MORE MLE1884 FRENCH KROPATCHEK   Kropatchek System Rifles                 Last Revised  22/11/99

M1884 French Kropatchek   (photo from: La grande aventure des fusils reglementaires francais, Henri Vuillemin, Gazette des armes, 1996) GENERALLY:  The Mle1884 French Kropatchek infantry rifle was in essence a copy of the Steyr made M1878 French Naval Kropatchek rifle slightly modified by the Chatellerault Arms Factory wherein the fore-end portion of the stock  was cut with carrying grooves, barrel was retained with a single barrel band with nose cap, and the saber bayonet lug was placed on the right side of the muzzle.  Mle1884s were made by both converting earlier Mle1874 M.80 rifles as well as manufacturing newly made Mle1884 rifles, although I am not knowledgeable as to how to distinguish the conversion rifles. PHOTO: The rifle shown is a Mle1884 French Kropatchek Infantry rifle. DISTINGUISHING CHARECTERISTICS:  The magazine cut-off lever for single shot used operated by rotating in a depression fitted into the stock behind the bolt handle.   The a cleaning rod was stored in a channel inletted into the left side of the stock, similarly to the earlier Mle1878 French Naval/Marine and the later "M1886 Portugese Kropatcheks"  and "M1887 Turkish Mauser".  Metal parts were finished brown.  Also distinguishing the Mle1884 from the Steyr made Mle1878 was the differing shape of the nose cap with bayonet lug which on the Mle 1884 is curved inward between the magazine tube and barrel to allow the pommel of the standard Mle1874 bayonet to attach. FURTHER READINGS: (* means all who are seriously interested in this area should have!)        **Gazette des armes, 1996, pgs 48-52, Henri Vuillemin,        *Rifles of the World , John Walter, DBI Books, 1993, pgs 111-114. *Military Bolt Action Rifles 1841-1918, Donald B. Webster, Museum Restoration Service, Alexandria Bay, NY, 1993, pgs 5-6, 28. *The History and Development of Small Arms Ammunition, George A. Hoyem, VOL II-Centerfire Primitive and Martial Long Arms, Armory Publications, Tacoma, 1982 pg 135, 175 *Military Rifle and Machine Gun Cartridges, Jean Huon, Ironside, Alexandria, VA, 1988, Pgs ___                                                             (photo from: La grande aventure des fusils reglementaires francais, Henri Vuillemin, Gazette des armes, 1996)     The M1884 French Kropatchek was built at two armories; that at Chatellerault     and at St. Etienne and the receivers of each are so marked.            A Chatellerault M1884 French Kropatchek.