Wänzl M1867
Vienna Arsenal (k.k. Gewehrfabrik) · Rifle · Out Of Production · 1867
Also known as: Wänzl-Lorenz, M1854/67, M1862/67
Overview
The Wänzl M1867 was Austria-Hungary's first general-issue metallic-cartridge breechloader, adopted in the wake of the 1866 defeat at Königgrätz. Designed by the Viennese gunsmith Wänzl, it converted muzzleloading M1854/M1862 Lorenz rifles to fire a self-contained 14mm cartridge via a front-hinged lifting breechblock actuated by the retained external hammer. It served as an interim arm until the purpose-built Werndl–Holub M1867 entered full production.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 4280 g (151.0 oz) |
| Overall Length | 1334 mm (52.52") |
| Barrel Length | 885 mm (34.84") |
| Action Type | Hinged Breechblock |
| Firing Mechanism | Hammer Fired |
| Trigger Type | Single Stage |
| Magazine Capacity | 1 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Internal |
| Muzzle Velocity | 387 m/s (1270 fps) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Number of Grooves | 4 |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Wood |
Calibers
- 14×33mmR Wänzl · primary — also known as 13.9mm Wänzl, 14mm Wänzl
Features
- Firing modes: Manual
- Feed systems: Single Shot
- Safety mechanisms: Half Cock Notch
- Features: Breechloading Conversion, Front Hinged Lifting Breechblock, Metallic Cartridge
Variants
- Wänzl Gendarmerie Carbine M1853/66 — Carbine
- Wänzl Jäger-Stutzen M1854/66 — Short Rifle
Service history
Operators
- Austro-Hungarian Army · adopted 1867 · as M1867
Production
Estimated total produced: 80,000 · Production years: 1867-1873
Conversion totals are disputed; figures range from ~70,000–80,000 contract conversions to ~120,000 in some sources
Origin
Country of origin: Austria
Designer: Wänzl
Discontinued: 1873
Notes
A conversion design rather than a new-build rifle; it retained the Lorenz lock, stock and 4-groove barrel. Quickly relegated to reserve, gendarmerie and fortress use once Werndl production ramped up.
Background
Austria-Hungary rushed the Wänzl into service after the catastrophic 1866 loss at Königgrätz, where Prussia's breechloading Dreyse needle guns had badly outshot Austria's muzzleloading Lorenz rifles, turning thousands of those same Lorenz muskets into breechloaders almost overnight.