I can't help but notice that since I got into the habit of holding samples of rifles and carbines in my hands, which became the topics of articles on VO, none of them gave me such a pleasant purely tactile relationship as this Romanian carbine. Although what Romanian? Mannlicher's carbine, of course! Very lightweight, comfortable, handy. The shutter works very well, the fuse is convenient to use. In a word, if I were offered to choose from everything that is in the collection of my friend, who once again provided it to me, I would take it!
But be that as it may, boyar Romania was or not, but at one time she adopted a rifle (and a carbine), which were distinguished by very high combat and operational characteristics, into service with her army.
This is the M1892 rifle.
And this is the M1893 carbine.
And it so happened that Romania, instead of the Peabody-Martini rifles that were in service there since 1878, decided to adopt a reduced-caliber Mannlicher rifle of the 1892 model, and not only reduced in relation to this rifle, but also to other rifles of caliber less than 11, 43 mm … Why is this, in fact, understandable. The smaller the caliber, the cheaper the cartridges, since they use less non-ferrous metals and gunpowder, smaller caliber rifles also require less metal when fabricating them and therefore they are also cheaper and also lighter, which cannot but please the soldiers. The same can be said about cartridges: less caliber means more ammunition! A rifle of the 1892 model was taken as a sample.
Mannlicher carbines of different models.
The caliber of the rifle was taken at 6.5 mm. The cartridge was traditional with a brass sleeve that had a rim. The gunpowder was smokeless, the weight of the charge was 2.3 g. The weight of the blunt-pointed bullet was 10, 3 g. The weight of the cartridge was 22, 7 g (for comparison, the German cartridge 7, 92 × 57 mm without a rim weighed 26, 9 g). Romanian cartridge was 710 m / s. (But later, when using a better quality gunpowder, the muzzle velocity increased to 740 m / s.)
Cartridge 6, 5x54 R
The 6, 5x54 R cartridge was created by the renowned gunsmith Ferdinand Ritter Von Mannlicher in 1892. That is, it was designed just for a rifle or a rifle was developed for this new cartridge. And this same cartridge became the first Austrian cartridge equipped with smokeless powder.
Clip for this cartridge.
The rifle barrel length was 740 mm. There were four traditional rifling in the barrel, with a right-hand stroke and a pitch of 200 mm. The front sight is triangular. The sight was a frame sight with four slots and divisions, marked up to 2000 meters. The aiming line was 593 mm long. The bolt is the simplest: sliding with locking by turning; the lugs were located in front of the bolt stem, which gave a very strong locking of the breech, designed for high gas pressure when fired. The fuse box was located directly on the bolt in the rear of it. Descent with warning.
A characteristic feature of the M1893 carbine was the bolt handle bent down. Pay attention to the button on the front wall of the trigger guard. By pressing it with the shutter open, the store was discharged.
The magazine on the rifle was of the traditional Manlichero design, that is, it was middle, permanent, with a batch loading. The magazine box is made in one piece with the trigger guard. Five cartridges in a pack clip are inserted into the magazine from above. Steel clip, double-sided. When all the cartridges from the clip were used up, she fell through the store and fell out of the rifle through the window in the store. To discharge the rifle if there was a magazine with cartridges in the magazine, it was necessary to open the bolt and press the magazine latch, which was located on the front wall of the trigger guard. Then the clip with cartridges flew up from it.
The stock and stock are very comfortable.
Swivel on the butt.
The neck of the box is English, straight. The ramrod is in the forend. Blade bayonet, with a cross, wooden cheeks and a latch on the handle. The rifle was targeted without a bayonet, which was worn separately in a scabbard at the waist. The bayonet adjoined to the right of the barrel, which, however, did not prevent it from shooting accurately enough with it at a distance of up to 200 m.
Stock, receiver plate, and false ring latch. Right view.
Stock and receiver plate. Left view.
The rear swivel of the belt was attached under the butt with two screws, while the front one was arranged on the stock ring. Before this sample, there were no barrel linings on Mannlicher rifles, but here on the barrel there is a wooden cover that protected the shooter's hands from burns, installed for the first time.
The bayonet was not provided on the carbine.
In 1893, some small details were changed in the rifle, after which the design of this sample did not change until the very end, that is, until 1918 and was called the sample of 1892-1893. The weight of the rifle was 4150 g. The bayonet weighed 380 g. The total length was 1230 mm.
This is how it looks as a whole, this carbine.
Experts noted that the rifle was designed. Due to the reduced caliber and good cartridge, it had good ballistic characteristics, the bolt was simple and had an easy move, which made it possible to provide a very high rate of fire at that time, and due to the small weight of both the rifle and cartridges, and its short length, it was convenient to carry it. In addition, it was noted that she had negligible recoil.
Here it is - the hole for the ejection of the "pack". It was believed (before the war!) That dirt would accumulate through it. But it turned out to be the opposite! She fell out through him!
Her shortcomings included a sleeve with a rim, a simple, not pistol or semi-pistol neck of the box, and the location of the bayonet on the barrel on the side, and not under the barrel. In addition, the pack clip required more metal than the plate clip.
Aim.
In addition to the infantry rifle, Romania also adopted the Mannlicher carbine of the 1893 model and of the same design as the rifle. But it is clear that its barrel was significantly shortened and, in addition, lightened. The barrel length was 430 mm. The sight was made smaller and calibrated for a shorter firing range. As a result, the developers got a truly light and portable cavalry carbine. Its weight was only 3200 g. Moreover, the carbine had a ramrod (which many carbines did not have!) And strong swivels. The total length of the carbine was 978 mm.
The inscription on the Steyr 1911 receiver is clearly visible here, and on the right is the shutter delay and fuse. The delay must be pressed and then the shutter is easily removed.
The inscription is large.
Weapons for the Romanian army were produced in Austria at an arms factory in Steyr (formerly Werndl); and it should be noted that the quality of the weapon finish was very high. For example, top-grade walnut wood was used for the stock with the buttstock. In total, 195,000 copies were produced from 1893 to 1914. Of this, 120,000 rifles and 14,000 carbines were delivered to Romania. The rifle's chamber featured the characteristic Romanian crown and the Md.1893 mark.
Cartridge feeder. As you can see, there are no cut-off reflectors and, nevertheless, the system worked perfectly.
The shutter is very simple, it just couldn't be easier.
A soldier of the Romanian army with a Mannlicher rifle.
