Identifying A Rechambered Austrian Werndl: What To Look For

The Austrian Werndl is a single-shot breechloading rifle that was adopted by the Austro-Hungarian Army in 1867. It was designed by Josef Werndl and Karel Holub, who patented the rifle, and produced by OEWG (Österreichische Waffenfabriksgesellschaft). Initially chambered for the 11mm scharfe Patrone M.67 (11.15×42mmR) cartridge, the Werndl was rechambered for the bottleneck 11mm scharfe Patrone M.77 (11.15×58mmR) cartridge by the military in 1877. This model had a long life and was used by a significant number of nations worldwide, with examples still being found as late as World War I. So, how can you tell if an Austrian Werndl has been rechambered?

The M1867 Werndl-Holub was the predecessor to the Austrian Werndl

The M1867 Werndl-Holub was a single-shot breechloading rifle adopted by the Austro-Hungarian army on 28 July 1867. It replaced the Wänzl breechloader conversion of the muzzle-loading Lorenz rifle. The rifle was designed and patented by Josef Werndl (1831-1889) and Karel Holub (1830-1903); Werndl later bought out all the rights, but was involved in name only.

OEWG (Österreichische Waffenfabriksgesellschaft) produced the Werndl and chambered it for the 11mm scharfe Patrone M.67 (11.15×42mmR) cartridge. In 1867, the army ordered 611,000 of the new rifles. The first batch of 100,000 rifles cost 5 million florins, or 50 florins per rifle. The army received 14 million florins in funding to acquire Werndl rifles and ammunition in 1868. The budget was then cut to just 1 million in 1869. As a result, by November 1870, only 316,650 Werndl breechloaders had been produced and the army still needed an additional 302,810 rifles to fulfil the needs of the regular troops, without taking into account the demands of the Imperial-Royal Landwehr and the Royal Hungarian Honvéd.

In 1877, the military rechambered the Werndl for the bottleneck 11mm scharfe Patrone M.77 (11.15×58mmR) cartridge. The M.77 cartridge was a completely different and more modern cartridge from the M.67. It featured a 58mm long case loaded with 77.5 grains of compressed black powder beneath a 372-grain, paper-patched, lead bullet producing a muzzle velocity of 440 m/sec (1445 fps).

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.

The hammer was moved from the outside to the inside of the lock plate in 1873

The Austrian Werndl is a single-shot breechloading rifle that was adopted by the Austro-Hungarian Army in 1867. It was designed by Josef Werndl and Karel Holub, and produced by OEWG (Österreichische Waffenfabriksgesellschaft). The hammer was moved from the outside to the inside of the lock plate in 1873.

The lock of a firearm is the mechanism used to initiate firing. Side-lock refers to the type of construction in which the individual components of the mechanism are mounted on either side of a single plate. This plate is then mounted to the stock on the side of the firearm. The hammer is a critical component of the lock mechanism, as it strikes the firing pin or primer to discharge the firearm.

In 1873, the hammer of the Austrian Werndl was moved from the outside to the inside of the lock plate. This change improved the ergonomics and accuracy of the rifle. By having the hammer inside the lock plate, the risk of accidental discharge was reduced, and the firearm became safer to handle. Additionally, this modification allowed for a more streamlined design, making the rifle easier to aim and manoeuvre.

The relocation of the hammer also had implications for the lock plate itself. The plate became more compact and integrated into the overall design of the rifle. This change enhanced the balance and weight distribution of the firearm, making it more comfortable to shoulder and aim. Furthermore, the modified lock plate provided additional protection for the hammer mechanism, reducing the likelihood of damage during transport or combat.

It is important to note that the Austrian Werndl rifle underwent several design changes throughout its service. The modifications made in 1873, including the relocation of the hammer, contributed to the rifle's improved performance and usability. These changes also ensured that the rifle remained a reliable and effective weapon for the Austro-Hungarian Army, even as firearms technology continued to evolve.

The Austrian Werndl was rechambered in 1877 for a new cartridge

In 1877, the military rechambered the Werndl for the bottleneck 11mm scharfe Patrone M.77 (11.15×58mmR) cartridge. The M1877 cartridge was a significant improvement over the M1867 cartridge. It featured a longer and larger bottleneck cartridge, substantially copied from the French M1874 Gras cartridge. The M1877 cartridge had a rimmed, bottlenecked case and was loaded with 77.5 grains of compressed black powder, topped with a 372-grain, paper-patched lead bullet, producing a muzzle velocity of 1445 fps.

