IDWizard.htm

If you are new to this site and trying to identify a particular rifle, please give the IDWizard a try before you e-mail me. If you can't figure out what you have with the help of the IDWizard, then please let me know and I'll 1. Help you out and 2. I'll want to know why the IDWizard didn't work!! Thanks!! :) Keith Doyon

**UNKNOWN RIFLE IDENTIFICATION WIZARD**
(the IDWizardTM)

(For Non-US, Black Powder Metallic Cartridge, Standard Issue, Military Rifles)
(not for US, not for carbines, not for experimental or test pieces, not trainers etc., only the above.)

To Use:
1. Answer the questions by clicking on the apopropriate highlighted responses.
2. The screen will shift.
3. When the screen shifts, answer the question at the very top of the
fresh screen to get the next question.
4. Suggested possibilities will appear beginning at the top of the screen

First Question: Is the rifle a bolt action?
YES NO

Bolt Action Rifles:

Is the rifle a conventional TURNING BOLT action type or STRAIGHT PULL bolt?

Is the rifle a REPEATER or a SINGLE SHOT?

Is the rifle a BOX Magazine or a TUBULAR magazine?

If a tubular magazine bolt action, Is it a SMALL BORE, that is, chambered in 8mm (about .30 caliber) or LARGE BORE, that is, chambered in 10-11mm (about .41-.43 Cal)?

If it's a Large Bore, (chambered in 10-11mm, about .41-.43 Cal), tubular magazine, bolt action repeater, is there a MAUSER TYPE WING SAFETY LEVER that flips sideways on the back of the bolt? YES NO

Does the cartridge elevator (inside the receiver) pivot at the rear to flip a cartridge up into position to be loaded? Or does the elevator lift the cartridge vertically without pivoting?
PIVOTS LIFTS VERTICALLY

If the rifle is NOT a bolt action:

Is the rifle a REMINGTON ROLLING BLOCK type action?
YES NO

Is the rifle a PIVOTING/DROPPING BREECH BLOCK design where the breech block pivots down at the front on a rear cross pin through the top back of the breech block??
YES NO

Does it have an EXPOSED HAMMER on the side;   is it a HAMMERLESS design;
                Exposed:                          Hammerless:
                                 (Peabody)                                                   (Martini)

Or does the action have a strange "second trigger" facing the main firing trigger?
-
BAVARIAN WERDER

Does the Breech Block lower vertically when the under lever is actuated? YES NO

Does the breech block lift up, either forwared, backward or over to the side to load the cartridge?

YES (either up and forwared, up and back or over to the side)

NO (no, breach block doesn't lift up to open)

If the breech block lifts up and pivots to load the cartridge;

Does the breech block lift forward over the barrel? FORWARD

Does the breech block pivot sideways, off to the right side? TO THE RIGHT

Does the breech block pivot sideways off to the left? TO THE LEFT

Does the breech block pivot up and backwards by means of a side mounted lever?

UP AND BACK

OK ....... Is it None of the Above??? NONE OF THE ABOVE

BOLT ACTION - STRAIGHT PULL: Mannlichers

Austria M1886 Mannlicher (11.15x58R) (11mm, large bore)

M1888 Mannlicher (8x50R) (8mm, small bore)

CONVENTIONAL TURNING BOLT ACTION SINGLE SHOT RIFLES:

M1880 Berdan II

(see Russian Berdan II below)

(short little bolt handle that closes only at a 45 degree angle)

France M1866/74; M1874; & M.80 (Mod.) Gras (11x59R)
(Marked: Mle.1866-74 or Mle.1874 on left receiver flat)

Germany Mod. 71 Mauser (11.15x60R)
(marked "I.G. Mod. 71." in gothic letters)

Greece M1874(?) Gras (11x59R)
(made by Styer and so marked)

Holland M1871 Beaumont (11.3x51R)
(fat round 2-piece bolt with big screw in the front)

Italy M1870 Vetterli (10.4x47R)
(bulbous bolt assembly with back of striker sticking out back of the bolt)

Japan         Murata Meiji 13 (M1880) (11x60R)
                  Murata Meiji 18 (M1885) (11x60R)
                  (obvious Japanese markings along left side of receiver)

Norway-Sweden M1879? Jarmann (10.5x61R)
(breech is split in two sections, bolt closes between sections)

Russia M1871 Berdan II (10.75x58R)
(short little bolt handle that closes only at a 45 degree angle)

Serbia          M1878/80 Mauser-Milovanovitch (10.15x63R)
                    (a Mauser M1871 but with a support rail to support the open bolt.
                          I'd very much like to buy one.)

