Extraction was also a weak spot in the design, so the cleaning rod was sometimes used to aid extracting a stuck fired case. As a side note, Russia also provided Bulgaria with 15,000 captured Snider rifles presumably Turkish Sniders), 8,000 Chassepot rifles, 7,000 captured Peabody rifles (presumably M1868 Romanian Peabodys) and 9,000 guns and rifles of other systems (mainly percussion and flintlock guns), some 96,000 guns and rifles in all. Double Rifle Twin-Shot Musket Long Gun 28 1854 The Krnka is identified by its large (15mm+) caliber barrel with barlycorn front sight, simple brass nosecap, its tall, flat, perpendicular-head hammer, bronze receiver with iron breech opening to the left, a back-action lock mechanism, a brass trigger guard with iron trigger guard tang and finger spur, and brass buttplate. This was specifically a result of the disbelief of the authorities in the infantryman's ability to hit targets at a long distance. Krnkas system was very simple and is quite similar to both the English Snider and French Tabatire alterations. Four systems were considered, those of Terssen, Albini, Baranov (substantially a license-produced Albini) and Krnka. Only the above three rifles were converted by the Russians into the Krnka system, and we are not certain regarding the M1859 6-Line rifles The Cossacks went from this muzzle-loader directly to the M1870 Berdan II Cossack rifle. The stock shows the most wear and tear, having been lightly sanded and leaving the two cartouches only shadows of their former selves. Never take a Krnka's word for it regarding any rear sight that it carries! None of these rifles and variants are fitted with dedicated bayonet lugs, all securing their socket bayonets on the conventional front sight block. The Dragoon Krnka pictured here has a measured length of 1,225 mm (48.2 inches) with a 792 mm (31.2-inch) barrel. 1876 Photo Credit: Coincidentally, during the joint development with Hiram Berdan of what would become the. Flintlock / percussion lock (conversion) Rate of fire. Watch. Add to Cart. The breech block is marked with the serial number 11391 on the left side and on the interior of the swinging breech door. The Six Line percussion rifle musket remained the mainstay of the Russian infantry for a decade. Peace and states of emergency. They were first used in defense of, and later in the assault on fortresses. So, Krnkas are, not surprisingly, found with missing rear sight leaves and missing sight leaf thumbscrews. In 1880, it was decided to re-equip the Bulgarian army with Berdan No. (Pretty serious energy!). It is Russia's conversion of their Model 1856 "Six Line" rifle musket (15.24 mm; the Russian "liniya" being equal to 1/10 inch, hence 6line = .60 Cal) by use of the system developed by Sylvester Krnka of Wolin, Bohemia (20th century Czechoslovakia, now the Czech Republic). For any collector who specializes in the Russian long arms of the cartridge period, this is the gun that you must have as the initial example in the collection. WebIn 1858. a new production line with 28 skilled workers under the guidance of Mihailo Cveji was set up for converting some 15.000 old flintlock muskets to percussion system: in the first year only some 1,800 rifles were converted, then the production increased to 1.000 addapted rifles a month, so by 1863. WebThe new Model 1857 had a 4.62-inch diameter of bore. The 141-page book contains detailed, as yet unpublished, information on the individual parts of the rifle, their markings, drawings of all components, a description of the function, including how to adjust and check the rifle for its reliable and safe function. WebThe M1867 Russian Krnka ( ) was a breech loading conversion of the muzzle-loading Model 1857 Six Line rifle musket designed by Czech arms maker, However, the new design introduced a very English stock profile with a brass nose cap and clamping barrel bands, all of which were certainly a tip of the Russian ushanka (fur cap) to the English Enfield. Twenty years later Russia again went to war with the Turks attempting to regain Bessarabia and, although they defeated the Turks (see Turkey / M1866 Winchester and Turkey / M1872 Peabody-Martini ), British and Austrian forces interceded forcing Russia to give up most of its gains. In 1870, the Russians adopted the Colt manufactured single-shot Model 1868 breechloading rifle, which had been invented by Hiram Berdan of the Berdan Sharpshooters of American Civil War fame. This is deliberate, so