1886 Steyr Cavalry Carbine

Big thank you to Pzjgr for finding this one for me! I’m at work Saturday and Mike gives me a heads up on an 1886 Steyr walking around the show, and asks if I would be interested. I said probably not right now unless it happens to be one of the short rifles, well it wasn’t, but in talking to the gentleman, he just so happened to have one “with a bent bolt” in the trunk of his car, okay, now you’ve got my attention. I always thought the short carbine was a very neat version so I’m very happy to have this!

There is just not a lot of info out there on these, so I’m hoping someone may have some insight on it. It appears appropriately 4K were made, with most or all? having been reworked. The bolt doesn’t match, nor do the barrel bands, which seems to be a rather common occurrence on them from the limited examples I’ve been able to look at. All I have seen appear sanded, which after seeing this one in hand seems to have been done at the time of rework, if you notice the weak stock markings over the majority of the rifle, but flipping it over the keel shows a smattering of sharp inspections. Mike was able to determine they were reworked from their original configuration by eliminating both the lower and upper sling swivels, you’ll notice the lower is filled in. Beyond that we weren’t able to figure out a whole lot of anything on these, so I’m hoping someone else knows about them.

One comparison shot for relative size

All I know is this is pretty freaking cool.. I know next to nothing about them, only what is in John Walter's book... I will ask SamN whether he can add to the discussion regarding the carbine. He is the foremost ÖWG collector I know of, especially anything pre-1919.

Yeah, this one was hard to let go, it is so damned cool...but I am glad Clay has it...at least I can visit it.

The first gun the guy had was the Infantry Carbine version, slightly longer than this, not as long as the rifle, straight bolt. BUT it was all matching, and unsanded...I may have to call him up and snag that one, unless Clay is going to build a collection of all three variants!

He also has about 10 other "old military rifles" he is looking to sell. We had a nice talk, and he likes the idea of selling them to someone who really loves this old crap...I told him Clay and I are those guys. I am hoping a matching G29/40 is in the pile...

We are hoping to visit hi next week...

ETA I thought it was cool the gun is s/n 704, early gun!

I did not know they were that hard to find . I have one each of the long , med and short . I picked them up about 20 years ago , all three with in a month of each other . I have not had them out in a long time , have been meaning to try some " new " bullets that were not around the last time I shot them .

I'll say it again Clay-- pretty freaking cool! Glad you got it. I know next to nothing about these, but they look great.

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Nice carbine, didn't know they were so rare. Is that thing semi smokeless or black powder?

Loewe said:

All I know is this is pretty freaking cool.. I know next to nothing about them, only what is in John Walter's book

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Thanks for breaking that ice. I see someone else has also. I wanted to comment but don't know anything about these. I like the comparison photo showing the size and style vs. other rifles. Thanks for sharing and I look forward to further discussion!

No clue on the powder, that’s why I posted it here looking for info. I was always under the impression the production figures were low for this model, the longer ones not so much, or do you believe I’m mistaken in that?

flynaked said:

No clue on the powder, that’s why I posted it here looking for info. I was always under the impression the production figures were low for this model, the longer ones not so much, or do you believe I’m mistaken in that?

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Like we discussed, from what little I could find, the production figures for these were between 4,000 and 4,500....like I said, not much out there on them, it seems...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZcNCvwIc9RM

Thought I remembered seeing a video on one a while back.

Cool thanks! Sounds like smokeless it is.

The ammo was first a compressed blackpowder , but was changed to a " semi-smokeless " very quickly and all later loading were smokeless . All of the shooting I did was with lighter smokeless powder loads . I am not saying that they are not rare , just that I found all three without even looking for them .

That’s how it goes sometimes, you just never know what you’ll find and when. I found three 98b’s this month alone for instance, they are starting to feel easy haha

Watched the video , one of my favorite " experts " . He mispronounces all the words . Most of his info he just makes up . He has no idea how to load for most of the rifles . He does say he is confused a lot , which is true . His videos about Gew-88's are a joke , about everything he says is wrong , some even contradicts what he just said . One of the major sources of gun misinformation on youtube , and there is a lot on youtube . Also the first cartridge was the 8x60 for the blackpowder , shortened to 56 for smokeless as the did not need the extra capacity .

Agreed, and most every other forum out there, I just tried to find some info on a .22 and couldn’t believe the crap information out there, got fed up and ran back to this forum, this place is definitely special

I am going to bump this and see of Paul found out any other info on this from SamN…

There is next to nothing I can find on this on the web...

It appears it was arsenal modified by either Portugal or someone who bought it from them. It appears all the Port guns were delivered with sling swivels on the bottom.

This one has had its bottom swivel on the but removed, and the inlet filled in. Moved to the left bole side, well inlet and professionally done. The rear band had its bottom mounted swivel removed, and the band either modified (although it doesn't look like the side swivel loop was added, if it was, it was very well done, no sign of welding, contours smooth) or a new type of band with a side mounted sling bar added.

And I have no idea what the purpose of the big a$$ lug added to the stock is, unless maybe some sort of securing lug for a strap if carbine is put it a saddle scabbard or something.

I am at a loss on this thing!

Sam did get back with me, I will check the email tomorrow. It wasn't deep reflection though, just some basic facts. Sam is busy with a great book that is nearing finishing. It will be a must-have for Steyr collectors, - Sam is the go-to guy on all things ÖWG and Steyr-Werke.

Loewe said:

Sam did get back with me, I will check the email tomorrow. It wasn't deep reflection though, just some basic facts. Sam is busy with a great book that is nearing finishing. It will be a must-have for Steyr collectors, - Sam is the go-to guy on all things ÖWG and Steyr-Werke.

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Thanks Paul, it is appreciated...I guess my biggest question that may or may not be answered ever is who did the conversion to side mounted swivels...I will be looking forward to the book. I'll have to look through my library and see if I have anything that covers these at all. Internet research seems to be very slim pickings, at least for the carbine variant...