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M1878 French Naval Kropatschek   

(Fusil de Marine M1878)

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M1878 French Naval Kropatschek (Fusil de Marine M1878)

HISTORICAL CONTEXT

  The French Navy was slower to give up its Chassepot rifles, despite the challenges in maintaining linen combustible cartridges in humid corrosive conditions.  They tested out multiple repeating rifle systems along with the Kropatschek (American Hotchkiss Rifle & Norwegian Krag-Peterson), however it was the Kropatschek Rifle that earned the favor of the French Rifle Commission.  On June 30, 1878, the French Navy sanctioned the Kropatscheck rifle with the designation of Fusil Mle 1878-Marine.  

DEVELOPMENT

  For more information on the development of the M1878 Kropatschek rifle, please see the Austrian M1881 Kropatschek page.

GENERALLY

  This rifle, designed by Alfred von Kropatschek, was adopted by the French Navy to replace the Chasspot needle‑fire rifle, the immediate predecessor to the M1874 Gras. This was the first commercially successful Kropatschek. It incorporated the basic design of the Chasspot/Gras bolt and receiver system mated with a tubular magazine of Winchester configuration (which had been proven in a European military rifle, the M1869 Swiss Vetterli, which adopted a variation of the Winchester magazine).  Of interest is that the tube of the tubular magazine is made of brass rather than steel, and, like the Swiss Vetterli, housed the magazine completely within the wood of the forestock.

M1878 Naval Kropatschek (Fusil de Marine M1878)

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DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

  Very similar to the French Chasspot and Gras, it is a repeater with a magazine cut‑off hidden by the bolt handle when the bolt is closed (c.f., M1884 Kropatschek).  The rifle has two barrel bands and a comprehensive  nosecap that incorporates the barrel, forward end of the magazine tube, cleaning rod slot on the left side and bayonet stud on the right side.  The cleaning rod channel is imbedded along the left side of the forestock, a techniques followed by the M1866 Portuguese Kropatschek, which was also manufactured by Steyr.

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Bolt open showing the magazine cut off lever. on French M1878 Kropatschek

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End cap on French M1878 Kropatschek

OPERATING MECHANISM

OM

  The French M1878 Kropatschek mechanism is identical to the M1881 Austrian Kropatschek, please view that section for more information.  The French M1884 Kropatschek is identical to the M1886 Portuguese Kropatschek, please review that page for more information.

M

MARKINGS

  The left side of the receiver flat is well marked in block letters “MANUFACTURE d’Mr DeWERNDL,” below which is the arsenal and place of manufacture, “Steyr-Autriche.” in very attractive script, to the right of which is the model identification, “Mle 1878 Marine” (French for “Naval”).  The year of manufacture also appears on the right side of the knoxform as well as the bolt parts.  Interestingly, and rather unusually for a rifle of this period, no provision was made for a cleaning rod.  The receiver is also Steyr marked (see photo below).

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SPECIFICATIONS, STATISTICS & DATA

M1878 Naval Kropatschek (Fusil de Marine M1878)

  • Overall Length:  1243 mm (48.95 in)

  • Weight, empty:  4350 grams (9.59 lbs)

  • Barrel Length: 665 mm (26.2 in)

  • Rifling:  4-groove; RH, concentric

  • Sight:  Ramp-and-leaf, graduated from up to 1,800 m (1,970 yds)

T

SHORT RIFLES, CARBINES & SPECIAL VERSIONS

None

B

BAYONET

M1878 épée bayonet

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CARTRIDGE

  Utilized the French M1874 Gras series of ammunition, please go to that page for more information.

MANUFACTURING DATA

  About 25,000 M1878 Naval Kropatscheks are believed to have been manufactured by Österreichische Waffenfabriks-Gesellschaft of Steyr between 1878 and 1880.

UTILIZATION BY OTHER COUNTRIES

Spain

  The Royal Spanish Government procured 746 M1878 Naval Kropatschek rifles from OEWG.  

Chile

  According to the OEWG contract book, Chile purchased 746 M1878 Naval Kropatschek rifles.  There is also a contract in 1889 for 100 Kropatschek rifle stocks.  

  During WW1 M1878 Naval Kropatscheks were sent to both Russia & Greece for aid.  

PREDECESSOR & FOLLOW-ON RIFLES

Predecessor Rifle: Mle1866 Chassepot Rifle

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Follow-On Rifle(s): M1874 Gras

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ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Photos of M1878 Naval Kropatschek provided by John Littrell

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REFERENCES

Die Kropatschek-Repetiersysteme in Österreich-Ungarn (FassungVIII, 2003) - Heino Hintermeier

Page built February 6, 1999

Updated: Nov 6, 2021

Updated Jan 28, 2024

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