M1878
French
Kropatchek Gallery 2
M1878
French Naval Kropatchek
(photo from: La grande aventure des fusils reglementaires francais,
Henri Vuillemin, Gazette des armes, 1996, pgs 45)
GENERALLY: This rifle, designed by Alfred von Kropatchek, was adopted by the French Navy to replace the Chasspot needle-fire rifle, the immediate predecessor to the M1874 Gras. This was the first commercially successful Kropatchek. It incorporated the basic design of the Chasspot/Gras bolt and receiver system mated with a tubular magazine of Winchester configuration. Of interest is that the tube of the tubular magazine is made of brass rather than steel.
PHOTO: The rifle shown is a M1878 French Naval Kropatchek.
DISTINGUISHING CHARECTERISTICS: Very similar to the French Chasspot and Gras, it is a repeater with a magazine cut-off hidden by the bolt handle when the bolt is closed (c.f., M1884 Kropatchek). The receiver is also Styer marked (see photo above).
MISC NOTES: For cartridge information see the reference on the French Gras.
FURTHER READINGS: (* means all who are seriously interested in this area should have!)
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*La
grande aventure des fusils reglementaires francais, Henri Vuillemin,
Gazette des armes, pgs 43-47.
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*Rifles
of the World , John Walter, DBI Books, 1993, pg 112.
*Military Bolt Action Rifles 1841-1918, Donald B. Webster, Museum Restoration Service, Alexandria Bay, NY, 1993, pg 28.
*The History and Development of Small Arms Ammunition, George A. Hoyem, VOL II-Centerfire Primitive and Martial Long Arms, Armory Publications, Tacoma, 1982 pg135.