There are two theories for the origin of the parts:ġ. Greek Mannlicher-Schönauer Model 7 Infantry Rifleīetween 1927-30 Societa Italiano Ernesto Breda, Brescia, Italy assembled about 100,000 rifles and 10,000 carbines for Elleniki Demokratia (Post WW1 Greek Republic). Length, 525mm barrel length, 3.58kg weight. Greek Mannlicher-Schönauer Model 1903/14 CarbineĪ Carbine version was also manufactured with similar features, except the sling swivels were on the left side of the butt and barrel band.
#1903 MANNLICHER SCHOENAUER RIFLE FULL#
Length or 400mm blade and 521mm full length. Old Greek Gras bayonets were altered to fit the M1903. M1903 knife bayonets were made by Steyr and FN Belgium. Greek proofmarks, St.George killing a dragon Tangent leaf front sight is graduated 200-2000 meters After WW1 some of these rifles were forwarded to Greece as war reparations. Millions of freshly madeĪmmo was also commandeered, and ammo production continued until the end of WW1. These Greek Contract rifles intended to the Basileos Stratos (Royal Army) were sequestered and issued to their troops by Austro-Hungary in 1914. Grasping groves simplified, Stacking hook added. The 1903/14 is a modification of the 1903 model: Greek Crest added, Full length handguard added, (Note, handguard is missing from the rifle pictured above),
Receiver markings: M1903 on the left, M1903/14 on the right. Muzzle Velocity: 680m/sec with M1903 ball cartridge
Made by Österreichische Waffenfabriks-Gesellschaft, Steyr, 1914 Greek Mannlicher-Schoenauer Model 1903/14 Infantry Rifle The civilian version of this design remained in production almost continuously through the start of WW2, and resumed between 19.Greek Mannlicher-Schoenauer Rifle Austro-Hungarian Weapons They were popular with hunters across Europe and North America. These rifles were also sold to the civilian market beginning in 1903. After the war, they saw action in the 1946-1949 Greek Civil War. In 1941, Lieutenant Rigas Rigopoulos submitted a redesign of the Y1903 to improve firing performance it was approved by the Greek military, but production would never take place due to German occupation. A great number of them saw action during the Italian and German invasions of Greece during WW2. In 1930, an additional 25,000 weapons (Y0), all carbines, were ordered from Steyr of Austria. From 1927, Greece purchased an additional 105,000 Mannlicher–Schönauer rifles (designated Y7) from Breda of Italy, which had taken the design from the defeated Austria-Hungary, to replenish the great losses incurred in its war with Turkey. In 1914, Greece signed another contract for 50,000 rifles these would be designated as Y1903/14. However, due to war demands, a small number of them would indeed be used by Austrian troops during WW1.
Despite these Mannlicher–Schönauer rifles being of high quality, the high cost and the unusual caliber meant their home country of Austria-Hungary, and in fact no other powers except for Greece, would purchase them. In 1903, the Greek Army reached a deal for what it had designated as the Model 1903 (Y1903) rifles, purchasing both the long rifle and short carbine versions of the weapon, at the quantity of 130,000 across both versions. This innovative design was introduced to the public at the World Fair in Paris, France in 1900. Peter Chen ww2dbaseMannlicher–Schönauer bolt-action rifles were designed by Otto Schönauer (rotary magazine) and Ferdinand Mannlicher (rifle action) in the late 1890s. Mannlicher-Schönauer M1903 Rifle Country of OriginĬontributor: C.