The Repeating Carbine Model 1890 a.k.a. Mannlicher Model 1890 Carbine is a
bolt-action
Bolt-action is a type of manual firearm action that is operated by ''directly'' manipulating the bolt via a bolt handle, which is most commonly placed on the right-hand side of the weapon (as most users are right-handed).
Most bolt-action ...
rifle, designed by
Ferdinand Mannlicher
Ferdinand Ritter von Mannlicher (January 30, 1848 – January 20, 1904) was an Austrian engineer and small arms designer. Along with James Paris Lee, Mannlicher was particularly noted for inventing the en-bloc clip charger-loading magazine system ...
that used a new version of his
straight-pull
Bolt-action is a type of manual firearm action that is operated by ''directly'' manipulating the bolt via a bolt handle, which is most commonly placed on the right-hand side of the weapon (as most users are right-handed).
Most bolt-action ...
action bolt. It was introduced as an alternative to the
Mannlicher M1888
Within military 8 mm firearms
8 (eight) is the natural number following 7 and preceding 9.
In mathematics
8 is:
* a composite number, its proper divisors being , , and . It is twice 4 or four times 2.
* a power of two, being 2 (two cub ...
as it was shorter and easier to maneuver with. Three main versions were introduced: Cavalry Carbine, Gendarmerie Carbine
[ and Navy Short Rifle.
]
Variants
Cavalry Carbine
This variant was used by the Austro-Hungarian cavalry
Historically, cavalry (from the French word ''cavalerie'', itself derived from "cheval" meaning "horse") are soldiers or warriors who fight mounted on horseback. Cavalry were the most mobile of the combat arms, operating as light cavalry ...
. A stacking rod, handguard and bayonet lug are absent.
Stutzen
This variant features sling swivels on the underside, a stacking rod and bayonet lugs. It was used by the Austro-Hungarian Navy
The Austro-Hungarian Navy or Imperial and Royal War Navy (german: kaiserliche und königliche Kriegsmarine, in short ''k.u.k. Kriegsmarine'', hu, Császári és Királyi Haditengerészet) was the naval force of Austria-Hungary. Ships of the A ...
.
Gendarmerie carbine
The Austro-Hungarian Gendarmarie was also in need of a carbine. It adopted a version which featured a bayonet lug but no stacking rod.
Conversions
M90/30 was a conversion of these rifles done in the First Austrian Republic
The First Austrian Republic (german: Erste Österreichische Republik), officially the Republic of Austria, was created after the signing of the Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye on 10 September 1919—the settlement after the end of World War I w ...
. They carry the letter S stamped on the barrel.
M90/31 was a conversion of these rifles done in the Kingdom of Hungary
The Kingdom of Hungary was a monarchy in Central Europe that existed for nearly a millennium, from the Middle Ages into the 20th century. The Principality of Hungary emerged as a Christian kingdom upon the coronation of the first king Stephen ...
. They carry the letter H stamped on the barrel.
M90/95 was a conversion of these rifles done in Ethiopian Empire
The Ethiopian Empire (), also formerly known by the exonym Abyssinia, or just simply known as Ethiopia (; Amharic and Tigrinya: ኢትዮጵያ , , Oromo: Itoophiyaa, Somali: Itoobiya, Afar: ''Itiyoophiyaa''), was an empire that historical ...
]. Unlike other conversions, these were done by putting existing M90 carbines in M95 pattern furniture.
Afghan Contract
A small number of these carbines made for the Afghan Contract were ordered by Abdur Rahman Khan
Abdur Rahman Khan GCSI (Pashto/Dari: ) (between 1840 and 1844 – 1 October 1901) was Emir of Afghanistan from 1880 to his death in 1901. He is known for uniting the country after years of internal fighting and negotiation of the Durand Line Ag ...
for the Emirate of Afghanistan
The Emirate of Afghanistan also referred to as the Emirate of Kabul (until 1855) ) was an emirate between Central Asia and South Asia that is now today's Afghanistan and some parts of today's Pakistan (before 1893). The emirate emerged from th ...
.
References
Further reading
*
''Austro-Hungarian Mannlicher M1890 Short Rifles and Carbines''
Hungariae.com
{{WWIAus-HunInfWeaponsEquipment
8×50mmR Mannlicher firearms
7.92×57mm Mauser rifles
Straight-pull rifles
Rifles of Austria
World War I Austro-Hungarian infantry weapons
Mannlicher rifles
Firearms by Ferdinand Mannlicher
Weapons and ammunition introduced in 1890