that in the event of a jammed firing pin, given the weak firing pin retraction spring, this allows the cleaning rod to be used to push the firing pin back into battery. The striker is struck by the rifles new hammer which is mated to the existing M1856 back-action lock mechanism. WebBelgian model 1857 percussion musket, approximately .70 caliber, back action lock inscribed A & CH De Loneux Liege, with walnut stock and several cartouches, sling swivels, 40 1/2" barrel. . The 90-degree hammer nose engaged this piece at both the half-cock and the fired position to keep the breech closed, requiring the gun to be placed on full-cock in order to load or unload it. By late 1856, a 6-line muzzle-loading rifle was developed, its design based on the predecessor Russian 7-Line percussion smooth-bore gun. $40.00. The action of the rifle remains in crisp, fully functional condition with all of the various pieces of the mechanism appearing to function correctly. Photos Courtesy ofhttps://collegehillarsenal.com/. Predecessor Rifle(s): M1856 and M1858 Six Line Infantry Musket, This pictured rifle is a M1858 6-Line Infantry rifle, the M1856 6-Line Marksman rifle is identical except for a longer rear sight leaf. Manufacturer: FRENCH. Reply . 2 rifles. Buttstock of a Krnka Dragoon rifle compared with that of a M1869 Infantry/marksman rifle. Photo Credit: User Nick Stanav viawww.gunboards.com/forums. The best current theory as to their origins is that these well-made rifles are later Bulgarian adaptations from Russian Krnkas supplied to them. The Infantry and Marksmans rifles are virtually identical, at approximately 53.5 inches (1,360 mm) long with identical features and hardware except only for different rear sight. Quite rare possible Confederate use period copy of the P1853 rifle musket and made by various Spanish armories as well as well known Birmingham makers such as this one is. The initials above the dash-dot-dash line are "S.O.Z.". 1876 Photo Credit:http://zonwar.ru/news5/news_986_Rifle_Gana-1876.html, Other M1869 Krnka Short rifles and Carbines. The M1856/69 Russian Krnka is another unique variety of lifting breech block conversion of muzzleloader to breech loader. The buttplate, nose cap and triggerguard were of brass, with all of the other furniture of iron, including the triggerguard plate and its extended finger rest. WebIn the shoulder arms position the musket is carried with the butt in the left hand with the barrel facing front. WebThe M1867 Russian Krnka ( ) was a breech loading conversion of the muzzle-loading Model 1857 Six Line rifle musket designed by Austro-Hungarian arms Photo Credit:https://www.catawiki.com/en/l/23768575-russia-sylvestr-krnka-model-1857-single-shot-percussion-musket-15-2mm, Follow-On Rifle(s): M1868 Russian Berdan I. We are unaware whether or not Krnkas obtained by Bulgarian from Russia were subsequently further marked by Bulgaria in any way to differentiate them from the Russian rifles. In February of 1869 it was proposed that the conversions to the Carl system be halted and that conversions to a metallic cartridge be substituted. The soldier's heels are together and his toes point out on a 45 degree angles. " In 1856, the Russians adopted their first rifled long arm of reduced bore for general issue to the infantry, the. The M1855 rifle-musket was the first U.S. regulation arm to use the .58-cal. All of them participated in the Serbo-Bulgarian war of 1885 and some of them even fought in the Balkan Wars of 1912-13. In 1839, the Russian military adopted the percussion ignition system and by the early 1840s had undertaken a percussioning program similar to those in the United States and most of the European nations to alter existing stocks of flintlock muskets and rifles to percussion. About its production, packaging and combat distribution to units. The rear of the external striker was machined flat so that the modified hammer nose would engage the flat section and keep the breech block from opening at an inopportune time. The cartridge weighed 204 g with a propellant weight of 23.4 g seating a bullet weighing 128 g, developing a muzzle velocity of 427 m/s. (sometimes referred to as the M1859-60, also the "Chernolikhov rifle" ( ) after the Cossack armorer Chernolikhov), had an even shorter overall length of 1240mm with shorter barrel of 845 mm, a weight of 3.48 kg and sights ranged to 1000 steps (711m). Revised March 17, 1999 In 1873 Colonel Baron T.F. The breech block is marked with