The Mannlicher Model 1886, 1888, 1890, and 1895.In 1886 many world powers were beginning to adopt bo

The Mannlicher Model 1886, 1888, 1890, and 1895.In 1886 many world powers were beginning to adopt bolt action repeating rifles to replace their older single shot breech loaders.  In the Austro-Hungarian Empire a gun designer named Ferdinand Von Mannlicher.  Unlike the many Mauser and competing design which used a turn bolt system, Mannlicher designed a new action which was a straight pull, like the Rubin Schmidt rifles of Switzerland.  This mean’t that the user only needed to work the action forward and back to load a new round from the magazine and eject an empty cartridge.The first Mannlicher design was the Model 1886, which was chambered for a large 11mm cartridge.  The new rifle performed well in Austro-Hungarian field trials, especially against the older Werndl single shot breechloader.  Along with the straight pull action the Mannlicher rifle used an en bloc clip, one of the first rifles in history to do so.  This mean’t the user inserted his five rounds clip and all into the magazine.  Once empty the clip would be automatically ejected, allowing the rifle to be loaded with a new clip.  The Austro-Hungarian Army immediately adopted the design, which became very popular with the troops.  The straight pull design and en bloc clip loading system gave the Mannlicher a firing rate that was much faster than the average late 19th century bolt action rifle.  As a result, soldiers nicknamed the Mannlicher the “ruck-zuck” (right now, very quick).  Two years later the M1888 was introduced.  At the time smaller caliber high velocity rounds were becoming more popular, thus the M1888 was chambered for an 8x50R cartridge.  Two years later the Austro-Hungarian Army switched to smokeless powder, leading to the development of the M1890.  Older M1888’s were also converted to smokeless, but used an 8X52R cartridge and were designated M88-90.  A large number of M1886’s were also rechambered for 8x50R smokeless, and where designated M86-90.The last major Mannlicher straight pull model was the M1895, which was refinement of all older designs.  They were primarily produced in 8x50R, but was also manufactured in a wide variety of calibers.  The Mannlicher rifle would serve the Austro-Hungarian Army throughout World War I.  After the breakup of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the supply of Mannlicher rifles was divided up among Austria, Hungary, Yugoslavia, and a number of Balkan states.  The Mannlicher saw service with many nations during World War II as well.  Even the Germans used it, rechambering them for 8x57 Mauser.  Today Mannlichers are highly sought by both antiques collectors, target shooters, and hunters. -- source link

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