Werndl M1867 Cavalry Carbine
Österreichische Waffenfabriks-Gesellschaft (Steyr) · Carbine · Out Of Production · 1867
Also known as: Werndl Karabiner M1867, Kavalleriekarabiner M1867, Werndl-Holub Cavalry Carbine
Overview
The Werndl M1867 Cavalry Carbine is the short, light mounted-troop version of Josef Werndl's single-shot breech-loading black-powder service arm, adopted by the Austro-Hungarian army in 1867. Like the infantry rifle it uses the distinctive rotating drum ('crane') breechblock thrown open by a thumb lever and fired by an external hammer, but it has a 566mm barrel, no barrel bands, a compact walnut stock and a ladder sight graduated to 600 Schritt, firing the shorter, reduced-charge 11mm M.67 carbine cartridge. It armed dragoon, hussar and uhlan regiments until the 1877 conversion program and the arrival of Fruwirth and Mannlicher repeaters.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 3160 g (111.5 oz) |
| Overall Length | 988 mm (38.90") |
| Barrel Length | 566 mm (22.28") |
| Action Type | Rolling Block |
| Firing Mechanism | Hammer Fired |
| Trigger Type | Single Stage |
| Magazine Capacity | 1 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Internal |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Number of Grooves | 6 |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Wood |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- 11.15×36mmR Fruwirth · primary — also known as 11.3×36mmR, 11mm Fruwirth, 11mm Karabinerpatrone M.67, 11mm scharfe Karabinerpatrone M.67
Features
- Firing modes: Manual
- Feed systems: Single Shot Breechloader
- Safety mechanisms: Half Cock Hammer
- Features: Rotating Drum Breechblock, External Hammer, Thumb Operated Breech Lever, No Barrel Bands, Ladder Rear Sight, Walnut Stock
Service history
Operators
- Austro-Hungarian Army · adopted 1867 · as Karabiner M1867
Conflicts
- Austro-Hungarian occupation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (1878)
Production
Estimated total produced: 11,000 · Production years: 1867-1874
Approximately 11,000 M1867 Werndl carbines of all varieties (cavalry carbine and Extra-Korps short rifle) built by Werndl and OEWG at Steyr
Origin
Country of origin: Austria
Designer: Josef Werndl
Discontinued: 1877
Notes
Roughly 11,000 M1867 Werndl carbines of all sub-patterns (cavalry carbine and Extra-Korps short rifle) were produced 1867–1874; the cavalry carbine is distinguished from the near-identical Extra-Korps pattern by its lower sling swivel mounted ahead of the trigger guard rather than on the buttstock. Many were later reworked in the 1877 program.
Background
Werndl marked his carbine receivers 'WERNDL' on the earliest guns, but after his firm reorganised as the Österreichische Waffenfabriks-Gesellschaft in 1869 the stamp changed to 'OEWG' — the same Steyr works that would go on to build the Mannlicher rifles that replaced it.