A Kropatschek is any variant of a rifle designed by Alfred von Kropatschek. Kropatschek`s rifles used a tubular magazine (constructed of nickel-plated steel) of his design, of the same type used in the German Mauser Gewehr 1871/84 and the Japanese Type 22 Murata. While designed for black powder, the Kropatschek action proved to be strong enough to handle smokeless powder.
The Kropatschek was the basis for the French Lebel Rifle.
Variants
Austria-Hungary:
- Gendarmerie Repetier-Karabiner M1881: 11 mm - Gendarmerie Carbine (also known as M1874/81); Kropatschek Torpedo Boats Gewehr M1893: 8 mm Navy Rifle for Torpedo boat crews.
France:
- Fusil de Marine Mle 1878: 11 mm Navy Rifle; - Fusil d`Infanterie Mle 1884: 11 mm Infantry Rifle; - Fusil d`Infanterie Mle 1885: 11 mm Infantry Rifle.
Portugal:
- Espingarda de Infantaria 8 mm m/1886: 8 mm Infantry Rifle; - Carabina de Caçadores 8 mm m/1886: 8 mm Light Infantry Carbine; - Carabina de Cavalaria 8 mm m/1886: 8 mm Cavalry Carbine; - Carabina da Guarda Fiscal 8 mm m/1886/88: 8 mm Treasury Guard Carbine; - Espingarda de Infantaria 8 mm m/1886/89: 8 mm Colonial Infantry Rifle; - Carabina de Artilharia 8 mm m/1886/91: 8 mm Artillery Carbine.