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Winning Bid US $420 First bid $175 Quantity 1 # of bids 9 Time left Auction has ended   Started 2025-02-11 00:00:00 Ended 2025-02-28 22:59:51

OE.W.F.G. Styer, Model: M1886/89 Portuguese Kropatschek (Espingarda De infantaria 8mm), Cal: 8x60mmR Smokeless, MFG: 1886, S/N: BB81, bolt action rifle, 32 barrel.

HISTORY: The M1886 Kropatschek was developed by Alfred Von Kropatschek. He was most well known for his early tube magazines, which were a redesign & improvement of Ferdinand Fruwirths magazine on M1872 rifle. The Kropatschek magazine would be used on many different rifles including the first smokeless powder rifle, the Lebel 1886. The magazine would be first used on the Styer-built French Naval Kropatschek of 1878. The Portuguese M1886 is a refinement of the French M1878 but now with elements of the Mauser M1871 bolt. Steyr was originally making the M1885 Guedes-Castro rifle, a single shot 8mm black powder rifle, but early on in production Steyr found flaws in the design. Portugal opted to pay for the already completed rifles & switch production to the M1886 Kropatschek. The M1886 used the same 8mm black powder round as the M1885 Guedes. The actions were strong enough to hold up to smokeless powder loading & around 1889-90, Steyr, with their work on the smokeless conversions of the Austrian M1888 Mannlichers, would send a conversion package for Portugal. Consisting of a new smokeless 8x60R round and a modified rear sight, calibrated to a new a maximum range of 2,200 meters. The conversions would be done at the Lisbon Arsenal in Portugal, with Steyr supplying the sights and an Austrian firm the first smokeless ammunition. Most of the conversions were done around 1895, thats when Portugal had reliable access to smokeless powder, & the black powder rounded was taken out of service. Portugal also began adding handguards to the rifles in 1889 for colonial use to help combat the heat from the barrels causing burns & heat mirage. Most of the rifles have lost their upper handguard by this point.

CONDITION: The straight wrist wood stock is good. Stock has nicks, dings, dents, scratches & wear from use/age. Stock has darkened from added oils over the years. Bottom of the stock has a 3 crack emanating from the trigger guard. Wood has shrunk around toe & buttplate is proud to wood. Right cheek of stock is marked with the monarchs cypher roundel, it would read with the model number (M1886) over the MFG & date of MFG (STEYR 1886), with ''OE.W.G.'' in the middle. Marking is worn & is illegible but is still visible. Left cheek is marked with a faded large round cartouche & the S/N ''BB81''. The trigger guard extends out to a pistol grip style finger rest. The metal has mostly worn gray with spots of thinned finish in protected areas, & speckling of brown patina. There is rust & pitting around the stock line. The left side of the receiver is marked ''OE.W.F.G. STEYR'', ''1886'', Crown over a banner over ''L.I'', ''M.1886''. the right side of the receiver & barrel are marked with the S/N. the top of the barrel is marked with a small crown proof. S/N mismatched bolt, the components are also a mix of S/Ns. the bore is very good. Its bright with spots of light roughness. The barrel holds a barleycorn front sight with a flip up ladder, V-notch rear sight marked 6 to 22. The stock carries a steel buttplate, toned brown with roughness. Rifle has both slings loops, cleaning rod, & comes with a brown leather sling marked ''J.BUROY'', ''SELLIER'', ''CUGY''. Antique, no FFL Req. - Value: 350 to 700

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Price

OE.W.F.G. Styer, Model: M1886/89 Portuguese Kropatschek (Espinga... Item # 4376 This auction is over. No new bids can be placed. Price: US $420

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