BOX MAGAZINE TURNING BOLT ACTION REPEATING RIFLES:

Britain Lee-Metford Mark I (.303)

Holland M1871/88 Beaumont-Vitali (11x52R)

Italy M1870/87 Vetterli-Vitali (10.4x47R)
M1890 Vetterli-Ferracciu (10.4x47R) (Naval Vetterli)

TUBULAR MAGAZINE TURNING BOLT REPEATING RIFLES:
Small bore (8mm) Tubular magazine types:

Portugal M1886 Mauser-Kropatchek (8x60R)

Japan Murata Meiji 22 (M1889) (8x53R) (Type A and Type B)

TUBULAR MAGAZINE TURNING BOLT REPEATING RIFLES:
Large bore (10-11mm) tubular magazine types -- Kropatcheks:

Austria       M1881 Kropatchek Naval (11x58R)
France       M1878 Kropatchek (11x59R) (Styer Naval Model)
              M1884 Kropatchek (11x59R) (Fr. Army)
              M1885 & M1874/85 Kropatchek (11x59R) (2 piece stock)
Greece      M1878 Kropatchek (11x59R)
Norway-Sweden     M1879 & M1881; M1884 & M1884/87 Jarmann (10.5x61R)
Portugal     M1878? M1881? Naval Kropatchek (11x59R) (Styer Naval Model)

TUBULAR MAGAZINE TURNING BOLT REPEATING RIFLES:
Large bore (10-11mm) tubular magazine Mausers:

Germany     M71/84 Mauser (11.15x60R)
Serbia         M1880/87 Mauser-Milovanovitch (10.15x63R)
Turkey        M1887 Mauser (9.5x60R)

TUBULAR MAGAZINE TURNING BOLT REPEATING RIFLES:
Large bore (10-11mm) Tubular magazine types -- Vetterli

Italy M1890 Vetterli-Bertolo (10.4x47R) (Naval Marine Vetterli)
Switzerland M1869, M1869/71, M1878 & M1881 Vetterli (10.4x38R) RF

REMINGTONS ROLLING BLOCK RIFLES:

Argentina     M1866/71 Remington (11.15x58R)
                 M1866/75 Remington (11.15x58R)
                 M1879 Remington (Patria) (11.15x58R)
                 (Marked "Modelo Argentino 1879" on knoxform)
Denmark       M1867/96 Remington (11.7x51R) RF/CF
                        (most are stamped M-1867 on left receiver; cartridge indicator lever
                                on breech block, very very long ladder rear sight)
Egypt           M1869 Remington (11.3x50R)
                    (usually covered in Egyptian script unit markings on top of receiver
                             and rear top of barrel)
Luxemburg       M18__ Remington (11x53R), (Comblain Cartridge)
Norway & Sweden M1860/68 Norwegian Remington (12.7x44R) RF
                    M1867 Norwegian Remington (12.7x44) RF & CF
                           M1867 Swedish Remington (12.7x44) RF & CF
                    (large calibre (about .50-70 US), very long musket; often, pivot pins
                                    are held with retainer screws on the Scandanavian made
                                    rifles rather than a Remington type cross spanner.)
Papal States      M1868 Remington (12.7x45R)
                  (Liege proofs; "Crossed Keys under Papal tiara" proof.
Spain           M1871 Remington (11.15x58R)
              M1871 & 1871/89 Remington (Oviedo) (11.5x57Reformado)
                 (Left Receiver marked AR.O. below a crown above the Mfg date;
                               ("AlfonsoRegis," Alfonso Monarch, and "Oviedo"))
Uruguay     M1870 Remington (Liege)
                 Liege proof markings, crossed cannon, "Republica Oriental" on top of the barrel
                         Maker marks: "A Francotte"
                         (some military academy rifles marked: "Colegio Militar"

DROPPING BREECH BLOCK DESIGNS:
Block is hindged at the top rear (Peabody patent)
Exposed hammer (attached at sideplate; i.e., Peabodys)

