Carabina de Cavalaria 8 mm m/1886
Österreichische Waffenfabriks-Gesellschaft (OEWG, Steyr) · Carbine · Out Of Production · 1886
Also known as: Mosqueton m/1886, Portuguese Kropatschek Cavalry Carbine, Kropatschek M1886 Carbine, Steyr-Kropatschek Carbine 1886
Overview
The Carabina de Cavalaria 8 mm m/1886 is the Portuguese cavalry-carbine version of the Austrian-designed Kropatschek m/1886 bolt-action repeater, chambered for the 8x60mmR Portuguese (8mm Guedes) cartridge and built by Österreichische Waffenfabriks-Gesellschaft (OEWG) at Steyr. Derived from the m/1886 infantry rifle, it shortens the weapon for mounted troops: a stubbier forestock stocked almost to the muzzle, a single barrel band, a bolt handle turned down to nearly vertical to sit flat against a saddle scabbard, and a reduced five-round Kropatschek-pattern tubular magazine running through the forend instead of the rifle's eight. A magazine cutoff let the trooper keep the tube in reserve and single-load. Roughly 4,000 carbines were made, and many were later reissued to the Portuguese police, at which point a side-mounted bayonet lug was added behind the nose cap.
Specifications
| Action Type | Bolt Action |
| Firing Mechanism | Striker Fired |
| Trigger Type | Single Stage |
| Magazine Capacity | 5 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Tube |
| Effective Range | 400 m (437 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Number of Grooves | 4 |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Wood |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- 8x60mmR Portuguese · primary — also known as 8mm Guedes, 8x60mmR Guedes, 8mm Portuguese Kropatschek, 8x56mmR Kropatschek
Features
- Firing modes: Repeating
- Feed systems: Tubular Magazine, Single Round Loading
- Safety mechanisms: Magazine Cutoff, Half Cock Notch
- Features: Short Forestock, Tubular Magazine In Forestock, Reduced Five Round Magazine, Single Barrel Band, Turned Down Bolt Handle, Side Mounted Bayonet Lug, Magazine Cutoff, Ramp And Leaf Rear Sight, Blade Front Sight, Sling Swivels
Base model
Service history
Operators
- Portuguese Cavalry · adopted 1886
- Portuguese Police
Conflicts
- Portuguese Colonial Campaigns (1886-1926)
Production
Estimated total produced: 4,000 · Production years: 1885-1894
Approximately 4,000 cavalry carbines produced by OEWG Steyr in Austria for Portugal, alongside about 49,000 infantry rifles and 4,800 short rifles of the m/1886 pattern.
Origin
Country of origin: Austria
Designer: Alfred von Kropatschek
Discontinued: 1894
Notes
Carbine barrel length, overall length and empty weight were not confirmed against a primary source at time of writing and are left null rather than estimated. The reduced magazine holds five rounds versus eight in the infantry rifle. The original carbine forend lacked a bayonet lug; one was fitted in Portugal when the carbines passed from cavalry to police service.
Background
When Portugal's cavalry carbines were eventually handed down to the police, armourers discovered the short carbine forend had no bayonet lug — so one was simply added on after the fact, bolting a blade fitting to the side of the barrel behind the nose cap.