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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 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

Bolt Action Rifle
Turning Bolt
Repeater
Tubular
Large Bore
Large Bore No

 If the rifle is NOT a bolt action: Is the rifle a REMINGTON ROLLING BLOCK type action? 
    YES     NO 
 

Not Bolt Action Rifle

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
 
 

Remington 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 
 

PIVOT YES
PIVOT NO
Lower Vertically No
Breech Block Lift YES
SpPeab43-05.jpg
MHIV05a.jpg
WrdrActnRtSide.jpg

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

Breech Block Lift No

BOLT ACTION - STRAIGHT PULL:   Mannlichers

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

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

Straight Pull

CONVENTIONAL TURNING BOLT ACTION SINGLE SHOT RIFLES:

Bulgaria         M1880 Berdan II (11.2x57R)  (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 Meji 13 (M1880) (11x60R)
                      Murata Meji 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-Milovanvitch (10.15x63R)
                          (a Mauser M1871 but with a support rail to support the open bolt.  I'd very much like to buy one.)

Single Shot
Box Magazine

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-Kropatschek (8x60R)

  Japan         Murta Meji 22 (M1889) (Type A and Type B) (8x53R)

​

Small Bore

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

​

Austria     M1881 Kropatschek Naval (11x58R)

France      M1878 Kropatschek (11x59R) (Styer Naval Model)
                 M1884 Kropatschek (11x59R) (Fr. Army)
                 M1885 & 1874/85 Kropatschek (11x59R) (2 piece stock)

Greece     M1878 Kropatschek (11x59R)

Norway-Sweden     M1879 & M1881; M1884 & 1884/87 Jarmann (10.5x61R)

Portugal    M1879 * M1881; M1884 & 1884/87 Naval Kropatschek (11x59R) (Styer Naval Model)

PIVOTS
Large Bore YES

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 & 1881 Vetterli (10.4x38R) RF

Remington YES

REMINGTONS ROLLING BLOCK RIFLES:

​

Argentina         M1866/71 Remington (11.15x58R)
                         M1865/75 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
 

Exposed Hammer
Hammerless

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/ Westly 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. )

Werder

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)

Lower Vertically YEs

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)

Forward

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)
                     M1841/53/67 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          M186(?) Alblini-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.)
 

To The Right

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) ?
 

LIFTING BREECH BLOCK DESIGNS:   

Side Lifting - The Krnka - (opens to the LEFT)

​

  Russia          M1857/67 Krnka (15.2x41R)
 

To the Left
Up and Back

LIFTING BREECH BLOCK DESIGNS:
Rearward - The Norwegian Kammerladningsgevcer  (Chamber-loading Rifle) - (flips open to the REAR)

​

                      M1855/67 & M1860-67 Lund (12.7x44R) RF

                      M1851&55/59/67 Landmark  (12.7x44R) RF

None of the Above

UNIQUE  DESIGNS:
      Turning Drum Breech Block Single Shot Rifles: - Josef Werndl Patent

​

Austria         M1867 (11.4x50R) & M67/77 Werndl (11.15x58R)
                     M1873 (11.4x50R) & M73/77 Werndl (11.15x58R)


Tubular Magazine Dropping Block Repeating Rifle:

​

Denmark      M1878 Krag-Petersson (11.7x42R)  (no page built yet)
 
 

Tubular Magazine Lever Action Repeating Rifle: - The Henry Patent

Turkey         M1873 Winchester (.44-40R)
 
 

  Trying to figure this one out myself:

 Norway-Sweden     M1842/67 Scheel Gregersen (17x32R) RF
 
 
 

               Contact Us for Help!               

Revised December 11,1999

Updated: Nov 23, 2021

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