GunLab (KnownHost) » Werndl rifle https://gunlab.net Adventures in gun building! Fri, 03 Apr 2026 17:06:41 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=4.1.41 Werndl model 67 rifle https://gunlab.net/werndl-model-67-rifle/ https://gunlab.net/werndl-model-67-rifle/#comments Wed, 05 Oct 2016 08:00:37 +0000 http://gunlab.net/?p=5457 During the Austrian Prussian in 1866 the Austrians took a heck of a beating from the Prussians due to the Dreyese needle gun. The Austrians were still using the excellently designed muzzle loading model 1854 Lorenz rifle. While at the peak of muzzle loading rifle development it was no match against the faster firing Dreyese [...]]]> During the Austrian Prussian in 1866 the Austrians took a heck of a beating from the Prussians due to the Dreyese needle gun. The Austrians were still using the excellently designed muzzle loading model 1854 Lorenz rifle. While at the peak of muzzle loading rifle development it was no match against the faster firing Dreyese rifle.

The Austrians decided to adopt a breach loading metallic cartridge rifle. What came about is the Werndl rifle. This weapon shown here today is a M1867 Jeager, light infantry, rifle. The rifle was design by Karel Holub and with Josef Werndl, the director of the Steyrwerks, made the rifle.

This interesting rifle uses a rotating drum action breech.

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dsc_1773csTop view of the drum.

dsc_1768sThe drum is rotated to load a cartridge.

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dsc_1771sThe extractor is actuated when the drum is pushed all the way down.

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dsc_1774sNot the metal pistol grip

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dsc_1761sBrass butt plate

dsc_1762sbayonet support

dsc_1763csThey were numbered to the rifle

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On February 18,1868 the United States patent office granted a patent to J. Werndl , No. 74,737.

This the US patent for the rifle.

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This is a great color plate of the Werndl, from the book listed below.

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scan0003csYou can find this book at Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Experiment-Trial-Prototypes-International-Military/dp/B00BN6VF3Q/ref=sr_1_12?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1458488593&sr=1-12&keywords=Experiment+and+trial

scan0004_Page_1csThis is also available at Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/The-International-Arms-Review-1/dp/B001GNZZG4/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1458488670&sr=1-2&keywords=international+arms+review

scan0004_Page_2sAlso at Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/potpourri-single-shot-rifles-actions/dp/B0006F2FXY/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1458488764&sr=1-1&keywords=A+potpourri+of+single+shot+rifles+and+actions

scan0004_Page_3csThis book can be found on line at:

https://books.google.com/books?id=iyosAAAAYAAJ&pg=PP9&lpg=PP9&dq=ordnance+memoranda+no.+15&source=bl&ots=5DlK5DWDmP&sig=CCd54NdO95VPFbUIyZUijtqnnkE&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjUwYvE_6nJAhUH8j4KHfIrCAw4ChDoAQgjMAE#v=onepage&q=ordnance%20memoranda%20no.%2015&f=false

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