Werndl–Holub rifle

M1867 Werndl–Holub
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Type	Service rifle
Place of origin	Austria-Hungary
Service history
In service	1867–1918
Used by	Austria-Hungary Montenegro Persia Argentina (limited use)
Wars	Herzegovina uprising (1882) Balkan Wars World War I (limited)
Production history
Designer	Josef Werndl and Karel Holub
Designed	1860s
Manufacturer	Steyr
Produced	1867–1888
Number built	500,000 (approx.)
Variants	M1873 M67/77 M73/77 Extra-Corps Carbine Finance-Gewehr Carbine Cavalry Carbine
Specifications
Weight	9.65 lb (4.4 kg)
Length	50.4 in (128.0 cm)
Barrel length	33.3 in (84.6 cm)
Cartridge	11.15×42mmR (M1867) 11×58mmR (1877 Upgrade)
Caliber	11.15 mm
Action	Rotating drum bolt
Feed system	Single-shot breech-loading
Sights	Iron sights

The M1867 Werndl–Holub was a single-shot breechloading rifle that the Austro-Hungarian army adopted in 1867. It replaced the Wanzl breechloader conversion of the muzzle-loading Lorenz rifle. Josef Werndl (1831–1889) and Karel Holub (1830–1903) designed and patented their design; Werndl later bought out all the rights.

File:Wanzlbazaar.jpg

The unique breechloading system of the Werndl.

File:Werndl-Holub M1877 bayonet and scabbard.jpg

M1877 bayonet and scabbard.

ŒWG (Österreichische Waffenfabriksgesellschaft) produced the Werndl and chambered it for the 11mm scharfe Patrone M.67 (11.15×42R) cartridge. In 1877 the military rechambered the Werndl for the bottleneck 11mm scharfe Patrone M.77 (11.15×58mmR) cartridge.

In spite of the Werndl being long obsolete by World War I, the Austro-Hungarian forces issued Werndl rifles to rear-echelon units to free up more modern rifles for use by front-line troops.

See also

• Weapons of the Austro-Hungarian Empire
• Mannlicher M1886 – the next Austro-Hungarian service rifle