Berdan II Cavalry Carbine
Tula Arms Plant · Carbine · Out Of Production · 1873
Also known as: Berdan II Carbine, M1873 Berdan Carbine, 4.2-line Berdan carbine
Overview
The Berdan II Cavalry Carbine is the short carbine pattern of the Imperial Russian Berdan II M1870, a single-shot, turn-bolt long arm chambered for the 10.75x58mmR Berdan blackpowder cartridge. Adopted in 1873, it shortened the infantry rifle to a 479 mm barrel and a sub-3 kg weight for light cavalry, gendarmerie and artillery crews, dispensing with any bayonet provision. It fired a carbine-specific reduced-power load, distinguished by a pink cartridge-pack wrapper, giving a muzzle velocity of about 362 m/s, and retained the ramp-and-leaf rear sight graduated in arshins.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 2800 g (98.8 oz) |
| Overall Length | 978 mm (38.50") |
| Barrel Length | 479 mm (18.86") |
| Action Type | Bolt Action |
| Firing Mechanism | Striker Fired |
| Trigger Type | Single Stage |
| Magazine Capacity | 1 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Internal |
| Muzzle Velocity | 362 m/s (1188 fps) |
| Effective Range | 200 m (219 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 711 m (778 yd) |
| Rate of Fire | 8 rpm |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Number of Grooves | 6 |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Wood |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- 10.75x58mmR Berdan · primary — also known as .42 Russian Berdan, 10.75mm Berdan, 4.2 line
Features
- Firing modes: Repeating
- Feed systems: Single Shot Bolt Action
- Safety mechanisms: Half Cock
- Features: Turn Bolt Action, 45 Degree Bolt Rotation, Ramp And Leaf Rear Sight, No Bayonet Lug, Reduced Power Carbine Load, Single Shot
Base model
Service history
Operators
- Imperial Russian Army · adopted 1873 · as Berdan II Carbine M1873
- Imperial Russian Gendarmerie
Conflicts
- Russo-Turkish War (1877-1878)
Production
Estimated total produced: 26,000 · Production years: 1872-1875
Approximately 26,000 carbines built at Sestroretsk (1872-75) and Izhevsk/Tula (1874-75); a small fraction of total Berdan II production.
Origin
Country of origin: Russia
Designer: Hiram Berdan
Discontinued: 1892
Notes
Roughly 26,000 carbines were manufactured at the Sestroretsk (1872-75) and Izhevsk/Tula (1874-75) arsenals. Distinct from the longer Dragoon and Cossack rifle patterns of the Berdan II family. The carbine used the M1868 10.75x58R case with a lighter powder charge (about 4.5 g) than the full infantry load.
Background
The Berdan carbine was so light and short that period reviewers called it a 'tiny longarm' - it weighed barely 6 pounds and, firing a deliberately weakened cavalry load marked by pink packaging, traded the infantry rifle's punishing recoil for something a trooper could manage one-handed from the saddle.