Model 1867/77 Werndl Infantry Rifle

Very Fine Werndl Model 1867/77 Rifle

These Werndle rifles are becoming more difficult to find in this country at present if one were trying to form a complete collection of early breech-loaders.  They originated in Austria from the early days of what became the Steyr factory.  The full title for this interesting early breech-loading rifle should really be the Werndl-Holub rifle after the main designer and engineer at the factory; Karl Holub.  The was a rifle developed in the same period of conversions as the Snider Enfield or Springfield Trapdoor. Originating from the Lorenze rifles, which the Austrians had in storage in large quantities.

The breech is opened by rolling the main breech block over on its side, towards the right, to reveal a loading chute at the rear of the chamber. The chamber is for the obsolete 11.4 x 58mm  cartridge. The lock mounted on the RHS of the rifle has an external hammer, a leftover from the percussion days, which strikes the rear end of the firing pin. Once fired, the block is opened again and if done quickly enough, will eject the spent cartridge effectively.

Overall the rifle is 50.1/4″ long.  The round barrel is 33.1/4″ long and the trigger Pull is 13.1/8″ to centre.  Stocked in a single piece of European Walnut with a straight grip wrist and a steel butt-plate. One ingenious addition was the bow added to the steel trigger guard, under the wrist, which effectively acts as a pistol grip.  Two barrel bands retain the barrel with the forward sling mount attached to the foremost one.  Correct long cleaning/clearing rod stored under the barrel, almost half its length exposed at the muzzle end. The lock is of a trailing type design.  The breech block is rolled over by pressure exerted by the users thumb, on a large flat wing like pretruberance, its size provides leverage which makes the procedure fairly easy.

At the muzzle end is a bayonet stud mounted on the RHS of the barrel for a Yatagan-type bayonet.  The sights are of a simple ladder and ramp type graduated from 200 to 600 on the side of the ramp and 600 to 1400 on the face of the ladder.  There is no windage but there is a register mark on the rear upper surface of the mounting block.  The makers name “WERNDLE”is on the crest of the receiver.  Adjacent on the crest of the barrel above the breech is the following: “St 71”  an inspection mark and date reference.  The lock face is marked “871” indicating year of manufacture, 1871.

A very interesting mark on the tang of the butt-plate shows as follows; “2L.St B”./ 583″  This indicates, 2nd Landstormen Battalion rifle, no’ 583. In Austria it was more commonly known as The Landwehr. It seems that the 2nd Battalion Infantry came from the Linz district.  These were esentially able boddied men of fighting age, who were expected to defend the country in times of national emergency – rather like the Home Guard of the Second World War in the UK.

The most outstanding aspect of this rifle is the condition of the bore, which is exceptional.  It appears as if it were made last week from the finest steel.  Rifled for its entire length with a perfect 6-groove bore.  The grooves are wider with narrow lands. All the edges are intact and all surfaces clean with no pitting or loss of surface shine. T’is truely a wonderful thing !  when you find them like this, considering the damage black powder does to steel barrels as a matter of course. Externally, all surfaces have lost their blue and turned grey to plum brown.  The stock is in good condition with no splits or shakes.  There are some inspectors markings on the underside of the buttstock.

Dont miss this chance to pick up an increasingly rare and ingenious rifle from the tumultuous history of early Austria.

No License Required – Section 58(ii)

£ 1150.

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