Peabody-Martini M1879
Österreichische Waffenfabriks-Gesellschaft (OEWG), Steyr · Rifle · Discontinued · 1879
Also known as: Romanian Peabody-Martini M1879, Peabody-Martini Md. 1879, Romanian Model 1879 Peabody-Martini, 11.43mm Steyr Peabody-Martini
Overview
The Peabody-Martini M1879 was a single-shot, falling-block military rifle adopted by Romania to replace its older Model 1867/1868 Peabody rifles. It combined Henry O. Peabody's tilting breechblock with Friedrich von Martini's self-cocking internal striker and Alexander Henry's rifling, and was chambered for the 11.43x59mmR Romanian black-powder cartridge. Built under contract by Österreichische Waffenfabriks-Gesellschaft (OEWG) in Steyr, and partly by Berger & Co. of Witten, it differed from the British Martini-Henry in its flat-sided knox-form stock furniture and a Werndl-pattern rear sight with a peep aperture. Roughly twelve aimed shots per minute could be fired by working the underlever.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 4080 g (143.9 oz) |
| Overall Length | 1257 mm (49.49") |
| Barrel Length | 838 mm (32.99") |
| Action Type | Falling Block |
| Firing Mechanism | Internal Hammer |
| Trigger Type | Single Stage |
| Magazine Capacity | 1 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Internal |
| Muzzle Velocity | 415 m/s (1362 fps) |
| Effective Range | 400 m (437 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 1600 m (1750 yd) |
| Rate of Fire | 10 rpm |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Number of Grooves | 7 |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Wood |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- 11.43x59mmR Romanian · primary — also known as .45 Romanian, .45 Martini, 11.43mm Romanian Peabody, 11x59R Romanian
Features
- Firing modes: Manual
- Feed systems: Single Shot
- Safety mechanisms: Martini Self Cocking Action
- Features: Martini Falling Block, Self Cocking Internal Striker, Henry Rifling, Werndl Pattern Rear Sight, Bayonet Lug
Variants
- Peabody-Martini M1879 Cavalry Carbine - Carbine
Service history
Operators
- Kingdom of Romania · adopted 1879 · as Pușca Peabody-Martini Md. 1879
Conflicts
- Second Boer War (1899-1902)
Production
Estimated total produced: 190,000 · Production years: 1879-1884
Approximately 130,000 delivered by OEWG Steyr into the early 1880s, plus a further Romanian contract for about 60,000 with Berger & Co. of Witten.
Origin
Country of origin: Austria
Designer: Henry O. Peabody
Discontinued: 1884
Notes
Adopted by Romania from 1879 as a stop-gap modern breechloader before the Mannlicher repeaters of the 1890s. OEWG Steyr delivered around 130,000 rifles into the early 1880s, with a further Romanian contract for some 60,000 placed with Gussstahlfabrik Berger & Co. of Witten. Surplus examples later turned up in the Second Boer War.
Background
Some surplus M1879 rifles were exported and reappeared in the hands of Boer commandos during the Second Boer War, a generation after their Romanian adoption.