When the Swiss military went to make a short version of its M1896 rifle for cavalry, it realized that the early Schmidt-Rubin action had a problem: it was really, really long. With locking lugs all the way to the rear of the receiver, the system was just not an efficient use of space for a carbine with a limited overall length…something else was needed. The stopgap solution was to purchase a carbine from the Austrians; the Steyr-Mannlicher M1897. This was a straight-pull Mannlicher system chambered for the Swiss 7.5mm cartridge.
At the same time, work progressed on an improved Schmidt-Rubin, by redesigning the bolt to shorten the action. The result was the `1896 action, which used for a new infantry rifle and also the M1900 Short Rifle and the M1900 Cavalry Carbine. The short rifles were made for auxiliary troops like engineers, balloonists, messengers, and the like. It was essentially an 1896 rifle with a shorter barrel, as it included a bayonet lug. A total of 18,650 of these were made. The cavalry carbine was not set up for a bayonet as the cavalry had sabres instead, and 7,900 of these were made.
In 1911 a unified carbine was introduced, and virtually all the 1900s and 1905s in service were updated to the new pattern. The 1905s has their serial numbers modified with a “2” prefix, turning them into a 20,000 serial number range. The new K11 carbine production began at 30,001, and thus there were no duplicated serial numbers between the new carbines and the converted old ones.
Many thanks to the Swiss Shooting Museum in Bern for giving me access to these two very rare rifles to film for you! The museum is free to the public, and definitely worth visiting if you are in Bern – although it is closed for renovation until autumn 2025:
https://www.schuetzenmuseum.ch/en/
“(…)purchase a carbine from the Austrians; the Steyr-Mannlicher M1897(…)”
This seems untypical for Switzerland considering their 20th century choices, which, if not designed in Switzerland, were at least made domestically (like SUOMI). So why 1890s Switzerland acted differently than 20th century Switzerland?
The article says it was a stopgap measure. A one-off solution to a rare problem. Anomalies occur
Aesthetically “Googled that” I like the Swedish cavalry carbine more, with the SMLE type muzzle; looks like a wee spaniel with it’s sight protecting ears… Yap, yap… Snoopy. Anyway.
With hindsight you know, mankind would have “Still would” be better, having got to “Going back to” too… The pinnicle, of… Well, by about 1920 for sure the Australians had a mounted unit that had swords, Smles, and horses that could be light horse or cavarly. They had smart uniforms – great hats, boots etc. Everyone round the world would want to be one, so instead of using machine guns etc, etc, Nukes we could just organise wars a bit better like in the 18th c but using these “new” oz style dragoon/cavarly folk – With volunteers, give each other a good beating (Put it on telly 4 wk series) whoever wins gets the oil rig or whatever we are scrapping about. No? See, thought that was a great idea personally. He he.
Aye give them two Roth Steyr horse mounted pistols and one the belt. Carnage, meh. Folk would move on, and good. Footie season has finished here, lets get on with it; those swords you basically used as a lance, mainly, so you get lancers also. Next year, I mean who
can ride a horse… Practical issues.
I do mean that actually with historical precedent… Most wars, ever where not fought in the 20th c doom loop of all or nothing “Nothing meaning, complete destruction.” it’s a new thing like cars. Snap out of it – Or we’ll be getting complete destruction by our robot creations who’ll think “Thicko’s why did they not just do wars like they used to.” without them thinking at that moment, we blindly followed tech advances I.e. You.
It takes quite a bit of technological savvy and might to wage total war for one thing
It takes quite a bit of technological savvy and might to wage total war for one thing2
Everybody who complains about reloading a Roth-Steyr never saw the video here with the expert who explained that every K&K cavalryman carried three of them, as you described.
“(…)Swedish cavalry carbine(…)”
As Sweden used various fire-arms types through history please use official designation to make clear which weapon exactly do you mean by that.
Spaniel ears… Woof.
That’s not a cavalry carbine, the bayonet lug is for artillery and such. Cavary doesn’t carry bayonets.