Werndl M1873/77
Österreichische Waffenfabriks-Gesellschaft (Steyr) · Rifle · Out Of Production · 1877
Also known as: Infanteriegewehr M1873/77, Werndl Infantry Rifle M1873/77, M1873/77 Werndl-Holub
Overview
The Werndl M1873/77 was the full-length single-shot service rifle of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the standard infantry arm of the line before the introduction of the Mannlicher repeaters. It is built on Josef Werndl's rotating cylindrical breechblock, the so-called 'Tabernakelverschluss' drum breech, worked by a thumb-piece on the right of the receiver, with the M1873 pattern's internal hammer pivoting inside the wrist of the stock and flattened receiver sides for a stronger action. The /77 update rechambered the M1873 infantry rifle from the older 11x42mm black-powder round to the more powerful 11x58mmR Werndl centerfire cartridge. With an 846 mm barrel and roughly 1280 mm overall length it carried a saber bayonet and served as Austria-Hungary's principal foot-soldier's rifle into the late 1880s.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 4400 g (155.2 oz) |
| Overall Length | 1280 mm (50.39") |
| Barrel Length | 846 mm (33.31") |
| Action Type | Rolling Block |
| Firing Mechanism | Hammer Fired |
| Trigger Type | Single Stage |
| Magazine Capacity | 1 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Internal |
| Muzzle Velocity | 445 m/s (1460 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 2376 J (1752 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 500 m (547 yd) |
| Rate of Fire | 10 rpm |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Number of Grooves | 6 |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Wood |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- 11x58mmR Werndl · primary — also known as 11mm Werndl, 11x58R Austrian, M1877, 11mm Gewehr-patrone M.77
Features
- Firing modes: Manual
- Feed systems: Single Shot Breech Loaded
- Safety mechanisms: Half Cock Notch
- Features: Rotating Breechblock, Tabernakelverschluss Drum Breech, Internal Hammer Action, Flattened Receiver Sides, Full Length Wood Stock, Saber Bayonet Lug, Metallic Cartridge
Base model
Service history
Operators
- Austro-Hungarian Army · adopted 1877 · as Infanteriegewehr M1873/77
Conflicts
- Occupation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (1878)
Production
Estimated total produced: 600,000 · Production years: 1873-1888
Combined M1873 and M1873/77 infantry rifle production by OEWG Steyr; hundreds of thousands of Werndl arms of all patterns were produced through the 1880s
Origin
Country of origin: Austria
Designer: Josef Werndl
Discontinued: 1888
Notes
The M1873/77 is the full-length infantry rifle, distinct from the shorter Extra-Korps-Gewehr and the cavalry carbine on the same action. Early M1873 arms fired the 11mm M.67 black-powder cartridge; the M1873/77 conversion adopted the 11x58mmR (M.77) round. Sights were graduated in paces. Made by Österreichische Waffenfabriks-Gesellschaft at Steyr.
Background
Josef Werndl built Steyr into one of Europe's greatest arms works on the back of his rotating-breech rifle, and when he electrified the town of Steyr for an 1884 exhibition it became one of the first places on the continent lit by electric light.