Steyr Zephyr
Steyr-Daimler-Puch AG · Rifle · Out Of Production · 1955
Also known as: Steyr Mannlicher Zephyr, Steyr Custom Small-Bore Carbine, Steyr-Daimler-Puch Zephyr
Overview
The Steyr Zephyr is a high-grade bolt-action .22 Long Rifle sporting carbine produced by Steyr-Daimler-Puch of Austria from 1955 until 1971. Built by the same factory responsible for the famed Mannlicher-Schoenauer rifles, the Zephyr was a petite, full-length Mannlicher-stocked rimfire carbine fed by a detachable five-round box magazine. Its defining feature was a European-style double set trigger: the rifle could be fired conventionally with the front trigger, or the rear trigger could be 'set' so that a feather-light touch of the front trigger released the shot for precise target and small-game work. Finely checkered walnut, a slim 19.5-inch barrel and elegant proportions made it one of the most coveted rimfire rifles of its era, and surviving examples are highly sought by collectors today.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 2720 g (95.9 oz) |
| Overall Length | 990 mm (38.98") |
| Barrel Length | 495 mm (19.49") |
| Action Type | Bolt Action |
| Firing Mechanism | Hammer Fired |
| Trigger Type | Set Trigger |
| Magazine Capacity | 5 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Detachable Box |
| Muzzle Velocity | 330 m/s (1083 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 141 J (104 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 100 m (109 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Rifling Twist | 406 mm (15.98") |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Walnut |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- .22 Long Rifle · primary — also known as .22 LR, 5.6x15mmR
Features
- Firing modes: Repeating
- Feed systems: Detachable Box Magazine
- Safety mechanisms: Manual Safety
- Features: Full Length Mannlicher Stock, Double Set Trigger, Detachable Box Magazine, Open Sights, Checkered Walnut Stock
Service history
Operators
- European sporting and small-game hunters · adopted 1955
Production
Production years: 1955-1971
Produced in relatively small numbers as a premium sporting rimfire; exact totals not published
Origin
Country of origin: Austria
Discontinued: 1971
Notes
Originally cataloged as the Steyr Custom Small-Bore Carbine before being renamed the Zephyr. Also offered in .22 Hornet. Discontinued in 1971 due to high production cost and limited sales, making it a rare and collectible rimfire. The modern Steyr Zephyr II (introduced 2018) is a separate, later reintroduction.
Background
Regarded by rimfire enthusiasts as something of a 'Holy Grail' .22, the Zephyr paired the prestige of Steyr's Mannlicher heritage with a true continental double set trigger. When Steyr ended production in 1971, the rifle had grown so expensive that few buyers remained, which only sharpened its later reputation as a rare and desirable collector's carbine.