Steyr · Rifle

Mannlicher M1886/88

Name: Mannlicher M1886/88
Brand: Steyr

Bolt action · 8x52mmR Mannlicher · introduced 1888

Also known as Repetier-Gewehr M.1886/88, Mannlicher Model 1886/88, M1886/90

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About the Mannlicher M1886/88

The Mannlicher M1886/88 is an Austro-Hungarian straight-pull bolt-action service rifle created by rebarreling the original 11mm M1886 to fire an 8mm smokeless-era cartridge. After France's smokeless Lebel rendered black-powder arms obsolete, the Austro-Hungarian Ministry of War had the bulk of its M1886 stock converted between 1888 and 1892, retaining Ferdinand Ritter von Mannlicher's wedge-lock straight-pull action while fitting a smaller-bore barrel and updated sights. It feeds from a fixed box magazine loaded with a five-round en bloc clip and was chambered for the 8x52mmR Mannlicher (M.90) loading. The conversion let Austria-Hungary field a competitive small-bore rifle until the definitive Mannlicher M95 arrived.

The M1886/88 marks the moment Austria-Hungary scrambled to answer the French smokeless revolution: rather than scrap its brand-new straight-pull Mannlichers, it simply swapped barrels, keeping the unusual wedge-lock action that pulled straight back instead of rotating.

Mannlicher M1886/88 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: 806 mm (31.7 in)
Overall length: 1320 mm (52.0 in)
Weight (empty): 4.50 kg (9.92 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: 1888
Discontinued: 1918
Production status: Discontinued
Country of origin: AT
Designer: Ferdinand Ritter von Mannlicher

Features

Straight pull bolt
Wedge lock action
En bloc clip loading
Fixed box magazine
Tangent leaf sights

Safety

Manual safety

Conversion designation overlaps with the closely related M1886/90 rebarreling program; both reworked the M1886 receiver to 8mm while preserving the wedge-lock action and original furniture. Roughly 94,000 replacement 8mm barrels were contracted from OEWG Steyr from April 1890.