The extensive field use of the M1867 Werndl infantry rifle highlighted certain operating defects in the original design. The nature of the drum breech made it susceptible to powder fouling, which interfered with its rotation and caused jamming. The rear sight leaves were vulnerable to breakage, and the stock regularly cracked in the thin area between the lock plate and the receiver.

The M1873 Werndl, an improvement on the M1867, addressed these issues. The hammer was relocated to pivot inside the wrist of the rifle, and the receiver sides were flattened, strengthening the wrist portion of the stock. The breechblock rotating lever was redesigned to turn up when closed, making it more convenient to operate. The M1873 also featured improved barrel bedding, with a dual screw and spring-retained front barrel band that also supported the cleaning rod more fully.

Both the M1873 and the earlier M1867 Werndls were upgraded to M1877 standards by rechambering to accept the 11.15x58R M.77 cartridge and fitting the rifles with longer-range sights. Improvements in cartridge propellant in the 1880s led to another increase in the maximum range of graduations to 2,200 paces (1,700 m; 1,855 yds).

The Austrian Werndl was obsolete by World War I but was still issued to rear-echelon units

The M1867 Werndl–Holub was a single-shot breechloading rifle that the Austro-Hungarian Army adopted in 1867. It replaced the Wänzl/Wanzl breechloader conversion of the muzzle-loading Lorenz rifle. OEWG (Österreichische Waffenfabriksgesellschaft) produced the Werndl and initially chambered it for the 11mm scharfe Patrone M.67 (11.15×42mmR) cartridge.

In 1877, the military rechambered the Werndl for the bottleneck 11mm scharfe Patrone M.77 (11.15×58mmR) cartridge. Despite this upgrade, by World War I, the Werndl rifle was considered obsolete. However, due to equipment shortages, the Austro-Hungarian forces still issued these rifles to rear-echelon units, freeing up more modern rifles for front-line troops.

The M1867 Werndl–Holub was designed and patented by Josef Werndl (1831-1889) and Karel Holub (1830-1903). While Werndl bought out all the rights, he was only involved in name. The Austro-Hungarian Army ordered 611,000 of these rifles initially, with the first batch of 100,000 rifles costing 5 million florins, or 50 florins per rifle. However, budget cuts in subsequent years slowed down production, and by November 1870, the army had only received 316,650 rifles, facing a significant shortage.

In February 1873, the war minister, Franz Kuhn von Kuhnenfeld, stated that the army needed an additional 370,000 Werndl rifles. This demand highlights the ongoing need for rifles like the Werndl, even as newer models were introduced. Despite its obsolescence by World War I, the Werndl rifle played a role in rear-echelon units, ensuring that front-line troops had access to more modern equipment.

The M1873 Werndl is far rarer than the M1867

The M1873 has a turned-up breechblock lever, and its hammer is shaped differently and now pivots within the wrist of the stock rather than on an exterior-mounted back-action lockplate. The hammer is thus located more directly behind the receiver. The sides of the receiver itself are flattened and cleanly inletted into the sides of the stock. This does away with the most common fault of the M1867, which is that the right-side stock cracks between the lockplate and receiver.

The M1873 Werndl rifle was developed by OEWG (Österreichische Waffenfabriksgesellschaft) to address various operating defects of the original M1867 design. The nature of the drum breech made it susceptible to powder fouling, interfering with its rotation and causing it to jam. The rear sight leaves of the M1867 were vulnerable to breakage, and the stock regularly cracked in the thin area between the lock plate and the receiver.

The M1873 was an improved version of the M1867, most noticeably with regard to the relocation of its hammer. The breechblock rotating lever was redesigned so that it turns up when closed to make it more convenient to operate and handle, and the extractor was improved. The sight base and sight leaf were also strengthened, and barrel bedding was improved by substituting a dual screw and spring-retained front barrel band for the earlier simple nosecap.

The M1873 was an upgraded version of the M1867, and it is this distinction that makes the M1873 rarer than its predecessor.

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