Canada          M1866 Canadian Peabody (.50-60R) RF
Serbia              M1871 Peabody (15.5x35R) CF
Switzerland     M1867 Peabody (10.4x38R) RF
Romania         M1868 Romanian Peabody
Spain             M1868 Spanish "Colonial" Peabody

M1870 Spanish Model Peabody

DROPPING BREECH BLOCK DESIGNS:
Block is hindged at the top rear (Peabody patent)
Hammer Hidden in block (Martini's Patent, Westley Patent)

Britain        Martini-Henry (Mark I - Mark IV) (.577-.450)
                     (Marked with Crown, V.R., Enfield etc on the right side of the receiver.)
Nepal         M1905 Peabody-Wessley-Henry / Westley Richards (.577-450)
                   (profusely marked in Nepalese)
Romania     M1878 Peabody-Martini-Henry (11.43x60R)
                   (Difficult to tell from the British, but carries Steyr Markings)
South Africa M1895(?) Westly-Richards (Made for Z.A.R.) (.577-.450)
                        (Marked "MADE SPECIALLY FOR Z.A.R. on the right side of the receiver,
                                and Westly Richards below a triangle on the left side.)
Turkey       M1872 Peabody-Martini (11.3x59R) (Type A and Type B)
                      ("PEABODY & MARTINI PATENTS, MAN'FED BY PROVIDENCE TOOL
                            CO. PROV. R.I. U.S.A." and a Turkish serial number and Turkish crest on the
                            right side of the receiver. )

DROPPING BREECH BLOCK DESIGNS:
Block is hindged at the top rear (Peabody & Peabody-Martini types)
Miscellaneous hammer Dropping Block design: Werder Patent

Bavaria M1869 & M1869 "Aptiertes Model" Werder (11.5x50R)
M1869 n.M. Werder (11.15x60R)

MISCELLANEOUS DROPPING BLOCK DESIGNS:
Block Lowers via Under Lever Trigger Guard -- Comblains

Belgium     M1870 & M1882 Belgian Comblain (11x53R)
Brazil         M1873 Brazilian Comblain (11.4x50R)
Chile          M1874? Chilean Comblain (11.__x__R)

Block Lowers via Under Lever -- Miscellaneous

Australia - (New South Wales) M1871? Alexander Henry

Greece         M1872 Mylonas (11x59R) (Gras Cartridge)
Portugal          M1885 Guedes (8x60R)
South Africa    M1885 Guedes (Z.A.R.) (8x60R) (Linked Under Portugal)

LIFTING BREECH BLOCK DESIGNS:
Forward Lifting (like a "Trapdoor" Springfield) Berdan, Albini, Milbank;

Austria         M1866 Wanzl (13.9x33R) RF
                            (over .50 cal, big paddle of a breach block lifting lever integral with the block)
Belgium       M1777/1868 Terssen (11.53x50R)
             (lifting lever is large, hole in it and rotates anti-clockwise to unlock)
              M841/53/67 Albini-Braendlin (11.53x50R)
             (lifting knob is small, round and on the right. Hammer connected to
                            striker that passes longitudinally through the bolt).
Italy           M1868 Albini (14.7x51) (Naval Albini)
Russia       M1868(?) Albini-Baranov (??x??)
Spain           M1859/67 & M1867 Berdan (15x41R)
               (the breach block is held onto the barrel by a top mounted rotating cam screw)
Switzerland M1842/59/67 Milbank-Amsler (18x25R) RF
    M1851/67; M1856/67; M1863/67; M1864/67 Milbank-Amsler (10.4x38R) RF
    (2-piece breach block assembly that jams against the rear of the receiver to lock closed.)
USA         M1865; M1866; M1868 Springfield (.50-70Govt.)
             M1873 to M1888 Springfield (.45-70Govt.)

LIFTING BREECH BLOCK DESIGNS: Side Lifting - The Snider Variants
(open to the right)

Britain         Snider-Enfield(Mark I - Mark III) (.577)
Denmark     M1854/65 Snider (17x28R) RF
Egypt?         M1866? Egyptian Snider? (.577?)
France         M1853/67 Tabatiere (17.8x32-38R) (4 types),
                    also M1859/67 Carabine de Chasseur 'a Tabatiere 18.2mmx32-38R)
Holland       M1869 Dutch Snider (17.5x29R)
Nepal          M18     Nepalese Snider Enfield (.577)
Turkey         M1866? Snider (.577) ?