Mannlicher–Schönauer

Mannlicher–Schönauer
Mannlicher–Schönauer rifle Y1903/14
Type	Bolt-action rifle
Place of origin	Austria-Hungary
Service history
In service	1903–1941 (military)
Used by	See Users
Wars	First Balkan War Second Balkan War World War I Greco-Turkish War World War II Greek Civil War
Production history
Designer	Otto Schönauer & Ferdinand Mannlicher
Designed	1903
Manufacturer	Steyr, Breda
No. built	~310,000
Variants	M1903/14
Specifications
Weight	8.44 lb (3.83 kg)
Length	48.25 inches (1,226 mm)
Barrel length	28.55 inches (725 mm)
Cartridge	6.5×54mm Mannlicher–Schönauer (military and Model 1903) 8×56mm Mannlicher–Schönauer (Model 1908) 9×56mm Mannlicher–Schönauer (Model 1905) 9.5×57mm Mannlicher–Schönauer (Model 1910) 30-06 Springfield, .243 Win and .270 Win (Model 72)
Action	bolt action
Muzzle velocity	2,223 ft/s (678 m/s)
Effective firing range	~600 metres (660 yards)
Feed system	5 round rotary magazine
Sights	front barleycorn; rear tangent adj. from 200 to 2000 m

The Mannlicher–Schönauer (sometimes Anglicized as "Mannlicher Schoenauer," Hellenized as Τυφέκιον Μάνλιχερ or Όπλον Μάνλιχερ-Σενάουερ) is a type of rotary-magazine bolt-action rifle produced by Steyr Mannlicher for the Greek Army in 1903 and later was also used in small numbers by the Austro-Hungarian armies. Post war use was for civilian use such as hunting and target practice.

In the late 19th century, the classic Mannlicher designs for the Austro-Hungarian army were based on the en-bloc magazine, a straight-pull bolt mechanism and were designed for obsolete large caliber cartridges. Following the introduction of smokeless powder in the Lebel rifle at the end of the century, the Steyr factory worked on new Mannlicher designs, using more effective modern cartridges. These were offered for the consideration of the Austro-Hungarian Army, for export to other armies and for the civilian market.

The Mannlicher–Schönauer rifle was one of these novel designs. The rifle action was designed by Ferdinand Mannlicher and the rotary magazine by his protegee Otto Schönauer of the Österreichische Waffenfabriksgesellschaft (Austrian Arms-Manufacturing Company; now Steyr Mannlicher). While the more famous Mannlicher M1895 used the less common straight-pull bolt, the Mannlicher–Schönauer had a conventional turn-bolt, more reminiscent of the Gewehr 88 and other typical military bolt-action rifles. At first sight many confuse it with a Mauser rifle, due to the similar bolt and handguards. The Mannlicher–Schönauer may be identified by the split in the rear of the receiver which allows the bolt handle to pass through, and double as an emergency locking lug when closed, in case of failure of the primary locking lugs. The characteristic that sets this design apart from others of the era though was the innovative Schönauer rotating spool magazine.