the serial number, on the left side and on the interior of the swinging breech door. The brass buttstock is shaped differently from that of the long rifles and has a only a very minimal buttstock tang. As this is an Indian Rebellion-era piece in NRA Antique Very Good condition with its original ramrod, it will bring something of a premium over later P53s that were much more common. Extraction leverage is not great enough for ejection thus it is likely that the rifle would need to be tipped either up or over to clear the spent case. WebThe two men designed a massive 4 pound, 9-ounce .44 caliber six-shot revolver, and the government ordered 1,000 of them for issue to mounted troops. WebModel 1853 Enfield rifle musket. $49.80. M1859/69 Dragoon Rifle Photo: Credit: Russian Museum of National Military History. The new design retained the French-style back action lock of the earlier M1845 muskets, which was retained by a single lock screw that passed through the front of the lock, screwing into a rounded triangular escutcheon on the counterpane and by a single spanner screw at the tail of the lock. A special thanks to Ilija Stanislevik, S. J. Zielinski, Vlads Rybalko, Eduardo Fontenla, RosarioArgentina, Nicholas Stanav, and Darrell Gossfor their information! The disappointing results of the Crimean War signaled to the Russian command that it needed to hastily began equipping the troops withrifledsmall arms. Note to Visitors: This rifle, along with the M1869 Russian Albini-Baranov and the M1868 Russian Berdan I were all developed more-or-less concurrently over the same several years, hence this HISTORICAL CONTEXT section as well as the bulk of the DEVELOPMENT section will be substantially identical for all three rifles. The metal of the gun has been lightly cleaned, weakening some of the markings, although they remain mostly legible throughout. All other parts, Dropping the cleaning rod down the barrel solves the problem, but the head needs to be flat in order to hit the firing pin. The Russian 6-line rifles (except for the M1860 Cossack) received a new, steeper stock with a wider buttstock, which helped to reduced felt recoil. They may well have had need to shorten Krnkas for use by their own special troops, gendarmerie and even possibly cavalry, but we have not been able to verify this possibility. WebThis unique rifle is a Russian muzzle loader Model 1857 Six Line Infantry Musket, designed by Czech gunmaker Sylvester Krnka. Regarding the first two rifles mentioned above, it should be noted that the Russian Ministry of Defense, being advised by senior army officers, set the sight of the Infantry Rifle not at 1200 steps, but at 600 steps, the so-called "short sight" despite the rifles having identical ballistic performances. All shorter Krnka rifles are either Bulgarian conversions for special-troop use, or locally altered post-service for civilian use. Brown Target Sharpshooter / Sniper Rifle 26 1855 Joslyn Rifle Single-Shot Carbine / Rifle Long Arm 27 1863 Lindsay Model 1863 U.S. The rifle is now in firing position. Developed from the 1860 Henry rifle, Winchester rifles were among the earliest repeaters. Evidence of the strength and survivability of the Krnka system can be seen in that, similarly to the fate of the French Tabatire series of rifles, many Krnkas which were removed from service subsequently saw new lives by being converted to civilian smooth-bore shotguns firing black powder shotgun ammunition, and continued in use among commercial hunters even into the middle of the 20th century. The breech was opened by pivoting a steel block to the left. The gun appears complete and remains mechanically functional. SHORT RIFLES, CARBINES & SPECIAL VERSIONS, M185(9)/69 Krnka Dragoon Rifle( 1859?/69 .). It has no sling swivels but rather ferrule reinforced slots half-way up the forestock and through the buttstock. Add to Cart. The references to the Krnka meanings are below his letter. These guns are scarce in Russia and are practically never seen for sale in America. Peter the Greats rule, from 1696 until his death in 1725, was a great turning point in Russia when, by virtue of Peters reforms, a strong trend of European influence developed, gradually replacing the earlier influence of Byzantium and the Tartars. Currently, we do not know with certainty the length of the rear sight leaf properly fitted on the M1859/69 Dragoon rifle, as most surviving Dragoon rifles pictured have had their sights removed. . It is estimated