Portuguese m1886 Espingarda de Infantaria Kropatschek rifle. 8mm rimmed cartridge. Steyr, [Austria: Österreichische Waffenfabriksgesellschaft], 1886. Serial number FF691 to stock, FF421 to receiver and barrel.

Receiver marked "Œ. W. F. G. Steyr / 1886" and "M1886," with a depiction of the Portuguese crown and letters "L.I." for King Luis I between. Serial number and a Royal cypher in a circle clearly stamped to buttstock and, to the opposite, a circular mark reading "* M 1[886] * / Œ / W.G. / Steyr 1886."  Another small depiction of the crown to the top of the barrel behind the rear sight. Barrel 31 1/4 in. Overall 52 in. long.

WITH Portuguese m1885 sword bayonet in scabbard. Steyr, [Austria: Österreichische Waffenfabriksgesellschaft], 1886. Stamped with an Order of Aviz cross to ricasso and inscribed "Steyr 1886" to spine. Blade 18 1/2 in., overall 24 1/8 in. long. 

Significant original bluing is retained on the rifle's receiver, and to a lesser extent, bands. The buttplate exhibits extensive pitting and rust, and the barrel presents a dark patina, but the metal elements are otherwise overall clean with light, scattered pitting throughout. There is light wear to the stock. 

The m1886 was produced for the Portuguese as a repeating alternative to the unadopted m1885 Guedes-Castro, but, in an age of rapid firearms innovation, even these replacements quickly slipped into obsolescence.

Though modified m1886 rifles, widely used in Portugal's African colonies during the First World War, featured a hand guard and a recalibrated sight for smokeless powder cartridges, this early model underwent no such conversion. 

Note: This lot cannot be packaged and shipped in-house. Successful bidders winning items marked as being packaged and shipped by a third-party service are responsible for paying the third party directly. We are happy to offer complimentary drop-off service to local third-party packing/shipping companies in Columbus, Ohio.

[World War I, WWI, The Great War, First World War] [Guns, Firearms, Revolvers, Rifles, Longarms, Handguns, Arms & Armor]