Kropatschek 1878 French Naval Rifle

The Kropatschek 1878 French Naval Rifle was a bolt action rifle made for French Navy that adopted that rifle in 1878. It was the first commercially successful Kropatchek rifle. It was designed by Alfred von Kropatschek who was a General in the Austrian Army and a weapons designer of the late 19th century. His rifles feature a tubular magazine under the barrel similar to a Winchester rifle. Tubular magazine was slower to reload then box magazine that can be loaded with 5 rounds clip. Also, there was always a danger that tip of bullet of one round could ignite primer of next round in the magazine. Kropatschek incorporated the basic design of the Chasspot/Gras bolt and receiver system mated with a tubular magazine, connected by a "spoon" elevator which pivoted at the rear to bring a fresh cartridge into alignment. This system of cartridge lifter was the key to the Kropatchek design. Kropatschek was manufacturing his rifles in Steyr Mannlicher factory for army of Austrian Empire and also export them in several countries like Portugal or France. Kropatschek rifles and carbines were designed for black powder ammo but they proved to be strong enough to handle smokeless powder.