Steyr Model 1912 Mauser

Repetiergewehr M.14
An Austro-Hungarian M.14
TypeBolt-action rifle
Place of originGerman Empire/Austria-Hungary
Service history
In service1912 — Present
Used bySee Users
Wars
Production history
Designed1912
ManufacturerSteyr
Specifications
Mass3.97 kilograms (8.8 lb)-4.11 kilograms (9.1 lb)
Length1,245 millimetres (49.0 in)-1,247 millimetres (49.1 in)
Barrel length736 millimetres (29.0 in)-740 millimetres (29 in)
Cartridge7×57mm Mauser
ActionBolt-action
Feed system5-round stripper clip, internal magazine
SightsIron sights adjustable to 1,800 metres (2,000 yd)

The Steyr Model 1912 were Gewehr 98 pattern bolt-action battle rifles produced by Steyr before World War I. They were designed for export market. During the war, they were also used by the Austro-Hungarian Army.

Design

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The rifle was a close copy of the Gewehr 98. It had a pistol grip stock. The rifle featured an "H"-type upper band.[1] The sight was tangent-leaf, graduated to 1,800 metres (2,000 yd) or 2,000 metres (2,200 yd).[2][3] The upper hand guard was shorter.[4]

The carbine and short rifle versions had a turned-town bolt handle and were shorter,[3] with sights graduated until 1,400 metres (1,500 yd).[2]

The version pressed into Austrian service in 1914 was only modified by using a bigger sling swivel.[5]

Service

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Austro-Hungarian field telephone crew equipped with the M.14 rifle at the Isonzo front in 1916

It was ordered by Mexico,[3] Colombia,[4] Chile,[6] China,[7] Mexican Model 1912 were used from 1913 by the Federal Army that fought during the Mexican Revolution.[8] In 1914, 66,979 Mexican-contract rifles, 5,000 Colombian rifles and 43,100 Chilean rifles and carbines were pressed into Austria-Hungarian service as Repetiergewehr M.14.[5]

The Czech vz. 98/22 was a close-copy of the Steyr M1912 and the vz. 12/33 carbine derives from the M1912 carbine.[9] Some of the non-delivered Mexican Model 1912 rifles were modernized as 7.92×57mm Mauser Model 24B in Yugoslavia.[10] In 1929, 5,000 M1912 short rifles, with a 560 millimetres (22 in) barrel, were manufactured by Československá zbrojovka Brno from Steyr spare parts.[11] In 1961, Chilean M1912 were upgraded with a 7.62×51mm NATO 600 millimetres (24 in) barrel, as Modelo 12/61.[12]

Users

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Chilean soldiers with M1912 rifles during the Great Military Parade of Chile in 2014.

References

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  1. ^ Ball 2011, p. 258.
  2. ^ a b Ball 2011, p. 79.
  3. ^ a b c Ball 2011, p. 261.
  4. ^ a b c Ball 2011, pp. 101–102.
  5. ^ a b c Ball 2011, p. 20.
  6. ^ a b Ball 2011, p. 76.
  7. ^ a b Ball 2011, p. 86.
  8. ^ de Quesada, Alejandro; Jowett, Philip (28 Feb 2006). The Mexican Revolution 1910–20. Elite 137. Osprey Publishing. p. 14. ISBN 9781841769899.
  9. ^ Ball 2011, p. 112.
  10. ^ a b c Ball 2011, p. 161.
  11. ^ Ball 2011, p. 123.
  12. ^ Ball 2011, p. 77.
  • Ball, Robert W. D. (2011). Mauser Military Rifles of the World. Iola: Gun Digest Books. ISBN 9781440228926.

See also

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