Siamese Mauser Type 46/66 Rifle
Koishikawa Arsenal · Rifle · Discontinued · 1903
Also known as: Type 46 Rifle, Type 46/66, Siam Mauser Rifle, 8mm Siamese Rifle
Overview
The Siamese Mauser Type 46/66 is a full-length bolt-action infantry rifle built on the Mauser Gewehr 98 action by Japan's Koishikawa (Tokyo Artillery) Arsenal for the Kingdom of Siam (modern Thailand). Adopted in 1903 (R.S. 122) as the Type 46 rifle, it was originally chambered for the rimmed round-nose 8x50mmR Siam cartridge and fed from a five-round internal magazine loaded via stripper clips. Beginning in 1923 (B.E. 2466) surviving rifles were rebarreled and rechambered for the more powerful spitzer 8x52mmR Siamese 'Type 66' cartridge, producing the Type 46/66 designation. Like all Japanese-made Siamese Mausers it is noted for high build quality, a three-position wing safety and a distinctive reciprocating bolt dust cover.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 3900 g (137.6 oz) |
| Overall Length | 1245 mm (49.02") |
| Barrel Length | 737 mm (29.02") |
| Action Type | Bolt Action |
| Firing Mechanism | Striker Fired |
| Trigger Type | Single Stage |
| Magazine Capacity | 5 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Internal |
| Muzzle Velocity | 685 m/s (2247 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 2744 J (2024 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 500 m (547 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Wood |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- 8x52mmR Siamese · primary — also known as 8mm Siamese Mauser, 8mm Type 66, 8x52R Siam, DWM 584
- 8x50mmR Siam — also known as 8x50R Siam, 8mm Siamese, Type 45
Features
- Firing modes: Repeating
- Feed systems: Stripper Clip, Internal Box Magazine
- Safety mechanisms: Three Position Wing Safety
- Features: Reciprocating Dust Cover, Controlled Round Feed, Stripper Clip Charger Guide, Tangent Leaf Rear Sight, Full Length Wood Stock
Variants
- Siamese Mauser Type 46 Rifle - Original 8x50r
- Siamese Mauser Type 47/66 Carbine - Carbine
Service history
Operators
- Royal Siamese Army · adopted 1903 · as Type 46 Rifle
- Royal Thai Armed Forces · adopted 1923 · as Type 46/66 Rifle
Conflicts
- Franco-Thai War (1940-1941)
- World War II (1941-1945)
Production
Production years: 1903-1908
Manufactured by the Tokyo Artillery (Koishikawa) Arsenal in Japan between 1903 and 1908 alongside the Type 47 carbine; roughly 20,000 Type 46 rifles are commonly cited, though exact totals are not firmly documented. Many were rechambered to Type 66 (8x52mmR) after 1923.
Origin
Country of origin: Thailand
Designer: Paul Mauser
Notes
Rifles rebarreled from the original 8x50mmR Siam to the 8x52mmR Siamese cartridge after 1923 are cataloged as Type 46/66. Barrel length (~29 in / 737 mm), overall length and empty weight are approximate figures typical of the full-length Siamese Mauser rifle pattern.
Background
The Siamese Mauser rifle was built in Japan rather than Germany: Tokyo's Koishikawa Arsenal forged and machined the parts for shipment to Bangkok, and the guns are stamped with a Thai Chakra emblem instead of a Mauser banner. When Siam upgraded to the flatter-shooting spitzer 8x52mmR 'Type 66' cartridge in 1923, armorers rebarreled the rifles and re-regulated the sights, giving these old Mausers a second service life through World War II.