
World War I Austro-Hungarian infantry weapons
Bolt-action rifles
Early rifles