Steyr · Rifle
Bulgarian Mannlicher M1888
Bolt action · 8x52mmR Mannlicher · introduced 1903
Also known as Mannlicher M1888 (Bulgarian), Bulgarian Mannlicher Model 1888, M1888/90 Bulgarian
About the Bulgarian Mannlicher M1888
The Bulgarian Mannlicher M1888 is a straight-pull bolt-action service rifle adopted by the Kingdom of Bulgaria, derived from the Austro-Hungarian Mannlicher M1888 built by OEWG of Steyr. Bulgaria purchased roughly 140,000 M1888, M1888/90 and M1890 Mannlichers, many of them rechambered for the more powerful 8x52mmR Mannlicher cartridge. It feeds from a fixed box magazine loaded with a five-round en bloc clip and is identifiable by Bulgarian Lion or crowned-F acceptance stamps over the OEWG receiver markings. The rifle saw extensive Bulgarian service through the Balkan Wars and the First World War.
Bulgaria was among the first foreign customers for the Steyr straight-pull Mannlicher, fielding it as a primary infantry rifle through the Balkan Wars before the Mannlicher M95 became its main service arm.
Bulgarian Mannlicher M1888 specifications
General
- Type
- Rifle
- Action
- Bolt action
- Firing mechanism
- Striker-fired
- Trigger
- Single action
- Calibres
- 8x52mmR Mannlicher
- Magazine capacity
- 5 rounds
- Magazine
- En bloc clip
Dimensions
- Barrel length
- 765 mm (30.1 in)
- Overall length
- 1280 mm (50.4 in)
- Weight (empty)
- 4.00 kg (8.82 lb)
Barrel
- Rifling
- Right hand
- Grooves
- 4
Materials
- Barrel
- Steel
- Receiver / frame
- Steel
- Stock
- Wood
- Finish
- blued
Performance
- Muzzle velocity (typical)
- 620 m/s (2034 fps)
- Muzzle energy (typical)
- 3075 J (2268 ft·lb)
- Effective range
- 500 m
History
- Introduced
- 1903
- Discontinued
- 1945
- Production status
- Discontinued
- Country of origin
- AT
- Designer
- Ferdinand Ritter von Mannlicher
Features
- Straight pull bolt
- En bloc clip loading
- Fixed box magazine
- Tangent leaf sights
Safety
- Manual safety
Bulgarian-marked examples retain OEWG Steyr receiver stamps but add a small Bulgarian Lion or a crown-over-F proof. The 8x52mmR conversion (M1890 pattern ammunition) replaced the original blackpowder 8x50mmR loading.
This is a variant of the Mannlicher M1888.
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