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1914 Steyr Mannlicher Romanian 8.2 x 50r

5K views 15 replies 5 participants last post by  sharps4590 
#1 ·
I could use some help identifying this rifle. I have done a ton of research and keep comming up empty handed. I think I have a prototype or student/guide gun here (no serial number) but I cant find another rifle like this. I have included as many pictures as I can. All the research I have done leads me to believe that this is a romanian made rifle before the war. Any help would be appreciated. Here are the pictures.








 
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#2 ·
Your pictures are excellent but to know anything other than what it is pictures of all the proofs and identifying marks, usually on the barrel, near the breech and usually under the stock. Pull the action from the stock and see what's underneath. I have a problem believing it is of Romanian manufacture with STEYR 1914 so boldly marked on the receiver....and the quality appears much more Austrian than Romanian. Without seeing the proofs and ID marks the above is just an opinion.
 
#4 ·
Good, look forward to it Brian. Figuring out the what, where and when of these fine old rifles is always interesting.
 
#8 ·
I saw your thread on the GGCA site. Someone over there will eventually chime in and they'll be close....and accurate. I'm sorry I can't help....wish I could as I love those old M/S. Hopefully Swede will see this one and chime in.
 
#10 ·
To me the gun appears to be "sporterized military gun" The set triggers are typical of Europe as is the full stock. The cheekpiece shape and checkering of the grip looks like US work. The rear sight is an add on and while nice it is not of the highest quality. The wood choice is beech or birch and not the prettiest wood out there. The wood type detracts from the gun in my opinion as it just does not look very nice. The fellows on the other forum have given you some good answers and a value. I would lower my expectation of the value based on the type of wood and uncheckerd forend. I am not trying to knock your gun down but there are some top notch sporting rifle built on this action that are are far more desirable then this gun would be.
 
#11 · (Edited)
The bolt, bolt release and magazine/trigger guard are all stamped K, which leads me to believe they are all original to the gun. If the sett triggers are also stamped K, I'd lean towards your having a purpose-built target rifle, which might explain the lack of serial number. Whether it was built as a military target rifle in this configuration, a military target rifle that was subsequently sporterized, or a civilian target gun is beyond me. Attached is picture of an Italian Mannlicher Carcano military target rifle.
 

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#13 ·
It all depends on whether or not it has been altered from its original configuration. To my thinking, an original military target rifle would be relatively rare and worth more than a military target rifle that has been sporterized. As Mikebiker pointed out, the stock is a bit utilitarian for a high-end sporter, but then embellishments would serve no purpose on a target rifle...

I can't tell from your pics, but if the two triggers both have separate holes from through which they protrude, then those triggers are original to the gun and I think you definately have a target rifle.
 
#16 ·
Here's pretty much the high and low down on the rifle. If Axel doesn't know, no one does.

Your rifle was sporterized or built of left over parts post WW1. It started life as an Austrian „8-mm-Repetiergewehr M93 (adapted and rebored Romanian military rifle)". Pre-WW1 Romania depended on Steyr for supplying their army. The standard Romanian rifle was the Mannlicher M93 in 6.5x53R, aka .256 Mannlicher, made by the Steyr factory. After the 1912-13 Balkan War ended, the Kingdom of Romania had to resupply it's army. So they placed an order for 230 000 new M93 rifles with Steyr in 1913. When WW1 broke out 100 years ago, August 1, 1914, Austro-Hungary immediately stopped all exports of military rifles. About 75 000 rifles of the 1913 Romanian contract were still undelivered then and in various stages of manufacture. As the A-H army suffered terrible losses at the eastern, Russian front in 1914-15, they were in desperate need for rifles. The Romanian M93 Mannlichers still at the Steyr factory were the easiest to adapt to A-H supplies: The barrels were rebored and rechambered to take the issue 8x50R Mannlicher cartridge. Extractor and ejector were altered to take the larger rim. The magazine was altered to take the Austrian slant en-bloc clips as used in the M95 Mannlicher straight pull service rifles. Of course, all these left over rifles bear the 1914 manufacturing date on the left receiver wall. Other markings may have been scrubbed off during sporterizing.
For shooting your rifle you have to depend on handloading. AFAIK 8x50R Mannlicher ammo is now only made by the Indian government ordnance factory at Dum Dum near Calcutta, called .315 IOF by them, but is not exported. Brass is easily formed from PRVI Partizan 8x56R. Use heavy, 200-220gr .323" bullets.

Brian, I'm always reluctant to post a price on any site. I think you're too high by two times at 1K. As others have said there is some nice rifles built on the Mannlicher & Mannlicher/Schoenauer action that bring around a grand with 1903, '05, '08 and '10 bringing a premium and usually upwards from 2K for good examples...but yours isn't in that bracket. I'm not trying to put it down as I find it rather interesting. Were it 8 X 56 M/S I'd be a bit interested but not at 1K and for me not at $500.. Also, as others have said, the cartridge and the wood are hurting it and the Mannlicher action with an en bloc clip isn't nearly as desirable as with the Schoenauer rotary magazine.

I don't know where you're located so I have no idea what you have locally, probably wouldn't if I knew where you lived. As gdm said one of the on line auction sites is probably your best bet.

I'm sorry I can't tell you great things about your rifle and that it's worth a kings ransom....but we all have those. Good luck sir.
 
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