that some 620,000 or more Krnka conversions of various Russian 6-Line rifles were produced during this period concurrently with the adoption of both the short-lived, limited production M1868 Berdan I and the vastly more widely produced M1870 Berdan II. Quite rare possible Confederate use period copy of the P1853 rifle musket and made by various Spanish armories as well as well known Birmingham makers such as this one is. However, based on Russian sources we believe it to have been the short-leaf (600m range) sight. THREE BAND RIFLE MUSKET, DATED 1864. During the mid-19th century the Izhevesk arsenal emerged as the premier Russian arms manufactory and by the second half of that century was producing the finest quality arms in the empire. Yet other sources have suggested that the conversions were carried out both at all three of the three Imperial factories as well as at private enterprises, particularly in Kiev and Libau. This same assembly mating number from the alteration process appears on the top of the buttplate, on the top of the barrel, inside the lock, inside the barrel channel of the stock, on the right side of all three barrel bands, on the long range sight base and on the cleaning rod (ramrod). Because upwards of 600,000 conversions would have needed to have been undertaken, it is entirely possible that every source mentioned might have participated in conversion work. Has the the typical Birmingham makers proofs on barrel as well as tell tale lock makers marks under lock. Overall this is a solid, complete and attractive example of an extremely rare Russian Model 1856/67 Krnka Rifle. Blank, school and combat cartridge modifications. WebModel: 1857 PERCUSSION MUSKET RIFLE. Pulling the trigger releases an otherwise conventionally mounted back-action external hammer striking a nearly longitudinal firing pin, unlike that of its British and French contemporaries. The original breech was removed from the barrel and a new bronze breech piece was added with the barrel screwed into it. Marksman - 200 paces (142 m; 156 yds) to 1,200 paces (855 m; 935 yards). of the same overall length, same barrel length, same weight and ballistic performance as the M1856, except that it was fitted with a short-leaf rear sight calibrated only for 600 steps (427 m) and intended for "regular" line infantry; 3) The M1859 Dragoon Rifle ( 1859 .) condition. The nickname was derived from the caliber of the gun and the Russian unit of measure, the liniya, which was 1/10 of a diuym. In particular, it was distinguished by a very strong bolt group - a similar design was used in the. The rear sight was a distinctive feature, as it was a Swiss-style pivoting leaf of the same pattern that had been used on the Lige-made Russian M1843 Luttich Carbines, which were Belgian-made Russian contract copies of the British Brunswick Rifle. The gun is marked with a plethora of pre-revolutionary Cyrillic orthography and markings, as well as a dizzying array of serial and mating numbers. Sylvester But technologically the rifle and its 4-Line 10.75mm cartridge is a substantial leap forward from the 6-Line 15mm Krnka. Fortress gun Ghana arr. Lockplate of a foreign-purchased Russian M1856 or M1858 6-Line rifle subsequently converted to M1869 Krnka that has been re-altered to a short rifle the same dimensions as a Russian M1869 Dragoon rifle. The photos should do a good job of depicting the condition of the stock. .. M1856, As of September 1, 1912, Bulgarian records indicate that there were 12,925 Krnkas still in inventory. above. Four systems were considered, those of, Unlike much of Europe (but similarly to the United States) Russia never adopted a repeating black powder cartridge rifle, transitioning directly from the, The Russian conversion to the Krnka breech was a refinement of the M1865/66 Krnka rifle which had just previously been adopted by, Most of the conversion to Krnka work was carried out the Ludwig Nobel St. Petersburg Machine-Building Plant from 1869 into the early 1870s, while some work was done producing, Some authorities have indicated that after 1871 most of the Krnka rifles were converted from 15 mm to the Russian Berdan M1868 caliber, 10.6 x 58 but Hoyem disputes this and it is likely that the references to "converted to 10.6 Berdan" refers to the withdrawal of the Krnkas in favor of the more modern and much more effective, In general, the Krynka system was well developed for its time. 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